Current Projects

The Australian cotton industry is committed to developing leaders to futureproof industry leadership. RuralScope works with the industry to lead the biennial Leadership Dinner at the Gold Coast. Graduation of the Australia Future Cotton Leaders Program, along with a leading edge speaker and showcase of leadership pathways occurs as part of the Dinner With attendance of approximately 150 cotton growers, industry leaders and staff, this is a flagship event on the cotton industry’s events calendar. 2024 will see the 4th Dinner take place and we once again look forward to providing an engaging program.

Rice Breeding Australia drives transformation of the rice industry through innovation. Their vision is to introduce state of the art rice breeding techniques to accelerate the development of new rice varieties with a focus on sustainability and increased water productivity. RuralScope works with Rice Breeding Australia to develop the team’s strategic and operational non- technical capacity. This includes the design and facilitation of Team Development days as well as individual coaching support for employees. Development of training, values and baseline performance measures for the team and detailed individual and team personality maps underpins the work achieved to date.

Beef Australia is committed to developing future leaders across the Australian beef industry through its Graeme Acton Beef Connections Mentoring Program.  RuralScope is contracted to facilitate this industry recognized program across 2023 – 2024.  The program offers a unique 14 month course of knowledge development and skills application, and pairs participants with industry recognised mentors to help them deliver on a project that will positively impact the beef industry.  The program is open to people under 35 years from across the beef supply chain.  10 participants are selected for each program with the third face to face being held as part of Beef2024 in Rockhampton. Download the Prospectus here.

RuralScope has designed and developed an integrated and customisable leadership program for industry groups to identify, nurture and develop their emerging leaders.  This is based on a model around personal, professional and industry development.  A key element of the program is an industry leadership project.  In addition to face to face delivery, online activities to foster connection, trust and confidence support participants to apply learnings into real life contexts.  Jo Eady has facilitated over 15 Australian Grain Leaders Programs for Grain Growers Limited across Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia, Australian Capital Territory and South Australia.

The Australian cotton industry has a vision to become employees and an industry of choice for the workforce.  Shift is a 3 year collaborative research project developing a model / approach along with tools and support for employees and enterprises. Dr Nicole McDonald, a workforce planning specialist with Central Queensland University is Project Lead.  Jo Eady from RuralScope is the appointed leadership expert on this project and is keen to be working in the space between research and practical application.  Shift is seeking new approaches to workforce planning and the wicked problem of employee attraction and retention.

Developing the capability of an industry requires leadership succession planning.  Jo Eady is currently working with Cotton Australia to develop and implement this bespoke and highly integrated industry mentoring program.  Up to 4 emerging leaders will undertake this program each two years.  Mentors will come from within and beyond the industry and matchings will be made in alignment with the emerging leaders industry leadership pathway plan.  Mentors and mentees will be well supported and each program will run over 4 months.  The outcome will be an increased readiness for emerging leaders to effectively take on local – national industry leadership roles.