The participants in the 2024 Australia Future Cotton Leaders Program (AFCLP) have formally graduated after an intense program featuring face-to-face forums, interactive online discussions, one-on-one coaching and integration with industry activities.

This year 46 people, a record number, applied for the prestigious opportunity resulting in the selection panel extending the participant number from 15 to 16, due to the quality of applicants.

The participants came from across the cotton supply chain including growers, consultants, merchants, and research and extension personnel and all undertook an individual project related to their area of interest further developing their leadership skills in a real-life scenario.

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay said he is excited about the potential of the 2024 participants to advance the already outstanding reputation of Australian cotton.

“Half of the 16 participants are growers, and they will be able to immediately apply what they have learned to their respective farms and share that knowledge with their local farming communities. Likewise, those graduates from other parts of the industry will also be able to positively impact their own areas of focus.

“Pleasingly, the AFCLP is demonstrating its appeal to the best and brightest in the industry with the average age of the 2024 contingent sitting at 28,” Mr Kay said.

Graduate Georgie Flick, an agronomist from Goondiwindi, said the course was beneficial. “I really improved my communication skills and how to be effective with varying personality types in the industry. What I gained will help my career because I will be better able to serve the local cotton community.”

Gunnedah cotton grower George McCalman said he enjoyed the focus on leadership. “The course helped me to fully understand other parts of the industry but also how to be an effective leader, and if I think that will help me to be a better farmer and business operator.”

Mr Kay said previous AFCLP participants have moved into senior positions within Australian cotton, with many former graduates on boards including Cotton Australia CRDC and CSD, as well as Cotton Grower Associations and other industry committees and projects.

Held every two years the AFCLP is run and coordinated by Cotton Australia with funding from the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC). The program designed for emerging leaders has produced 116 graduates since the concept was devised back in 2006.

Leadership is one of the key priorities in both the Cotton Australia and CRDC five-year Strategic Plans, demonstrating its importance to the industry. CA and CRDC jointly support the AFCLP, the Australian Rural Leadership Program and Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarships.