Catch the Drift - Leadership and development training for the next generation in the commercial fishing and aquaculture industries
There are considerable leadership capacity building opportunities throughout the Australian seafood industry and community however it must be noted that these opportunities are delivered in a manner that may be perceived as difficult to access and focused on national issues. Considering this the VICFRAB has identified a need. The need is that within the Victoria seafood industry research, industry consultation and a the provision of a pilot leadership learning opportunity targeting young people across the state, from those already working in the commercial fishing and aquaculture industries to those who have completed a university degree should be developed and delivered.
This project will address strategic directions outlined in the Seafood Industry Victoria (SIV) Strategic Plan with the focus people and leadership. SIV has 8 objectives, centered on the themes of leadership and innovation, member service, business growth, people, fiscal responsibility and operational issues.
The project will also respond to Fisheries Victoria Victorian Aquaculture Strategy Action Plan that outlines the importance of capacity building and communication opportunities. Also throughout the Victoria Fisheries management plans for the commercial fisheries consultation and representation are mentioned which requires industry people to have the skills to lead the industry during both forms of engagement.
Final report
The CTD participants are well placed to ensure positive change occurs for industry and are all poised to take on new opportunities. Program evaluation found that the participants and stakeholders consulted identified that the CTD achieved strong outcomes for participants and already there is evidence that the industry is being rewarded with positive outcomes.
CTD has delivered high valued outcomes for Victorian seafood industry and participants and met its objectives.
National Seafood Industry Leadership Program: 2012-2014
The 2008 Leadership Program review was conducted and provided information to the funders regarding the initial years of the leadership delivery. The present funding round will deliver another review of the program in the final report. This review will include graduates, program sponsors and industry organisations.
Rural Training Initiatives continues to anecdotally assess the processes and outcomes of the program through participant evaluations at the conclusion of each program residential and through conversation with the NSILP advisory group and industry stakeholders. This anecdotal feedback indicates that the program is much more than a positive learning experience.
The need for this project has been suggested in the above sections but there is further evidence of need provided by the goals of the FRDC’s People Development Program,
1. enhance industry leadership within all sectors;
2. build industry capacity to drive change to achieve goals
FRDC’s Working together: The National RD&E Strategy
Priority areas addressed through this project will be:
• identifying and understanding success drivers and factors in comparable industry and resultant opportunities for fisheries
• developing the leadership skills across all stakeholder groups
• understanding and developing strategies to enhance, decision-making and adoption practices
• developing business and business modelling capability
• building stakeholder capacity to move toward co-management of fisheries
• identifying and understanding factors that drive responsiveness or adoption of new practices and innovation and how these can be influenced
• building skills and networks that support knowledge transfer and R&D adoption
• building understanding, and commonality of objectives, between stakeholders, including researchers, managers, fishers and NGOs.
Final report
National Seafood Industry Leadership Program: 2009-2011
National seafood industry advanced leadership program
The success of the national seafood industry leadership program has seen a growth in support from industry and increased competition for places in the progam.
The seafood industry, will always face challenges where leadership is needed. Currently, many fisheries are facing the very real crisis of declining access to fishing resources. Investing in Leadership, and the assocaited networks and cross stakeholder understanding is seen as vitally important for all sectors to be able to contribute to debate, drive change and address challenges in order to enable the fishing industry to reach its potential.
The National Leadership Program has had considerable support from industry throughout the years from sponsorship of key events and in-kind contribution to provision of guest speakers. These areas of support and the ongoing funding as built a leadership program with significant reputation throughout the industry. Rural Training Initiatives is aware that this reputation needs to be protected and enhanced through the delivery of a 2008 program.
As mentioned in the background section, it is critical that the momentum for leadership development is not lost during a 'fallow' year.