What’s happening at AHA? Leadership Profile AHA Communications team On its 25th Birthday, with a gala audience of 400 guests, a cohort of 23 people graduated from the Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP). AHA’s Aquatic Biosecurity Liaison Officer, Helen Jenkins was one of the leaders graduating from the program. For Helen, taking part in this program had been an aspiration for many years. After working over 27 years in the fisheries industry, she said it was a natural step to take. “I had wanted to take part in this leadership program for quite some time. In the fishing industry it’s held in high esteem and indeed a prestigious program. I was at a stage in my life where I was ready for a new opportunity and to take my leadership skills to a new level,” said Helen. A 15-month program, the ARLP spans 55 days, with five unique sessions through Australia and Indonesia. The program aims to develop participants’ leadership thinking, industry, community 24 THE LINK AUT/WIN 18 and regional engagement, understandings of values and ethics and personal strengths. “The learning outcomes from the program are collegial and it’s about what you experience, reflect on, interact with and teach yourself that strengthens your ability to be more courageous with your leadership journey,” said Helen. With a competitive application process, and a rigorous interview for those who are short listed, Helen was successfully chosen to begin the program in August 2016. Beginning in Australia’s Kimberley region, diverse leaders from Australia’s rural and remote industries such as beef, grains and art came together to participate in a series of challenges with survival as the ultimate goal. “The Kimberley part is very secretive, no-one talks about it. You don’t know what to expect and you don’t know what you’re supposed to do. All participants keep the code of silence and don’t share what happens so that the next cohort can experience it for themselves,” said Helen. Whilst Helen did well to survive the challenges the cohort were put through, coming home was a different experience. Helen Jenkins AHA’s Aquatic Biosecurity Liaison Officer “It’s difficult to explain. I felt emotional, vulnerable and lonely and went through a whole range of emotions that I don’t normally experience. Many others felt similar emotions and it helped to regularly reconnect with your outback team and check to see how they were coping,” said Helen. The next time the group met would be in Melbourne for media training and crisis management. A short while later, Helen found herself facing her biggest challenge yet. In early December 2016 an outbreak of white spot disease in prawns was detected in a river in Queensland’s southeast. At the time of the crisis, Helen was the Executive Officer of the Australian Prawn Farmers Association, so the disease hit close to home.
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