Leadership Victoria

During April, our Williamson Community Leadership Program (WCLP) 2024 cohort has been exploring their second theme of the year: privilege. Our location for last Friday, the Abbottsford Convent, provided a change of pace and a historic backdrop to explore this theme.

Our day began with a heartfelt Welcome to Country by Uncle Bill Nicholson, setting the tone for a day of meaningful dialogue. John Di Natale, Abbottsford Convent COO, then framed discussions for the day within the broader context of creating change in the community through the lens of privilege.

Throughout the day, we heard from diverse leaders, Good Human Org. CEO and Founder Rana Hussain, Darebin City Council Mayor Susanne Newton (WCLP '23), former Youth Development Officer Anne Ho**er OAM, Ajak & Associates Founder Daniel Ajak, The Ian Potter Foundation CEO Paul Conroy (WCLP '08), Women's Giving Foundation Co-Founder Patricia Burke OAM and Victorian Equal Opportunities and Human Rights Commissioner Ro Allen (FAICD).

During these sessions, we invited our cohort to critically reflect as they explored how they face and mobilise our privilege as leaders for a better society by holding up a mirror to their own leadership journeys. This included determining where the advantage and disadvantage lies due to different facets of one's identity, education and status and understanding where they have been held back or propelled further as a result. Finally, the cohort worked through how they can ensure that they are using their privilege to reach those without, lead more effectively and ultimately create conditions for their organisations and communities to thrive.

Thank you to Abbottsford Convent for hosting us and to all our guest speakers for your invaluable insights and for answering many tough and thought-provoking questions from our WCLP '24 cohort!

Last night, we held the 2024 Williamson Community Leadership Program (WCLP) Welcome Event, officially welcoming the 2024 cohort to the next 10 months of their transformational leadership journey. On the evening, the cohort were joined by Leadership Victoria Leader in Residence Christine Kotur AM, members of the LV Board, 2023 Williamson Fellows as well as Williamson Fellows and Valedictorians from previous years.

Building community and enduring networks are key aspects of WCLP and this was evident last night as new connections were built, traditions were carried on and legacies were shared. Traditions such as the long-running gift giving practices of the LV Socks and the newly added Inclusion Cup were presented by Laura Thompson (WCLP '18) and Amanda Lawrie-Jones (WCLP '23). Laura and Amanda have both made a mark in their own way, identifying opportunities to make these practices equitable and inclusive and we thank them for their contributions to the legacy of WCLP.

Additionally, 2023 Valedictorians Charlie McMullin (WCLP '23) and Kevin Kapeke (WCLP '23) shared their "To My Pre-Williamson Self" letters - letters that centre on reflecting on their time in the program, with the added advantage of hindsight - were shared, giving the 2024 cohort an opportunity to better understand what lies ahead on their own leadership paths. Thank you Charlie and Kevin for sharing so openly and candidly.

We look forward to continuing this journey with the 2024 cohort, following along as they make their own marks, build on WCLP traditions and leave lasting legacies.

The countdown is on! This Thursday, we celebrate the Leadership Victoria Alumni Community at the Reignite Alumni Gala 🎇

For over 30 years, extraordinary leaders have come together to work towards the collective purpose of a sustainable, equitable and inclusive Victoria and beyond. The breadth of this work would not be possible without the commitment and contribution of the dedicated network of alumni, mentors, volunteers, speakers and partners.

We look forward to connecting and reflecting on the experiences, stories and challenges that have shaped the Leadership Victoria Community throughout the years. We'll see you there!

Throughout October, our Williamson (WCLP) 2023 cohort has been exploring their final theme of the year: enchantment. Our location for last Friday, the Mount Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre was the perfect backdrop to explore this theme, providing a change a of environment and pace.

After a powerful Welcome to Country, our leads for the day opened the day with the quote “Enchantment, by my definition, has nothing to do with fantasy, or escapism, or magical thinking: it is founded on a vivid sense of belongingness to a rich and many-layered world; a profound and whole-hearted participation in the adventure of life.” (Sharon Blackie, 2018).

