The aim of the study is to explore leadership development within the context of the FRDC and more broadly the Australian rural RDC context. The study will explore past leadership development initiatives, current trends, environmental factors and future issues facing leadership development.

While there is considerable research on leadership in general and leadership theory there is a paucity of leadership development research as it relates to rural RDCs. The focus of this study is exploratory and will focus on understanding and improving the leadership development capacity of the FRDC and its commercially focused sectors. There are multiple aims embedded in the study including:

1. Identify past developmental initiatives, return on investment, current trends, environmental factors, likely future demand and changes in the operational environment at the FRDC and rural RDC level.
2. Identifying how the FRDC and rural RDCs identify emerging leaders.
3. Identify the views of current senior industry leaders (i.e. industry association Board members) of current leadership capacity and leadership development.
4. Develop a set of guidelines for use by the FRDC and rural RDCs as a basis for leadership development.

The project's multiple project elements will provide the FRDC and rural RDCs with views and issues facing emerging, current and senior leadership.