Fairley celebrates 30 years of leadership as 22 graduates carry its legacy forward
28 October 2026
Shepparton, VIC — Over 120 local leaders, alumni and supporters came together to celebrate 22 graduates of the 2026 Fairley Leadership Program, honouring its 30th cohort and three decades of leadership, connection and community contribution across the Goulburn Murray region.
The graduation recognised a year of learning, personal growth and relationships that will continue beyond the program. The 2026 Fairley Fellows now join generations of alumni contributing to their workplaces and communities, carrying forward a legacy built through people supporting others to lead.
GMCL Executive Officer Jesse Mitchell, who participated in Fairley in 2023 before becoming a Leadership Coach in 2024 and Executive Officer in 2025, reflected on the program’s lasting impact.
“Thirty years is an extraordinary milestone. But the real story of Fairley isn’t measured in years alone. It lives in the friendships formed, the doors opened, the conversations that changed someone’s thinking and the people who found the courage to step forward,” Jesse Mitchell said.
Keynote speakers Michelle Taylor, Harley Haber and Dhami Singh reflected on their leadership journeys, adding their perspectives to the celebration. The event was MC’d by 2025 program participants Alex Wright and Sarah Griffiths.
Following the anniversary gala in April 2026, the graduation brought a year of 30th anniversary celebrations to a close.
Together, these occasions honoured the graduates, alumni, sponsors, partners and supporters whose involvement has sustained Fairley’s contribution to the region over three decades.
To view the event booklet, go to https://www.goulburnmurraycommunityleadership.com.au/about-us > Alumni and click on the 2026 Yearbook (electronic version can be found here - https://canva.link/i58ey17ywdne4lk).
Protecting the legacy and working towards a sustainable future
At the graduation event, GMCL also announced that the Fairley Leadership Program will pause in 2027 while the organisation works to secure the investment and capacity needed for sustainable future delivery.
Sufficient external investment has not yet been secured to deliver the 2027 program responsibly. Proceeding without it would expose GMCL to unacceptable financial and operational risk. The Board’s decision is intended to protect the organisation and preserve the foundations needed for the program’s return.
GMCL Board Chair Lacey Nicholson said protecting Fairley’s legacy meant balancing the commitment to regional leadership with the responsibility to ensure the organisation’s long-term sustainability.
“This is a pause in program delivery, not a withdrawal from our commitment to regional leadership,” Ms Nicholson said.
“Our responsibility is not simply to deliver a program each year. It is to protect the organisation, the program's legacy and its capacity to create meaningful regional impact into the future.”
During 2027, GMCL will seek investment, build partnerships and review its organisational capacity while preserving the curriculum, intellectual property, records and relationships needed for future delivery. Essential governance, compliance, stakeholder communication, alumni connections, digital information and stewardship of program assets will continue at a level matched to available resources.
While program delivery pauses, Fairley’s legacy continues through its alumni and the relationships, ideas and community contributions developed over 30 years. GMCL will continue to recognise that contribution and maintain connections with alumni and supporters.
Ms Nicholson also acknowledged that the announcement may bring disappointment and uncertainty, and emphasised that the decision did not diminish the achievements of the 2026 graduates or the capabilities and relationships they had developed.
“Sustainable leadership development requires a community that is willing to invest in it. We invite prospective partners to work with us to help build that future,” Ms Nicholson said.
No date has been confirmed for the program’s return, which depends on securing sufficient investment and organisational capacity for responsible delivery. GMCL welcomes conversations with businesses, foundations, government and community partners interested in helping sustain regional leadership development.
“As you step forward, help others do the same. Nurture new leaders, clear the path for those who follow and make room for them at the table,” Jesse Mitchell told the graduates.
GMCL's network now includes 788 Fairley alumni. Its 2026 Alumni Impact Report estimated alumni leadership had generated $35.4 million in social value, positively affected more than 82,000 people, and found 99 per cent of alumni had taken at least one new leadership action following their participation.