This conversation is part of a series exploring the impact of the Changemaker Workshops delivered across more than 30 regions by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, thanks to the Future Drought Fund. These workshops are part of the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.

There’s nothing like a fresh perspective to flip a problem and transform it into a possibility. In this episode of Rural Leadership Unearthed, we’re joined by mechanical engineer, Rana Everett, who shares her experience bringing a fresh take to a regional skills shortage. When Rana relocated to Albany in WA to work on the construction of a wave energy converter, she brought fresh eyes to the challenge of finding qualified local welders.

Rana came to Albany from her home base just outside of Darwin, with the unique opportunity to observe as an outsider and learn with a curious and open mind. It was her participation in the Albany Changemaker program that gave her the impetus to conceptualise and pioneer a home-grown employment solution. Drawing on the power of partnerships, and the potential of augmented reality technology, she has opened up new horizons to young people, women and others looking to up-skill and find their place in the booming world of welding.

This episode is the first of an 8-part series within the Rural Leadership Unearthed podcast where we delve into stories from people passionate about transforming their communities. This is a practical resource designed to provide insight into what it takes to drive positive change in rural, regional and remote Australia.

Some highlights:

• How ‘fresh eyes’ helped Rana join the dots between missing skills and community capacity-building
• The genesis of using welding simulators to fast-track skills development
• How it can feel to broach a project when you’re new to a community
• Why tailored communication is needed to engage with different target audiences
• The invaluable role of collaboration and partnerships

Our host:

Claire Delahunty, is a writer and journalist who has worked with the ARLF for more than ten years, interviewing leaders having a positive impact on rural and regional Australia.

Resources:

ARLF podcast blog

ARLF website

Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative

Everett Consulting

In this episode of Rural Leadership Unearthed, we’re joined by David Keetch, a seasoned agricultural researcher who first embraced ag as a highschool student growing up in Adelaide. Now, as Nufarm’s Green-on-Green Program Director, he leads two national projects focused on developing advanced in-crop camera-spraying technologies and herbicide solutions tailored to Australian farming systems.

If it sounds complicated, that’s because it is. Fortunately, Dave is a skilled, patient communicator with a real adeptness for understanding how different types of people thrive with different styles of communication. A core part of his job is adapting his approach for different audiences and stakeholders. Without this ability, he says he just wouldn’t be able to lead effectively.

But it hasn’t always come easily. It was his experience with a “melting pot” of other leaders in his cohort during the 2021 Australian Agribusiness Leadership Program that brought home that the way diverse personalities connect and relate to one another directly shapes outcomes.

In today’s conversation, Dave walks us through the challenges that come with managing a project that blends AI technology with Australia’s unique growing environments. He shares how stewardship of best practice and sustainable technology use in ag is what drives him in all that he does. Dave speaks openly about managing the different pulls between his passion for research and the realities of commercial expectations. He also reflects that when we’re working towards long-term goals, it’s vital to break it down into smaller milestones and celebrate the wins along the way.

Some highlights:

• How returning to core aims help Dave manage complexity

• The importance of celebrating small wins

• If you’re not changing, you’re not growing

• How adapting to others’ communication preferences can be as simple as picking up the phone or even knocking on a door

• An ‘independent streak’ can get in the way of asking for help

• Why being rigid and inflexible just doesn’t work

Our host:

Claire Delahunty, is a writer and journalist who has worked with the ARLF for more than ten years, interviewing leaders having a positive impact on rural and regional Australia.

Resources:

ARLF podcast blog

ARLF website

Rural Leadership Unearthed

AALP

Nufarm

Rolling out green-on-green spot spraying

This conversation is part of a series exploring the impact of the Changemaker Workshops delivered across more than 30 regions by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, thanks to the Future Drought Fund. These workshops are part of the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.

In this episode of Rural Leadership Unearthed, we’re joined by Tanya Lehmann, a leader who has made it her mission in life to un-riddle the things that sometimes hold our small towns back from taking control and shaping their own bright futures. As a leadership development coach with a community health management background, and a country girl herself, Tanya understands both the barriers to change in rural areas, and the opportunities that exist when we can unlock their greatest asset – their people.

