What to expect
Your journey begins at an in-person retreat in Renmark, SA on 17–18 August. These two days are a time to meet your cohort and mentors, set the tone for the year ahead, and begin building the connections that will carry through the program. Travel and accommodation are covered by the CRC.
From there, the program unfolds flexibly around your existing commitments. You’ll be matched with a mentor from your field and begin to have regular meetings with them, addressing what you’re learning about yourself through the program as well as any professional challenges you may be facing.
You’ll nominate a range of your colleagues to contribute to your 360-degree leadership assessment, that helps to map your strengths and growth opportunities. From this, you’ll develop a personalised leadership plan, mapping out tangible actions that will help you grow.
Through the year, quarterly online learning sessions bring your cohort together to reflect, share, and grow as a group. Curated leadership resources support you at every stage, and your mentor remains a consistent guide throughout.
By the end of twelve months, you’ll have a richer professional network, a deeper understanding of your own leadership, and a plan to take it further.
What our mentees say
Myles Coker
Environmental EngineeringMyles is a strategic design professional with a background in environmental engineering and river catchment management. As the Innovation Practice Lead for One Basin CRC he leads the co-development of the CRC’s Impact Strategy, Framework and Portfolio Approach. He is also the manager for the CEWH’s Flow-MER Knowledge Exchange Project. These roles draw on Myles’ 15 years of experience specialising in knowledge and innovation management, and strategic change and transformation.
How has working with your mentor influenced your approach to leadership or collaboration?
Even with a background in innovation management, leading collaboration and change remains a significant challenge for me. I have really enjoyed the early stages of my mentor relationship with John. I am very lucky to have John Langford as my mentor – he has navigated an incredible career in water enabling impactful change across government and industry. John also has a deep appreciation for the power of research in building trust and momentum for change.
What’s one piece of advice or insight from your mentor that has really stayed with you?
We’ve been discussing how to gain focus and play to strengths. One insight that really resonated was about lowering the barriers to adoption. He encouraged me to look for “patches” where interests are already aligned and where change is easier to demonstrate. It was a great reminder that you don’t need to solve it all, all at once.
Finally, how do you hope to contribute to the future of the Murray–Darling Basin?
The Basin continues to face so many challenges – I would love to help people to learn and adapt together.
Geoff Reid
First Nations EngagementGeoff is a Gomeroi man who lives and works in Toowoomba, Queensland. Geoff is the First Nations Engagement lead for One Basin CRC, and the First Nations Monitoring, Evaluation and Research (MER) lead for the CEWH’s Flow-MER program. He is driven by his passions of caring for country, people, and social justice.
How has working with your mentor influenced your approach to leadership or collaboration?
It’s highlighted what I need to work on and how I can better collaborate with others to achieve my leadership goals. It’s also opened up new ways of approaching my work. I realise now that I wasn’t heading true north, more like slightly northwest but this process has helped me correct my course and move in the right direction again.
What’s one piece of advice or insight from your mentor that has really stayed with you?
I’ve learned that you never fail, you reflect on what happened, understand what could be improved, and come back better next time.
Finally, how do you hope to contribute to the future of the Murray–Darling Basin?
I believe the Murray–Darling Basin is unwell and in need of care. It isn’t something that needs “saving,” because Country has always had the strength to restore itself. What it needs is for us to create the right conditions, space, respect, and balance so it can heal in its own way and in its own time. My role is not to fix Country, but to support its natural ability to recover. Because without Country, we are nothing.
Alyx Selsmeyer
Agricultural TechnologyAlyx Selsmeyer is one of the first adopters of the Leadership Development Program. As an emerging leader with global experience in the agricultural technologies industry, she is passionate about creating positive change in the future of our food systems and empowering farmers.
How has working with your mentor influenced your approach to leadership or collaboration?
So far, it has allowed me to have a bit better self-reflection. Thankfully, I feel like I have a bit in common with my mentor. She has gone through a similar struggle to the one I’m currently focused on.
What’s something new you’ve learned about yourself through this experience?
I get excited and like to jump to the goal/endgame instead of slowing down and bringing people along for the ride. I’m learning more patience.
Finally, how do you hope to contribute to the future of the Murray–Darling Basin?
I hope to lead initiatives to connect groups across the basin to work together toward a better future.