Audio transcript

ADAM GRAY INTERVIEW
RURAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Interviewer (I): So Adam, what year did you actually take part in the course, and were you rurally based before you took part in the course, or were you a city based person?

Adam Gray (AG): Originally I grew up on a vineyard in McLaren Vale, and during the vine pull years we moved off the property. But I was based at the SA Farmers Federation in the year that I took part, which was 2005. So I was heavily involved in rural regional policy development in that organisation.

I: So who encouraged you to take part in the Rural Leadership Program in the first place?

AG: I worked with a couple of people that had undertaken the course, and had recommended it. I was also at a point in my job where I was just looking for some different challenges. So, I hadn’t done anything like a leadership course before and thought I’d give it a go.

I: So what do you remember being some of the most enjoyable parts of the program at the time?

AG: The residential was interesting because, probably like every other residential that’s gone before and after, we had a great dinner and a few drinks and I got to meet a whole host of new people from around South Australia with all varied backgrounds. So the residential was good fun. The outdoor exercises were good as well because it was putting activity based exercises into leadership and personal development frameworks so that was good fun. They’re probably the most enjoyable aspects of it.

I: How do you feel that the leadership program has helped you in your current role since participating?

AG: The part of professional development and becoming better at doing your job is growing and learning. And one of the biggest aspects of the Rural Leadership course was that it had a significant focus on getting to know yourself better and where your strengths and weaknesses lie, and the type of personality that you have and the preferences you have. Coming to understand, and having that self-awareness was really, really valuable in then moving forward with applying the learnings from the course in real life situations which I’ve done. And things like facilitation and mentoring I’ve carried through and found them very, very valuable.

I: You sort of covered a bit there, but have you used a lot of what you learned in your current role here at the Local Government Association?

AG: Very much so. In fact I’ve also just completed some Local Government leadership programs which have followed on from what I did at the Rural Leadership Program really neatly. It’s been a fantastic progression from doing the Rural Leadership Program and then as a member of the staff of the Farmers Federation and then becoming still involved with rural regional policy at the LGA. Fifty of our councils are regional councils. And I’ve certainly applied things like facilitation with large groups of councils, and a whole host of other activities that we did. Looking at issues from different perspectives was another thing we covered with a lot of the course outdoor-type activity. Where you were put with a challenge and really had to come at it from a different angle to try and achieve your outcomes. That sort of thinking has carried through.

I: You mentioned you took part in the first place because the course was recommended to you by others. Would you now recommend the program to other aspiring rural leaders, and why?

AG: Yes, very much so. I think a really important first step in professional development in any way, shape, or form is knowing yourself and having that as a foundation for getting to know your style. But there is also then being able to work with other people so that you not only know your style and preferences and the way you do things, but you get a better understanding on why other people do things as well. And so I found that applying the learnings of the Rural Leadership course was really handy in trying to not only get the best out of me, but get the best of out of other people as well. So I’d very strongly recommend it for anybody interested in growing in professional development. It’s very different from a tertiary type qualification which tend to be very dry and technical based, whereas this is very hands on, so certainly a good life experience.