Some of the wool industry's brightest young talents will gather in Clare, South Australia, next week for an intensive leadership development program.
Participants are aged between 25 and 35 and come from South Australia (10), Western Australia (3), Queensland (2), Victoria (4) and NSW (6).
South Australia: Annie Ashby, Gulnare; Dale Button, Robertstown; Josh Cousins, Burra; Declan Harvey, Narrung; James Henderson, Lochiel; Alistaire Lindner, Yunta; Peter Mitchell, Angaston; Reuben Solly, via Carrieton; Kayla Starkey, Mt Pleasant; and Karl Zerna, Eudunda.
NSW: Ian Cameron, Jerilderie; Samara Harris, Broken Hill; Amie L'Estrange, Condobolin, Emma Turner, Goulburn; Benjamin Watson, Wee Waa; and Willian Wragge, Boambolo.
Queensland: Felicity Brumpton, Mitchell, and Kristy Walters, Leyburn.
Victoria: Kyle Cordy, Sidonia; Candice Cordy, Epsom; Georgia Reeves, Rutherglen and Matthew Tattersall, Point Cook.
Western Australia: Alexandra Coole, Frankland; Christie Felber, Pingelly; and Lachlan Mouritz, Hyden.
Funded by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and facilitated by Rural Directions Pty Ltd, the Breeding Leadership program aims to empower young wool industry participants to step into leadership roles.
Breeding Leadership aims to nurture young leaders to enable them to continue to drive the wool industry forward into the future.
AWI CEO, Stuart McCullough, said he hoped this year's 25 participants would use next week's program to build on their vision for the future of wool.
The participants represent a broad range of roles within the industry.
They will be provided with practical sessions focusing on themselves, their business, their team and the wider industry.
Field trips to Michell Wool, various sheep studs and Anlaby Station will expose the young leaders to a range of business strategies and will support their introduction into applied leadership.
The 2020 alumni will grow the list of past participants to close to 200 nationally.
James Henderson from Lochiel, SA, said he was looking forward to the event.
"I think it will be a very informative few days meeting some growers and industry professionals."
This year's program coincides with prolonged drought and bushfires across many regions underlining the need for industry wide collaboration and leadership.
Kayla Starkey from Mt Pleasant, SA, said: "I have never in my life seen our part of the world as dry as what it is and even dad has said this is the driest he has seen it in the district in his lifetime that he can remember (in 67 years)".
