Sheepmeat Council of Australia president Jeff Murray

LEADERSHIP training for sheep meat producers will be available through five $10,000 scholarships announced today.

The Sheepmeat Council of Australia is offering five scholarships valued at up to $10,000 each for sheep meat producers and others in the industry to receive formal training in industry leadership and corporate governance.

The Sheepmeat Industry Governance Scholarship is part of a new SCA and Meat & Livestock Australia joint initiative, ‘Building Leadership Capability for the Sheep Industry’.

The initiative’s objective is to ensure that the Australian sheep industry attracts, develops and retains people with leadership skills to contribute to the long-term viability of the industry.

The governance scholarship is for sheep producers and other professionals in the sheep meat industry to complete the Company Directors course through the Australian Institute of Company Directors. It includes all course fees and one year of AICD membership (paid direct to the AICD), travel to the course and accommodation and meals during the course.

The course is a five-day intensive program for board directors, aspiring directors or executives and focuses on the roles, responsibilities and skills required by directors and boards.

Scholarhip applicants must be:

• A sheep producer or person working in the sheepmeat industry.
• Able to demonstrate at least 10 years’ experience in the sheep industry and ready to take the next step in terms of industry leadership and involvement.
• Able to commit to attend the full five days of the course.
• Able to commit to the pre and post-course requirements, including pre-course reading, online training and assessment, to maximise their learning.

The course is to be completed by the end of 2016 and the SCA will consult with the successful applicants to determine a suitable date and location.

Sheepmeat Council of Australia president Jeff Murray said strong corporate governance and board leadership skills are crucial to the future of the Australian sheep industry.

“The council is committed to ensuring we are equipping the next generation of sheep producers to take on positions of leadership in our organisation and the AICD course is a great program to learn the skills important to SCA and the sheep industry more broadly.

“Graduates learn key skills such as the roles and responsibilities of being a director, duties around risk, legalities, strategy, financial literacy and driving board effectiveness which is useful at a farm management level as well as representing the industry,” he said.

Applications must be submitted before 5pm on Friday June 24 2016. An application form and program flyer with conditions of entry are available online at www.sheepmeatcouncil.com.au/governance

For more information about the Company Directors course, visit www.companydirectors.com.au

Source: Sheepmeat Council of Australia.