Leadership Illawarra Program celebrates 10 years of inspiring the next generation of leaders
Illawarra business leaders are celebrating a decade of success for a learning program designed to enrich and sustain the region’s leadership talent.
The Leadership Illawarra Program is a partnership between RDA Illawarra, The Sydney Business School, University of Wollongong and The Illawarra Connection. It aims to produce inspired and well-connected visionaries with a passion for the region.
In its 10 years of operation, the two-year experiential learning program has supported 101 participants aged from 26 to 59 years with 59 percent of participants being female.
RDA Illawarra CEO Debra Murphy says the broad base of talent accessing the program and the enthusiasm of the business leaders taking on the mentoring roles is what makes the program such a success.
“Leadership development is critical to regional development and the whole community benefits when ideas and opportunities are presented by a wide range of advocates,” she said.
“This program draws people of all ages and backgrounds with experience in different fields and provides them with strong connections, leadership coaching and an understanding of both the broader community needs and the industries or organisations that drive it.
“Our mentors have decades of experience to share and by doing so we ensure the best for the Illawarra into the future. It’s brilliant to be celebrating 10 years of delivering this program and we have so much more to achieve.”
Warrigal Wellness and Lifestyle Manager NSW & ACT Shiva Gopalan completed the Leadership Illawarra Program from 2016 to 2018 gaining valuable experience and credit towards his Master of Business Administration at the University of Wollongong, a course he intends to commence in the near future.
“The opportunity to learn from current business leaders within my community helped me refine my own skills while building stronger relationships within the community,” he said.
“With the confidence and skills it gave me, I not only became a finalist for the IBA Young Executive of the Year while completing the program, I have used it to facilitate my growth within my own organisation to work as a general manager at Warrigal, and to contribute as a non-executive director of UOW Pulse, Chair the NSW Gerontology for the Australian Physiotherapy Association and as a National Director for Junior Chamber International.”
As well as celebrating 10 years this month, the Leadership Illawarra Program will complete its 5th cohort in December. A new two-year cohort begins in February 2023 and applications close on October 24, 2022.
Scholarships sponsored by RDA Illawarra, Sydney Business School, University of Wollongong and The Illawarra Connection are available. Apply here.