Rural Leaders

In this inspiring episode, ‘connection cultivator’ and co-founder of the grass-roots group, Resilient Uki, shares her passion for hyper-local community leadership. Sitting down with our host, Claire Delahunty, Mel explores what she and her community have learned from the devastating NSW floods of 2022. She unpacks how an existing scaffold of connection helped Uki to cope with the trauma and isolat...

In this illuminating episode, cotton industry leaders and growers, Liz Stott and Aaron Kiely, share their stories of advocacy for their industry, and contribution to their communities.  Sitting down with host, ARLF Chief Executive Matt Linnegar, for this special conversation, Liz – deputy chair of the Cotton Australia board, and Aaron – President of the Queensland Farmers’ Federation, speak about...

In this inspiring episode, Indigenous Midwife and Arrernte leader, Cherisse Buzzacott, shares her story of personal resilience and service to her community. She unpacks the ways systemic prejudice can compromise structures of care available to First Nations women and birthing people, and her determination not to accept what is broken, but to play a lead role in fixing it. Cherisse is a graduate of...

In this thoroughly aquatic episode, Port Fairy abalone diver, founder and director of Fox Wild Abalone, Craig Fox, takes us inside the world of this unique wild harvest industry. Craig revisits one of the darkest times in his professional life, when a highly contagious outbreak of Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG) swept through the industry’s Western Zone. He speaks about the devastating emotion...

In this generous episode Indigenous leader, Bernice Hookey, shares her passion for disrupting the harmful cycles that exist around intergenerational trauma. She offers insight into her own journey of healing, and how it has led to her passion for fostering and supporting leadership through her amazing work with First Nations women. Bernice was also sponsored by the National Indigenous Australians...

In this raw episode, double organ transplant recipient and Herd of Hope founder, Megan McLoughlin takes us through the grief of receiving an extraordinary gift from a stranger, and her path to purpose and peace. Megan describes the experience of managing juvenile diabetes growing up in rural South Australia; losing most of her sight at the age of 26 and the joy and freedom she finds in barrel raci...

Oli Le Lievre is the founder of the hugely successful Humans of Agriculture podcast and media business. From suburban Sydney to a career in agriculture, Oli has let his curiosity and passion guide him to the frontline of reshaping the narrative about farming. Having experienced a range of roles on the land in Australia and overseas, and within the agri-corporate world, Oli has faced-down doubt and...

In this revealing episode, writer/creative practitioner/community advocate/youth mentor/Australian Rural Leadership Foundation alum Alysha Herrmann shares her journey of authentic and vulnerable leadership.  With family roots entrenched in the wool industry, Alysha's life began with constant movement and a deep connection to rural communities. Facing adversity in her teen years, she made the b...

Steve Tinker heads Telstra’s operations in Northern and Western Victoria and he’s part of Telstra’s Response Team. Over 30 years in the job, he’s led Telstra’s customer response, and support for impacted communities through some of the worst natural disasters we’ve seen. With our regions experiencing a cyclone, floods and fires in recent weeks, Steve and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’...