Media Release
26 March 2014
NSW Mother and Daughter Identified as Future Dairy
Leaders
Mother and daughter Jane and Georgia Sherborne have been identified as potential statelevel industry leaders, through the 2014 Developing Dairy Leaders Program.
For the next three months the dairy farmers from Burrawang, New South Wales will be
boosting their skills in dairy industry policy, regulation and decision-making. They will learn
how to articulate, present and debate ideas, provide advocacy representation, participate as
a member of a board, participate in a media interview, and lead and manage community or
industry organisations.
Developed by Dairy Australia and Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF), the program aims to build
the leadership skills of people who are committed to the future of the Australian dairy
industry and who have been identified to have the potential for future state-level industry
leadership roles.
This year’s program is aligned to the leadership programs of dairy organisations Bonlac
Supply Company/Fonterra and Dairy Farmers Milk Co-operative and involves a diverse
group of participants including farmers, farm managers, and service providers from across
Australia’s dairy regions.
Delivered by the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (NCDEA), the program
recently commenced with a five-day residential in Melbourne with state and national industry
leaders.
ADF President Noel Campbell said that the program was a key activity in supporting the
development of the dairy industry’s next generation of leaders, and that the dedication and
willingness of participants to put something back into their industry was inspiring.
“It is very encouraging to see a group of farmers so keen to build on their dairy careers,
which just goes to show the future of our industry is in extremely good hands,” Mr Campbell
said.
The next phase of the program will involve a regionally based project with the support of an
industry-leading mentor, and will conclude in June with a four-day residential in Canberra,
where participants will learn about advocacy and policy development at a national level.
Dairy Australia Industry People and Capability Group Manager Shane Hellwege said that the
2014 program had attracted passionate people from across the industry.
“The Developing Dairy Leaders Program has attracted a great group of people who are
enthusiastic to build their dairy careers into future leadership positions," Mr Hellwege said.
“It’s great to offer a program that allows potential future leaders to learn about industryspecific advocacy, networking and government issues. Dairy Australia is proud to support
people within the dairy industry who are committed, who want to build upon their skills and
who aim to become future leaders of the industry,” he said.
The Sherborne’s are two of sixteen aspiring dairy industry leaders from across the nation
who have commenced the 2014 program. On successful completion, participants gain
competencies towards an Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management – Leadership
stream.
The program was developed in response to the Australian Dairy Industry Council Dairy
Leadership – An Industry Blueprint 2010-15, which identified the need for an additional 200
leadership roles across the industry.
2014 Developing Dairy Leaders Program participants:
Andrew Beale, Cororooke VIC
Brian Schuler, Crossley VIC
Ryan Tuckett, Strathmerton VIC
Paul O’Malley, Cobram VIC
Leigh Schuuring, Smithton TAS
Rachael Finch, Denison VIC
Colleen Laws, Catani VIC
Jane Sykes, Ringarooma, TAS
Georgia Sherborne, Burrawang, NSW
Jane Sherborne, Burrawang, NSW
Kate Bartlett, Woods Point SA
Luke Stock, Laidley North QLD
Adam Blower, Forest TAS
Jessica Westwick, Warrnambool VIC
Stephanie Tarlinton, Cowaramup WA
Tammy Negus, Tutunup WA