The professional development of Australian grain growers has taken another step forward with the establishment of a new alumni network called Cultivate – for leaders in the field.
Developed by GrainGrowers, Cultivate builds on the strong foundation of existing programs, including the Australian Grain Leaders Program, Grain Social Leadership Program, Grains100 and OnBoard, spreading the seeds of further leadership and skill development through the new alumni.
Membership in the program is automatically conferred upon graduates of GrainGrowers programs, as well as past and present members of the National Policy Group and former Board Directors.
The Cultivate program will foster peer connection and industry engagement with mentoring opportunities, education and training and face to face networking. It has been designed to support the close bonds GrainGrowers alumni have with each other and the organisation.
GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel said Cultivate was an exciting opportunity to strengthen engagement and stay connected with talented growers and grains industry professionals.
Ms Gawel said around 300 growers had already been supported and nurtured through existing GrainGrowers programs.
“We have a wealth of talent in our industry, not just in our programs but also those serving on our Board and in the National Policy Group, and we are committed to building on this with our new alumni program.”
“What we have found is that while our programs are rated highly and deliver valuable career development, those who have worked with GrainGrowers are looking for further engagement and opportunities to learn.”
“Cultivate will give its members a renewed sense of belonging, with a peer network designed to deliver tailored opportunities to grow their leadership and professional skills, and to share expertise and experience to help build the next generation of grains leaders.”
Ms Gawel said Cultivate would allow participants to stay actively involved and contribute meaningfully to industry initiatives.
“Our industry is innovative and forward-thinking, and we want to harness that enthusiasm in a dynamic network that can provide long-term support for Australian grain growers,” she said.
Cultivate is a national network and program supported by a working group that includes alumni representatives appointed from each region. GrainGrowers is currently seeking applications from alumni who wish to represent their region. EOIs are open now, closing Wednesday 20 August.
To find out more information about Cultivate, submit an EOI for alumni representative, or find out how to participate in one of the GrainGrowers programs, please visit the website.
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