PEAK industry body WoolProducers Australia has gained Federal funding to run a second round of its Raising the Baa capacity building initiative.
The initiative launched last year offers woolgrowers and wool industry service providers two ways to improve their business knowledge and skills.
WoolProducers president Ed Storey said a grant from the Federal government's Leadership in Agricultural Industries Fund allowed WoolProducers to offer Raising the Baa again this year and nominations would be accepted this month.
"While there are a number of leadership programs that exist in the wool industry, there was no program that focused on enhancing the governance capacity of the industry, so WoolProducers decided to fill that gap," Mr Storey said.
Under the initiative WoolProducers offers some applicants the chance to complete a five-day Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) company directors' course later this year.
An applicant will also be chosen as the WoolProducers' Youth Ambassador which will enable them to join the WoolProducers board as an observer for 12 months.
"We had a wonderful response last year when we called for nominations and the five people that were selected to undertake the AICD (course), Peter McCrabbe, Stacey Lugsdin, Dan Korff, Matt Bartlett and Robert Pocock, were a diverse group of people who all have varying roles within the wool industry," Mr Storey said.
"Dr Dione Howard (a Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, veterinarian) has participated in the WoolProducers' quarterly board meetings as the Youth Ambassador and has undertaken two research projects - 'Youth in the Wool Industry' and 'Animal Health Communications' - with updates presented at each meeting, which have been very well received by the board," he said.
"This concept is aimed at providing exposure and experience to young people who have an interest in industry policy development and agri-politics in general.
"Raising the Baa enables future leaders of the wool industry to gain knowledge in compliance, risk, strategy, finance and the role of the board."
Anyone who has a passion for the wool industry and is active in any sector of the industry or its supply chain can apply.
The AICD course is a globally recognised qualification which provides participants with a thorough understanding of corporate governance.
Applicants for WoolProducers' Youth Ambassador must be aged between 18 and 35 years.
Course costs, accommodation and travel expenses will be covered.
Nominations close on Friday, April 26.
Successful applicants will be chosen on merit.
For information email info@woolproducers.com.au.
