A specialised training program designed to give New South Wales’ grain and cotton growers the skills to manage a meeting or take on board positions has been developed and will be delivered by one of Australia’s most successful regional business women.
The governance training program is being offered by Tocal College under the AgSkilled initiative.
AgSkilled is a direct partnership between the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Cotton Australia and the NSW Government, which is investing $14.7 million over three years to deliver vocational education and training to prepare the workforce for the change being driven by fast-moving industry innovation, research and technology.
The governance training course has been developed by specialist trainer Julia Telford, who runs Engage and Create Consulting and was recently named one of the Top 100 women of influence for 2018 by the Australian Financial Review.
A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Ms Telford was also awarded the 2017 Queensland Rural Regional and Remote Women's Network Small Business Owner of the Year and is actively involved as a regional voice on business, industry and health committees, and boards across the country.
She said the AgSkilled governance course was aimed at grain and cotton growers and farm managers who were interested in becoming more involved with agricultural industry associations.
"This course was developed at the request of industry to provide accredited governance training for rural people, who want the skills and knowledge to be effective industry representatives at committee and board level," Ms Telford said.
"I believe in the viability and vibrancy of regional Australia and I know issues like sustainable agricultural need a voice to raise awareness and contribute experience and understanding to industry decision making at various levels.
"This course is about empowering rural people with information and the skillsets they need to make a difference at community level and beyond."
AgSkilled co-ordinator Claudia Vicary said the organisation was thrilled to have a trainer of the calibre and with the national standing of Ms Telford to develop and oversee the governance course.
"Julia is an extraordinary trainer and successful in her own right as a businesswoman, which are attributes that will give her course credibility, while her experiences will ensure it is meaningful for industry," Ms Vicary said.
The course will be offered as a two-day face-to-face workshop with practical demonstrations, and include pre and post-course webinars. It will cover topics such as, meeting management, board member responsibilities, working within an organisational structure, and understanding the roles of different committee positions.
"The first course is scheduled to start early next year so we do encourage any grain or cotton growers or their staff members, who are interested in committee or board involvement, to contact us," Ms Vicary said.
Governance course:
- Pre-course webinar available online through January
- Two-day face-to-face workshop at Narrabri, February 13 and 14
- Post-course webinar available from February 15.
Numbers are limited and applications are essential. To apply, please contact the program co-ordinator:Heidi Smith 0419 754 608 or [email protected]. For more details go to www.agskilled.org.au
