Menu of the day Strategic Thinking and Ethical Leadership

A feast of the delicacies of Strategy and Ethical Leadership encompassing facts, wisdom, and wit.

Three keynote speakers addressed, highlighted, and delivered on the need for and impact of validated planned strategy and ethical leadership to positively contribute to the overall health and welfare of the communities we work and live within, the region, the state, and the country.

Dr Jonathon Spear, Deputy CEO and COO, Infrastructure Victoria was the highlight of my day via his delivery of the background, achievements of the organisation, and the rationale of the powerful forward-looking recently released draft report’s dynamic vision and focus over the next 30 years.

Highlights

• 90% of the recommendations from Infrastructure Victoria’s first report released in 2016 have been delivered on or are on their way to completion.
• There are enormous potential economic and social benefits from the recently released draft 30-year Infrastructure Strategy.
• Infrastructure Victoria is talking about benefits to Regional Victoria.
• Communities within the region must align with the regional strategic plans to fully drive the maximum value for the region.

My takeaway quote “take it and run with it” in relation to the information and recommendations included in the report striking the sweet spot with me via the draft report’s recognition of the need for power transmission infrastructure upgrades.  The much discussed and now acknowledged requirement to upgrade transmission lines leading to positive economic and social impacts i.e.

• instilling a feeling of safety within communities through knowledge that the replacement of outdated aged unsafe and decaying infrastructure is on its way,
• the more efficient transmission of renewable power to all,
• the enticement and encouragement of all types of manufacturing to move to/into the regional rural areas and
• the ability to provide the economic efficiencies which will then drive regional economic, social health and welfare benefits in all forms.

Thank you to Lisa Dwyer for her witty delivery, talk and walk through in her capacity as Great South Coast Regional Partnership Chair.

To Dr Greg Wood and Simon Illingworth your invaluable insights and challenges into and within ethical leadership, were powerful signposts to help navigate the often-blurred principles of ethics and the importance of ethical leadership.

To all the guest speakers of our third day feast of knowledge, strategy and ethics – thank you, we enjoyed the menu.

Oonagh Kilpatrick, 2021 Program Participant

2021 Participants

Please join us in welcoming our 2021 Program participants:

Brendan Hyland, Area Manager Milk Quality, South West Victoria, Fonterra Australia
Sponsor – The Gardiner Foundation

Lynden Brown, People and Culture Advisor, South West TAFE

Kylie McIntyre, Sustainability Coordinator, Southern Grampians Shire Council

Ben Marsden, Coordinator Eastern Treatment Team, Wannon Water

Kylie Moroney, Teacher, School for Student Leadership Gnurad-Gundidj Campus

Paul Dunn, Veterinary Technician, The Vetgroup
Sponsor – Corangamite Shire

Tania Penny, Customer Relations Coordinator (Collections), Wannon Water

Heather Smillie, Regional Extension Officer and Young Dairy Network Coordinator, WestVic Dairy

Ashleigh Glennon, Health Promotion Project Officer, South West Healthcare
Sponsor – The Hugh Williamson Foundation

Carl Joyce, Podiatrist, Gen Health
Sponsor – South West Community Foundation

Peter McLauchlan, Business Manager Innovation & Research, Lyndoch Living

Craig McLeod, Food Service Manager South West Healthcare Warrnambool

Aaron Leddin, ICT System Administration Officer, Moyne Shire Council

Ella Credlin, Agribusiness Manager, ANZ Bank
Sponsor – Leadership Great South Coast

Jamie Pepper, Assistant Manager, Whispering Meadows
Sponsor – Agriculture Victoria Young Farmer

Oonagh Kilpatrick, Co-Owner H and O Kilpatrick Pty Ltd
Sponsor – Great South Coast Food and Fibre Council

2020 Graduation – Meet Our Newest Alumni

Congratulations to our 2020 participants who graduated on 26 Nov, they now join a growing Alumni of community leaders building capacity across the Great South Coast Region of Victoria.

In a challenging year we achieved a 100% retention and graduation rate which is quiet an accomplishment – we congratulate all our graduates who have developed and gown as adaptive leaders throughout 2020. Introducing our newest Alumni:

1. Billy Edis, Director, Southcoast Project Management
2. Catherine Darkin, Advisor, Population Health and Community Wellbeing. Department of Health and Human Services
3. Jason Van Der Heyden, Maintenance Electrician, Wannon Water
4. Catherine Fitzgerald, Treasurer, Warrnambool Agricultural Society
   Sponsor – South West Community Foundation
5. Craig Kelson, Financial Accountant, South West TAFE
6. Dominic Conheady, Dairy Farmer, Self Employed
   Sponsor – Gardiner Foundation
7. Joseph Sinnott, Human Resources Advisor, Warrnambool City Council
8. Joy Coulson, Farm Services Advisor, Saputo Dairy Australia
   Sponsor – Gardiner Foundation
9. Kara Winderlich, Risk Management Coordinator, Southern Grampians Shire Council
10. Emily Falla, Aboriginal Health Promotion Officer, South West Healthcare
    Sponsor – Wannon Water
11. Jerram Wurlod- Operations Manager – Keayang Maar Vineyard, Dixie
    Sponsor – Corangamite Shire
12. Liam Arnott, Works Supervisor – Construction, Moyne Shire Council 
13. Mandy Cohen, Area Manager Wimmera South West, MacKillop Family Services
14. Troy Lovett- Wurreker Broker, Victorian Aboriginal Education Association
    Sponsor – Leadership Great South Coast

15. Michelle Badenhorst, Owner Suffoir Winery and Brewery, Macarthur
    Sponsor – Women In Agriculture 
16. Tim McPherson, Management Accountant, Wannon Water
    

Governance – The role you are meant to be in!

It turns out that if you have determination, passion, and a life-based skillset, you can get into governance and contribute to positive change. That is right, boards and committees are looking for people like you right now! I’m not suggesting that you call your nearest multi-national mining company and tell them to save you a place at the board room table (though this is achievable), but I am suggesting you can have an enormous positive impact on your community by sitting on one of your local committees and/or boards including CWA, kindergarten/schools boards, lions club as a few obvious choices. Here you can work with like-minded people to have your say, working with continued improvement in mind for these organisations and community groups.

You could also get really serious and consider applying for a seat on a government based not-for-profit board such as a hospital or TAFE board, though keep in mind there is generally more experience and accreditation required combined with an application and interview process. Here you can help to facilitate change on a larger scale within your community.

And then, if you happen to love it so much that you want to get reimbursed for your time, paid board positions do exist with larger private enterprises and organisations and generally require formal qualifications like the AICD Company Directors course to be completed along with extensive experience prior to application.

I can tell that you are already excited to make change and to help the community, but there are a few things that you need to bear in mind.

1. Good governance is not easy, it takes work
2. Be passionate about your cause
3. Have an exit strategy before you get involved, and
4. Governance is an evolving practice

Keeping this advice in mind, the final ingredient that creates high quality governance is diversity, which is why you should apply. You and your story could be what is needed in the board/committee you’re interested in.

Go and apply, make that positive change!

Jason Van Der Heyden, 2020 LGSC Participant