In 2000, FRDC funded a project to develop and trial a model for a National Seafood Industry Advanced Leadership Program. Since then approximately 100 people have graduated from the Advance in Seafood Leadership Development Program, significantly enhancing the leadership capacity of the seafood industry.

The current provider contract expires at the end of 2007, and the FRDC is looking toward a review of it's leadership development investments in 2008.

There is a real risk that the significant investments made by FRDC and numerous other program sponsors will be lost if a seafood leadership program is not continued into the future. In the longer term this could potentially lead to a lack of appropriately skilled people to take over representative roles at the national level.

It is therefore opportune to take stock of the previous course and identify areas for improvement to ensure that future leadership programs continue to meet the needs of the seafood industry, and to condiser the establishment of an alumni of past participants to allow effective engagement by the industry. An alumnus would also ensure graduates remain connected and receive continued support from the industry to enable them to develop into leaders.

By developing strategies to encourage industry participation in leadership training it will enhance the leadership capacity of industry. There is also an identified need to have linkages to additional training for graduates.

These key issues and the recent enhancement of the people development program within FRDC, mean that the need for a ‘taking stock’ workshop is timely.

Under the people development program, this project will assist in meeting long-term demand for people who will help the fishing industry meet its future needs and develop leaders among those within and supporting the industry.