Deputy Mayor selected for leadership program

Balonne Shire’s Deputy Mayor Fiona Gaske has been selected to be part of Course 25 of the iconic Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP) announced Matt Linnegar, Chief Executive of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF).

The ARLP is a 15-month leadership program which takes place across Australia and Indonesia. Thirty-one participants from all over Australia are selected and immersed in a series of unique experiences to develop their leadership capabilities.

“Our generous partners provide a $55,000 scholarship for each participant to undertake the program. Our partners believe that investing in people is crucial for the greater good of rural, regional and remote Australia,” Mr Linnegar said.

Cr Gaske applied for the program last year because she wanted to challenge herself and grow as a person.

Cr Gaske said the ARLP would enable her to connect with an amazing group of people and be a process of self-discovery and a journey.

“We all have different ideas about leaders and leadership and I think it’s good to challenge yourself to really hone in on strengths and weaknesses,” she said.

“I hope that this will help in my role as a councillor for our community and I believe that we need to be innovative and creative in the way we approach challenges and I’m hoping that this will allow me to bring those skills back to our shire.”

“Fiona has taken part in a rigorous and competitive selection process to be chosen for Course 25 of the ARLP, and I’m excited to meet the entire cohort in July,” Mr Linnegar said.

“Throughout the program participants will in engage in challenging and lifechanging experiences. We’ll provide time and space to reflect on their abilities as a leader. They’ll be given the tools and capacity to influence change, and make an impact in regional Australia.

“They will form lifelong friendships, mentoring relationships, and a network that extends beyond their Course to the wider 1000 plus alumni of the Foundation.”

Cr Gaske will commence her first session of the program in Darwin in July 2018, before travelling to the Kimberley region in WA for an outdoor experiential component of the program.