AWI Breeding Leadership particpants at a sheep classing session. Image – AWI.

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation is taking applications for its 2026 Breeding Leadership personal and professional development program.

AWI’s Breeding Leadership program is a national program to develop leadership and professional skills for young people working in all facets of the wool industry.

The company said the program is a key part of its commitment to people in the wool industry and is a flagship investment of AWI’s sustainable and profitable wool growing strategic pillar.

More than 220 young people have completed the course since it began in 2006.

Applications for AWI Breeding Leadership 2026 close on Friday, 17 October 2025.

For more information and application details, visit https://www.wool.com/training-extension/breeding-leadership/

AWI national extension manager Emily King said AWI is very proud of this investment, with its core focus on developing leadership skills of young people working in the wool industry.

“AWI Breeding Leadership is for any young person with a connection to wool; they could be a grower, broker, buyer, researcher, shearer.

“The course connects them to a high value personal and professional development program as well as a network of over 20 like-minded people from across Australia,” Ms King said.

AWI Breeding Leadership will be delivered in Clare, SA from 16–20 February 2026.

AWI said the week-long course includes sessions for participants on better understanding themselves and others, working in teams, strategy and future planning, as well as business tours to visit local leaders in a range of industries and an industry networking dinner.

Breeding Leadership is a cost-effective option – AWI

Sheep Central asked if the absence of AWI sponsorship for the AgriFuture Horizon and Nuffield scholarship programs this year meant investment had been hit by cost-cutting, an unidentified AWI spokesman said: AWI strongly believes the AWI Breeding Leadership program provides a cost-effective way of engaging and informing young people involved in the industry.”

“AWI’s significantly smaller budget has seen our support for a number of programs cease,” he said.

“The last Nuffield Scholar AWI supported was Nicole Logg in 2023, who presented at this year’s Nuffield Conference.

“The last AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship AWI supported was Charlie Shadwell in 2023 and 2024.”