Celebrating 20 years of educating leaders in agriculture – applications open for 2019 Rabobank Business Management programs
2019 marks the 20thyear of Rabobank's Business Management Programs, with over 1200 of Australia and New Zealand's most progressive farmers graduating from the programs over the past two decades.
Developed specifically for primary producers looking to take their business to the next level, the Executive Development Program (EDP) caters for experienced business owners or senior managers, while the Farm Managers Program (FMP) has been developed for younger farmers looking to enhance their management capabilities.
Applications for the 2019 intake for both programs are now open.
Rabobank Australia CEO Peter Knoblanche said in the 20 years the programs had been running, it was perhaps "more important now, than ever, for farming businesses to invest in their 'human capital'".
"While it is a good time to be in agriculture, with opportunities continually opening up with improved market access and increased investment in the sector, there are also many mounting pressures," Mr Knoblanche said. "These include climate challenges presented by drought and other recent weather events and natural disasters. And from a macro level, there are signs the global economy is starting to decelerate – particularly in China – which could have significant flow-on effects on the Australian ag sector.
"While it is impossible to future-proof farming businesses from extreme weather events such as the devastating floods in north-west Queensland, many external risks can be managed if not mitigated through strategic long-term planning – with the programs covering topics such as financial and risk management, strategies for growth, negotiation, leadership, communication and innovation."
Mr Knoblanche said both programs – which have been likened to mini-MBAs – were highly interactive and had significant emphasis on the direct application of the learnings back into the business. "And being residential programs, the participants have the opportunity to build a strong network of likeminded farmers from across Australia and New Zealand," he said.
This year, the Farm Managers Program will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand from June 23 to 28, with the program including a visit to one of the region's leading farm businesses.
The Executive Development Program, which runs as two modules (a year apart) will be held at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Sydney. The first module will run from August 25 to 30, with the second scheduled from July 19 to 24, 2020.
Applications for the FMP close on Friday, March 29 and the EDP on Thursday, April 26.
