2026 Fairley Leadership Cohort Builds Capability Through Leadership, Systems Thinking and Communication Workshops

4th June 2026

Benalla, 29th May 2026 -- The 2026 Fairley Leadership Program cohort has continued its learning journey this week, travelling to beautiful Benalla to participate in a series of presentations and workshops designed to strengthen leadership capability.

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.

Leadership Foundations – James Jensen, K6 Consulting

The day commenced with a Leadership Foundation Workshop delivered by James Jensen. James 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.

Three Horizons Workshop – Paul Ryan, The Australian Resilience Centre

Following lunch, the cohort engaged in a Three Horizons workshop with Paul Ryan. Originally a Lancaster local, Ryan is a big thinker and challenges 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. Participants examined how leaders can navigate uncertainty, understand emerging challenges, and identify pathways for transition and innovation within communities and organisations.

Toastmasters Communication Workshop

The final session of the day was facilitated by Charles Halloran (Wangaratta Toastmasters) and assisted by Matthew Anderson (Albury Wodonga Toastmasters). Charles shared 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 FF'24 from Benalla Rural City Council. During lunch, Nathan 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 GMCL 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.

Together, the sessions challenged participants to think critically about leadership, communicate with purpose, and consider how regional leaders can navigate change and uncertainty while creating positive impact within their communities.

A special thank you to DEECA Benalla for hosting the day and providing such a fantastic venue for the cohort to learn, connect, and reflect throughout the program.

About the Fairley Leadership Program

The Fairley Leadership Program is the Goulburn Murray region’s flagship community leadership initiative. Each year, the program brings together a diverse cohort of emerging and established leaders to deepen their understanding of regional issues, strengthen their leadership capability, and foster collaboration across sectors and communities.

The 2026 cohort represents a broad cross‑section of industries, experiences, and perspectives, united by a shared commitment to strengthening the future of the Goulburn Murray region.

This media release was developed by Leadership Group 4 of the 2026 Fairley Leadership Program: Arpita Khare, Ed Thomas, Jayden Howe and Renee Pichler.