Inspired Leadership 2025

Applications will soon be open for Inspired Leadership 2025, our “transformative” regional leadership program for the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.

Inspired Leadership is an engaging six-month program supporting the development of regenerative leadership capability for a diverse cohort of aspiring, emerging and established leaders. Newday Leadership is delivering this program for Regional Development Australia – Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, with the funding support of the Government of South Australia’s Regional Leadership Development Program.

Inspired Leadership 2025 will be held in a variety of inspiring and intriguing locations across the region, on the lands of the Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna and Peramangk peoples. It will culminate in a celebration at the Newday Leadership Summit in late October.

This is a contemporary program that celebrates excellence in the region, exploring challenges and opportunities with a global perspective. You can also read about last year’s program via CityMag’s excellent article, ‘A Newday for leadership in the regions’.

The inaugural program was launched in June 2023 with Cedric Varcoe, as shown in this short video. Cedric will also be working with next year’s cohort of leaders.

Excellence in leadership

Inspired Leadership is led by Newday Leadership’s co-directors, Katrina Webb and Matthew Wright-Simon, with a range of special leadership facilitators. The program is informed by Newday’s five tenets of leadership excellence:

• Global change
• Wellbeing and resilience
• Cultural awareness
• Social responsibility
• Diversity and inclusion.

Program features

Inspired Leadership 2025 will take place from June to October, with monthly sessions held in a different locations and a mid-program two-day retreat in the Adelaide Hills.

Inspired Leadership 2024 will focus on exemplary participant experiences that appeal to all the senses (including a sense of fun, excitement and humour). The program:

• is connected to Country, informed by First Nations’ leaders
• increases leadership capacity, influence and resilience
• helps leaders learn about best practice wellbeing management
• supports cross-sector collaboration
• develops leadership skills
• builds a culture of active citizenship.

Each program participant is well supported, with program features including:

• professional ‘personality’ profiles
• a 12-month subscription to a world-class wellbeing platform
• an online group to maintain connection, with check-in opportunities between monthly sessions
• worksheets and templates, readings, viewings and listenings for each session
• nourishing, sustainable and delicious food and drink (working with regional providers and producers)
• consideration of all abilities and lived experiences
• approaches and environments that help each person learn most effectively.

Inspired Leadership is designed and curated to support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (also known as the Global Goals).

Program eligibility and details

Expressions of interest will be sought from aspiring, emerging and established leaders in business, community and government organisations. In addition to seeking leadership development support, we will be looking for a diverse group of people with a strong motivation to make a difference in the region.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; culturally and linguistically diverse and LGBTQIA+ community members and people of all abilities will be encouraged to apply. Thanks to generous funding support, the program cost will be only $700 (gst inclusive). Bursaries are available to select candidates.

Applicants must live, work, or volunteer in the region or, in the case of Indigenous people, know part of the region as home Country. Applicants must also be at least 18 years of age and no longer in school.

Our 2023 and 2024 cohorts exemplified these qualities, with leaders represented from the late teens to late 60s and representation from every part of the region (and many of its community, corporate and government sectors).

Should you wish to discuss whether or not this program is suitable for you, please contact Matthew Wright-Simon.

Partners and partnership opportunities

Inspired Leadership is an initiative of Regional Development Australia – Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island whose purpose is to develop and grow the region’s economy and liveability through sustainable economic development. The support of the Australian Government and the Government of South Australia is gratefully acknowledged, as is PIRSA for program funding.

Newday Leadership can also tailor an Inspired Leadership program for your region, organisation, network or community. To learn more, please contact us.

We acknowledge the use of imagery by a range of photographers. See credits for detail.