We invited our cohort to keep this is mind throughout the day as we explored how the connections made with each other, the land we are on and the world around us plays a part in our ability to lead effectively. As we heard from Odonata Foundation Conservation Facilitator, Sam Lancaster, Writer and Author, Dr Maya Ward and Artist and Activist, Matt Wicking, our cohort had moments to reflect on their purpose and sense of belonging. They had the opportunity to engage in workshops to experience wonder, deepen their awareness of themselves and finally, their perception of the natural world.

Thank you to the Mount Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre for hosting us and to our guest speakers for providing space for new experiences and learning.

The fourth series of the Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program has begun this week, delivered in conjunction with Department of Families, Fairness and Housing - VIC Office for Women.

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of being joined by Sinèad Redmond (OFWJK ’22) Head of Infrastructure Delivery at Geelong Port, Fatima Everitt (WCLP ‘23), Founder and Creative Director at Dreamtime Art Consultancy and Kate Kennedy AM, Chair Advisory Board at Emit Capital Asset Management and Non-Executive Director at iPRO Software.

Our panelists shared their experience on the issues of gender bias, structural barriers and enablers to career development. The session brought to light a wide spectrum of issues facing young leaders today, including societal expectations and the pressures that arise when growing up in a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community. There was also a strong focus on building support networks in all sectors. Finally, the session addressed how as leaders, everyone can better equip women to fully participate in the workplace in the face of intersectional disadvantage and discrimination.

Thank you to our panelists for sharing their wisdom and insights on such a complex and challenging topic.

Last chance! The Reignite Alumni Gala is quickly approaching and it's a night you don't want to miss. This is a special opportunity to reconnect with alumni and friends and reignite your connection with the Leadership Victoria community.

Ticket sales close on Monday, October 16th so act now!

Date - Thursday 26th of October
Location - Melbourne Town Hall
Time - 6:30pm - 10:30pm

🎟 Get tickets below:

REIGNITE - Leadership Victoria Alumni Gala | Humanitix REIGNITE - Leadership Victoria Alumni Gala, Hosted at Melbourne Town Hall, 90-120 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia, Thu 26th Oct 2023, 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm AEDT. Tickets are only $143. Only on Humanitix

This week at Leadership Victoria, we're excited to commence the fourth series of the Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program, delivered in partnership with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing - VIC Office for Women. In preparation, we sat down with LV Alum Linda Liwewe, Valedictorian of the third series to talk about her experience in the program and how the outcomes have informed how she leads today.

Linda is an emerging leader who has spent the last several years in the Victorian public sector, specifically in the criminal justice space as a Senior Project Manager with Victoria Police. Her interest in systemic thinking has seen her contribute to a more inclusive community. This has shown through her work in managing public sector digital and reform projects aimed at greatly enhancing the lives of Victorians, in particular women, CALD and LGBTIQ communities.

Whilst telling her story, she spoke about imposter syndrome, what it means to find your footing as a leader and offered her advice to other emerging leaders undertaking the program. Read her full story here: https://www.leadershipvictoria.org/news/alumni-spotlight-linda-liwewe-joan-kirner-emerging-leaders-program-s3-valedictorian/

We're delighted to welcome 20 new emerging leaders to the Joan Kirner Program and can't wait to follow their stories as well. Find out more about the program here: https://www.leadershipvictoria.org/program/joan-kirner-emerging-leaders-program/

Alumni Spotlight: Linda Liwewe - Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program S3 Valedictorian | Leadership Victoria Meet Linda Liwewe, Valedictorian of the 2023 third series of the Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program. Named in honour of Victoria’s first woman Premier, Joan

To our Alumni, we want to hear from you! Join our CEO, Katherine Ellis for an Alumni Consultation over breakfast, lunch or online, to share your LV experience, your ideas for further contribution to community, and what you would like from an Alumni Program.

