26 March 2003
Australian primary producers are being offered the opportunity to participate in an innovative management development program designed to enhance their business skills, with the opening of applications for this year's Rabobank Executive Development Program for Primary Producers.
The program - run by the world's leading agribusiness bank Rabobank, in conjunction with the University of Queensland and Wesfarmers Landmark - brings together progressive primary producers from around Australia and New Zealand to learn the latest business management practices and how these can be applied to primary production.
Run over nine months, the program consists of two week-long residential modules covering subjects including farm business management, strategic planning, financial analysis, succession planning, marketing, value chain management, leadership and people management.
The program is a challenging mix of commercial and theoretical presentations, class discussions, case studies and interactive sessions presented by a range of industry leaders and academic experts. This year's presenters include UK value chain management specialist Professor David Hughes and leading Australian farm business strategist Angus Taylor.
After the first module, participants complete a management program relating to the potential growth of their own rural enterprise.
Rabobank program manager Sarah Reynolds says the course, which is now in its fifth year of operation, has considerably benefited past participants.
"As a result of participation in the program, past graduates have been encouraged to significantly improve and develop their operations," she says.
"This includes everything from implementing business plans and improving their financial management to identifying and targeting export markets.
"In particular, they have been challenged to think more strategically when making decisions about all aspects of their business."
Past and current course participants include: South Australian pastoralist and sheep farmer Brendon Smart (the current chairman of Seedco), Queensland cattle producer Simone Tully (the founder of OBE Beef), Victorian winemaker Matthew Browne (producer of Scotchmans Hill), New South Wales pastoralist and grazier Ben West and Western Australian woolgrowers Roger and Annabelle House.
New South Wales beef cattle farmer Andrew Blomfield, a participant in the program's 2002 intake, says the EDPPP has been a life-changing experience.
"The EDPPP has changed my life," he says. "Through the course material and interaction with other participants I gained new ideas and confidence to go further. I now approach things in a more business-like manner and I'm exploring and testing new ideas and ventures."
Participants are selected on a merit basis, representing a broad cross-section of industries. Selection criteria includes at least five years' management experience on farm, a demonstrable and successful commercial track record, an ability to innovate and a desire to invest in the intellectual capital of an agricultural business or supply chain.
Contact
Click here for more information on the 2003/2004 Executive Development Program for Primary Producers, or email sydney.edppp@rabobank.com.