In today’s chat, we explore just who or what a ‘changemaker’ is and Tanya’s role facilitating the ARLF’s Changemaker workshops around our regions, seeing first-hand the powerful seeds for change that can be planted in just two days. Tanya emphasises that leadership is a verb, and wherever you might be, it’s an action that any one of us can take. And it’s through tackling challenges together that we thrive and our communities thrive too.

This episode is the introduction to an 8-part series within the Rural Leadership Unearthed podcast where we delve into stories from people passionate about transforming their communities. This is a practical resource designed to provide insight into what it takes to drive positive change in rural, regional and remote Australia.

Some highlights:

• How to move from the idea of solving problems, to making progress
• The more you understand about your region’s history, the better you can shape its future
• Leadership is making the choice to stand up and take action
• Why a good story is a powerful tool to connect people for a common purpose
• Leaning in to vulnerability can help us make the rewarding move of asking for and offering help

Our host:

Claire Delahunty, is a writer and journalist who has worked with the ARLF for more than ten years, interviewing leaders having a positive impact on rural and regional Australia.

Resources:

ARLF podcast blog

ARLF website

Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative

Meet our team: Tanya Lehmann

In this episode of Rural Leadership Unearthed, we sit down with Jason Strong, former Managing Director of Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and a leader with more than 30 years’ experience in the red meat and livestock industries. Since wrapping up his role with MLA at the end of 2023, Jason has embraced the chance to shift gears and follow his curiosity and passions. From this vantage point, Jason reflects on some of the big leadership lessons of his career, and the lasting take-aways from his experience on course 11 of the Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP).

He shares the pivotal insight the ARLP gave him into his natural introversion, and how this had influenced his leadership style. What followed was a kindling of curiosity about how others think and behave, and a new understanding of the importance of bringing others along with you throughout your career and leadership journey. We learn about Jason’s formative passion for showing cattle; and the legacy of his early contribution to the development of the Meat Standards Australia Program. He also shares the excitement of his time with MLA as their regional manager in Europe and Russia, getting to tell the story of Australian beef in the European market. Jason’s advice for the next generation of leaders in agriculture is to embrace building connections through authenticity and vulnerability.

Jason is currently a Councillor with the Royal Agricultural Society and on the Board of the RAS Foundation. He is also Chairman of Bovotica, a biotech start up, and on the Smithfield Cattle Co Advisory Board.

Some highlights:

• How the experience of showing cattle set Jason on his career path

• The power of understanding different personality types

• Getting from A to B doesn’t have to be a straight line

• Leaders with large visions need to be able to communicate each small step along the way

• The privilege of building projects for long-term impact

• Personal stories in agriculture are invaluable for learning

• Collaboration enhances problem solving

Our host:

Claire Delahunty, is a writer and journalist who has worked with the ARLF for more than ten years, interviewing leaders having a positive impact on rural and regional Australia.

Resources:

ARLF podcast blog

ARLF website

Rural Leadership Unearthed

Meat and Livestock Australia

Bovotica

We’ve just marked National Reconciliation Week for 2025 – the theme centred on ‘Bridging Now to Next’. In this episode of Rural Leadership Unearthed, we sit down with a veteran of Indigenous affairs and graduate of the third Australian Rural Leadership Program, John Paterson. John fondly recalls the expansion of perspective the ARLP gave him. Within his cohort, John was looked to for leadership and insight into some of the enduring conversations Australia is still having about respect, recognition of First Nations History, land rights, and the ability to live, work and thrive side by side, together. John’s roots stem from the Ngalakan people of the Roper River region in South East Arnhem Land. He has seen big changes happen in his lifetime and has played his part in bringing about positive systemic shifts.

From a humble start as a junior clerk in the NT public service in the late seventies, to being appointed CEO of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory in 2006, John’s leadership has evolved as he has understood where his skills could best make a difference. He is currently a member of the Coalition of Peaks on the Joint Council for Closing the Gap. He is also the current Chair of the Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the NT.