Book a breakfast time consultation here: https://events.humanitix.com/lv-ceo-alumni-consultation-breakfast

Book a lunch time consultation here: https://events.humanitix.com/alumni-consultation-lunch

Book an online time consultation here: https://events.humanitix.com/alumni-consultation-or-online

Alternatively, if you would like to gather a group from your cohort, or your workplace, please contact us and we'll come to you!

Yesterday at the Leader Evolution program, we had the pleasure of hearing from Sean Jameson (WCLP ’10), Director of People and Culture at the Melbourne Theatre Company about how vulnerability can make us better leaders. Sean has over 20 years of executive leadership experience across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Sean inspired our current Leader Evolution cohort by sharing how being honest with yourself is crucial, particularly whilst facing daunting leadership challenges and finding your purpose. He highlighted how this can help leaders own their responsibility in the obstacles they are facing, and the importance of keeping ego in check.

He also encouraged the cohort to be authentic, transparent and “speak their truth” as part of strengthening their ability to lead effectively, and demonstrated how showing vulnerability ultimately allows others to do the same.

We are always honoured to welcome our Alumni to our current programs and hear how their leadership journey has shifted and changed over the years (as we all know this journey never ends!). Thank you, Sean, for allowing us to share your insights here and for an empowering session.

We are thrilled to commence our second series of the Leader Evolution Program this week! We’re welcoming 25 leaders from across Victoria with a wide range of experiences and skills to challenge themselves as part of their leadership journey. Throughout the program, they will learn to approach issues in a way that allows them to lead adaptively, mobilising and empowering others and managing self to overcome daunting leadership challenges.

📚 Find out more about the program here: https://www.leadershipvictoria.org/program/leader-evolution/

💡 See what a previous participants had to say about the program afterwards below:

Leadership Victoria brings together leaders with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, and inspires and encourages them to challenge systemic barriers to equality, inclusion and sustainability.

We all have a responsibility to understand the importance of the Voice Referendum, and to make an informed vote. To that end, we should be clear on the question being asked, seek unbiased information to help us decide, and show leadership in helping others do the same.

We encourage you to read the full statement from Leadership Victoria regarding The Voice referendum here:

Leadership Victoria and The Voice | Leadership Victoria We all have a responsibility to understand the importance of the Voice Referendum, and to make an informed vote. To that end, we should be clear on the question being asked, seek unbiased information to help us decide, and show leadership in helping others do the same.

With over 50% of tickets sold, the countdown is on for the Reignite Alumni Gala, an evening you definitely won’t want to miss! This is your chance to reconnect and reengage with your fellow alumni as well as meeting other exceptional leaders from the Leadership Victoria community.

This Gala is proudly brought to you by your fellow Alumni, as they have worked tirelessly to bring this all together. Remember, all profit and donations will be directed towards the LV Foundation, creating scholarship opportunities and strengthening Leadership Victoria’s social impact.

Come along to celebrate over 30 years of the Leadership Victoria Alumni Community and book tickets online today.

REIGNITE - Leadership Victoria Alumni Gala | Humanitix REIGNITE - Leadership Victoria Alumni Gala, Hosted at Melbourne Town Hall, 90-120 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia, Thu 26th Oct 2023, 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm AEDT. Tickets are only $143. Only on Humanitix

As part of our ongoing commitment to foster new opportunities for women leadership from multicultural backgrounds, we are have partnered with CALD2LEAD in sponsoring a place in Leadership Victoria's Women's Leadership Program in November 2023.

This scholarship is an opportunity for women leaders from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and multicultural backgrounds to participate in a transformative leadership experience, immersed in the Yarra Valley. Applications are still open but they do close very soon, don't miss out!

📅 Deadline: Sunday 24th September
📚 Learn more about the Women's Leadership Program: https://www.leadershipvictoria.org/program/womens-leadership-program/
🔗 Apply now: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C2LScholarship2023

CALD2LEAD Scholarship Application Form for the Women's Leadership Program Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Calling all Leadership Victoria Alumni! You're invited to the Reignite Alumni Gala 🎉

Mark your calendars: The Reignite Alumni Gala will be held this October, celebrating over 30 years of the Leadership Victoria Alumni community.

