Dr Werner Vogels with the 2026 Fairley Leadership Program cohort.
The 2026 Fairley Leadership Program cohort has continued its learning journey recently, travelling to beautiful Benalla to participate in a series of presentations and workshops designed to strengthen leadership capability.
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The full-day program brought together expert facilitators to guide participants through foundational leadership principles, future-focused systems thinking, and practical communication skills essential for community and organisational leadership.
The day commenced with a Leadership Foundation Workshop delivered by James Jensen.
Mr Jensen leans deeply into his experience in the military and uses reflective practice to grow and develop a leadership style that encourages psychological safety in teams for optimum performance.
Participants explored the fundamentals of effective leadership, including building high-performance teams, cultivating trust, and developing tools for self-mastery. The session also focused on communicating with clarity and intention — a core capability for emerging regional leaders.
In the afternoon the cohort engaged in a ‘Three Horizons’ workshop with Paul Ryan.
Mr Ryan aims to challenge current systems to be ready for the future.
This session introduced the ‘Three Horizons’ framework as a practical tool for systems thinking and future planning.
Charles Halloran, from the Wangaratta Toastmasters, with the 2026 Fairley Leadership Program cohort.
Participants examined how leaders can navigate uncertainty, understand emerging challenges, and identify pathways for transition and innovation within communities and organisations.
The final session of the day was facilitated by Charles Halloran, from Wangaratta Toastmasters.
Mr Halloran told the cohort that a new Shepparton-Mooroopna toastmaster’s group is being established and is a great place to learn the craft of public speaking in a safe and supportive environment.
Participants developed confidence in public speaking and explored techniques for effective presentations, storytelling, and audience engagement.
The workshop provided practical tools to support leadership, advocacy, and professional communication across the region.
Throughout the day, participants also had the opportunity to connect with Fairley Fellow Nathan Gasperoni, from Benalla Rural City Council.
During lunch, Mr Gasperoni shared reflections on his own Fairley experience, his work within local government, and the opportunities and challenges facing regional communities, providing valuable insights from both a local and alumni perspective.
The day concluded with a reflection session facilitated by Goulburn Murray Community Leadership board member, Dr Werner Vogels, providing participants with the opportunity to consolidate key learnings and consider how they might apply them within their own leadership journeys.