John understands what’s at stake for all Australians when division and disconnection stand in the way of progress. The bridge from now to next, in John’s eyes, is one where truths are told and stories shared without blame, so that all Australians can better know their past, understand their present, and of course, where emerging leaders from all sectors are supported to strive for a better future.

Some highlights:

• Fear mongering is the enemy of reconciliation

• Education is the key to better outcomes for all First Nations Australians

• Hear how John went from a ‘garbologist’ to the senior ranks of the NT public service

• Learn about a bus trip from Darwin to Sydney that changed John’s life forever

• John believes the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s alumni hold great power and potency to create positive change

• He knows that truth telling without judgement or blame is an important part of healing

• Future leaders must be supported to carry forward the journey to reconciliation

Our host:

Claire Delahunty, is a writer and journalist who has worked with the ARLF for more than ten years, interviewing leaders having a positive impact on rural and regional Australia.

Resources:

ARLF podcast blog

ARLF website

Rural Leadership Unearthed

National Reconciliation Week

Coalition of Peaks

Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the NT

Australian Rural Leadership Program

In this episode of Rural Leadership Unearthed, the Unbreakable Farmer, mental health crusader Warren Davies, speaks to us about the insights and stories he feels privileged to share in as he travels around rural Australia. He reflects on the forces buffeting the communities he speaks to, and particularly the impact that the rapid transition to renewable energy sources is having throughout country Australia.

In this conversation, Warren reflects on what he is seeing and hearing as many farmers, families and towns face circumstances they’ve never come up against before. He shares what he sees as the key ingredients to navigating the things we can’t control and staying connected so that we can support each other.

Warren’s message of communicating, connecting and reaching out for help is cemented on the foundation of his own battles as a farmer suffering from mental ill health and how he has harnessed his story to help others.

Warren is sharing his personal experiences and anecdotes as he travels around the country speaking with hundreds of rural communities. We acknowledge that there are a whole range of different experiences wherever energy projects are rolling out, and they are all unique in their impact.

Some highlights:

• No plan is complete unless wellbeing is factored in

• Warren’s keys to resilience include communication, connection and clarity

• Problems with Australia’s renewable energy transition arrive when transparency, consultation and sound communication are lacking

• Leadership at all levels is critical to navigate unprecedented change

• Being able to reach out for help is integral to our mental health

• Creative vehicles for connection are needed to support busy, overwhelmed farmers and rural communities

• Sharing your story gives others permission to share theirs

Our host:

Claire Delahunty, is a writer and journalist who has worked with the ARLF for more than ten years, interviewing leaders having a positive impact on rural and regional Australia.

Resources:

ARLF podcast blog

ARLF website

Rural Leadership Unearthed

The Unbreakable Farmer

Beyond the Back Paddock

Blue Tree Project

TIACS

In this episode of Rural Leadership Unearthed, Australian Rural Leadership Foundation CEO, Matt Linnegar, sits down with former Australian diplomat and founder of Geopolitical Strategy, Michael Feller, for a conversation about leadership in an increasingly chaotic global environment.

Matt and Michael examine how leaders internationally are navigating rapid change and disruption. They discuss the limitations to a ‘transactional’ style of leadership, and the need for calm, empathetic leaders with strong values and clear objectives. They discuss the implications of economic policies impacting free trade and offer some observations about what may lie ahead as we move from a unipolar global order towards a multipolar order.

We note that the insights and analysis provided in today’s episode are not a reflection of the views of the ARLF. This conversation is a stimulating one that leaves plenty to consider, whatever context you are leading in.

Some highlights:

• Why transactional leadership delivers poor long-term outcomes

• When context matters, and why the ‘Silicon Valley’ approach may not translate to the Whitehouse

• Examining constraints to better understand global leadership decisions

• Beware the appeal of a simplistic solution

• The logic and the emotion behind a return to tariffs

• How artificial intelligence is driving the fifth industrial revolution

• Tools leaders need to navigate an increasingly disrupted world order

Resources:

ARLF podcast blog: https://rural-leaders.org.au/blog/

ARLF website: https://rural-leaders.org.au/

Rural Leadership Unearthed: https://rural-leaders.org.au/podcast/

Geopolitical Strategy: https://www.geopolitical-strategy.com/