Not only is this is the perfect opportunity to come together, reignite connections and re-engage with your cohort, you will also have the chance to meet the Leadership Victoria team and other esteemed leaders from across all Leadership Victoria programs.

Date: Thursday 26th October 2023

Location: Melbourne Town Hall

Time: 6:30pm – 10:30pm

Reach out to your Alumni year group and book a table below to enjoy an unforgettable night of sharing experiences, old and new, with the Leadership Victoria community. Don’t forget to include a table name so your cohort can sit together on the night.

As part of this event, funds raised through donations to the LV Foundation will help sponsor a Scholarship into the Williamson Community Leadership Program (WCLP) in 2024.

Any organisation interested in sponsoring the Gala Dinner, which will be attended by 400 outstanding leaders from across Victoria, please contact us at [email protected]

For any questions, please reach us on [email protected]

REIGNITE - Leadership Victoria Alumni Gala | Humanitix REIGNITE - Leadership Victoria Alumni Gala, Hosted at Melbourne Town Hall, 90-120 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia, Thu 26th Oct 2023, 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm AEDT. Tickets are only $143. Only on Humanitix

📣 The next round of the Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program is now open! 📣

Named in honour of Victoria's first female Premier, Joan Kirner AC, the program is designed to support women to identify the leadership challenges they face and develop practical skills and strategies to advance their leadership careers.

This round of applications is for women working in non-traditional and male-dominated industries. The program will support women to lead in these sectors, so they can increase their earning potential and also improve business outcomes.

Women aged 22-40 from a broad range of backgrounds and lived experiences are encouraged to apply,

Applications close Monday 1 August 2022.

To apply or find out more, visit: https://hubs.ly/Q01fB9LK0.

Leadership Victoria is thrilled to announce the appointment of Christine Nixon AO, APM to the role of Chair.

Best known for her role as Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police from 2001 and 2009, and for leading the Victorian Bushfire Recovery after the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires, Christine joins us at a time when strong leadership has never been more vital.

Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/gu5vJTVF

Christine Nixon appointed Chair of Leadership Victoria | Leadership Victoria Christine Nixon appointed Chair of Leadership Victoria Former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Christine Nixon AO, APM has been appointed Chair of Leadership Victoria, marking a significant milestone for the not-for-profit social enterprise at a time when strong leadership has never been more....

Today LV is celebrating International Women’s Day.

Leadership Victoria CEO, Sally Hines recently spoke with Anna Mercer from Emu Search about the theme of for women’s leadership and supporting women in the workplace.

Sally’s talks to:

💭 When thinking about gender equality, how do organisations support the diversity of all women, extending beyond gender

💭 How might we challenge the systemic and cultural assumptions and barriers to enable full and effective participation of women in the workforce

💭 How understanding privilege can impact your view of the barriers to women’s leadership

But like Sally mentions in the pod, gender equality is complex and nuanced, so be sure to check out the full podcast.

https://hubs.ly/Q015ysWZ0

Emu Search | Find Extraordinary In Episode 9 we meet the CEO of Leadership Victoria, Sally Hines, to discuss all things women in leadership including Sally's own experiences of breaking the bias in her own journey to CEO. Anna and Sally also explore themes around purposeful leadership, what that means in a current context and how

At Leadership Victoria, we view leadership as the ability to mobilise others to achieve important outcomes.

So, what is important to you and how are you going to create change?

Our Leadership Development Programs offer the opportunity to support you on that journey by:

☑️ Gaining awareness and clarity of personal leadership purpose
☑️ Building confidence, courage and skill in complex contexts
☑️ Developing your ability to influence and mobilise others
☑️ Being thoughtful and considered in your decision making
☑️ Growing a diverse, unusual and enduring network

See 2022 programs here: https://hubs.ly/Q0147g7t0

All of our Leadership Development Programs incorporate these outcomes but deciding which one is right for you might depend on where you are at on your leadership journey.

Leadership Development Programs for 2022 👇

See 2022 programs here: https://hubs.ly/H0_-s480

We view leadership as the ability to mobilise others to achieve important outcomes. We focus on purpose, ethics and values, developing adaptive leaders who are inquisitive and reflective. Leaders who want to make a difference and have the skills and mindset to do so.

Does this sound like you, or perhaps members of your team?

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) and Leadership Victoria invite you to apply for the Citizenship Leadership Program. Explore what it means to actively engage in the democratic process and gain useful leadership skills to drive positive change for your community.

At the end of the program, suitable participants may be invited to apply for
casual work as a Democracy Ambassador with the VEC.

Find out more and apply online here: https://hubs.ly/H0YT9fL0

Boost Your Leadership Development 📶

As we near the end of 2021 (whaaa... where did the time go?) we've got a few final leadership development opportunities for you.

Innovate your problem solving with LeaderEvolution, a 3-day intensive leadership program that provides a new approach to leading when managing change, complexity, or stubborn problems: https://hubs.ly/H0X5zkT0

Build your confidence as a by exploring best-practice leadership competencies and principles in our 5-day Igniting Leadership Program: https://hubs.ly/H0X5wQ_0

LeaderEvoluton Participant Testimonial 💬

Right now, the uncertainty of this current lockdown poses organisational challenges as we try and adapt to new ways of operating. But the uncertainty is also having a huge effect on us as individuals.

In our LeaderEvolution Leadership Program, we focus on strategies for both managing self and overcoming default patterns of thinking to make progress on workplace challenges.

Learn more about whether LeaderEvolution is right for you or a team member by heading here: https://hubs.ly/H0W538c0

We recently caught up with Chris Kotur, Leader in Residence for Leadership Victoria, who shares some great tips for leading in this ongoing crisis and how we might reframe the way we engage with these challenging times.

3 Tips For Leading In An Ongoing Crisis https://hubs.ly/H0Vp2v70

3 Tips For Leading In An Ongoing Crisis Chris Kotur, Leader in Residence for LV, shares tips for leading in this ongoing crisis and reframing the way we engage with these challenging times.

Final Williamson Info Session for 2022: This Thursday 👇

Listen and engage with LV alumni over zoom as they share their firsthand experience and impact of the Williamson Leadership Program + Q&A: https://hubs.ly/H0RCJxs0

2022 Williamson Leadership Program Info Session #3 (Evening) Listen and engage with LV alumni over zoom as they share their firsthand experience and impact of the Williamson Leadership Program + Q&A.

NAIDOC Week 2021 - Heal Country!

We recognise & celebrate First Nations people who have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. Particularly this week, as part of the NAIDOC celebrations, the Leadership Victoria team acknowledges the leadership, contribution, and impact of First Nations alumni and participants.

📢 Williamson scholarships for 2022

We have a number of scholarships available through the LV Foundation for the 2022 Williamson Leadership Program.

Thanks to our partners we're pleased to offer additional scholarships, including:

- Islamic Council of Victoria: Muslim Women’s Initiative
- Victorian Government Office for Disability: Scholarship opportunity for people with a
disability
- Eastern Health and Williamson alumni: Multiple scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Head to our Williamson landing page to find out more: https://hubs.ly/H0Rsrg30

Supporting Lifelong Leaders

“When you go through this intense experience, you create a leadership community. People bring this back to any organisation they work for and build capacity for everyone. It’s a multipronged and long-lasting impact.” - Mike Rolls

After completing the 2020 Williamson Leadership Program, Mike Rolls, Professional speaker, resilience coach and competitive golfer, is now using his Williamson skills to encourage amputees, especially young people and women, to take up the sport.

Help fund future leadership scholarships by donating to the LV Scholarship Fund: https://hubs.ly/H0PVgr_0