Scholarship backs emerging leader

GRADUATING recently from the Committee for Ballarat’s Future Shapers Program has given developing leader Emma Taylor a major boost in her skills and outlook.

And the 37-year-old educator and thinking systems practitioner is extremely grateful for receiving a Community Bank Buninyong scholarship to allow her to participate.

“It was absolutely exceptional,” she said of the program, which helps participants develop their leadership skills, confidence and connections. “It was such a great opportunity.

“I want to thank the Community Bank of Buninyong; I wouldn’t have had this opportunity without them.”

Ms Taylor also lauded the Committee for Ballarat’s Adele Nairn, who led the program, and CEO Michael Poulton for their commitment and guidance throughout Future Shapers.

Ms Taylor was part of a cohort of 22 that participated in the latest program, which took place between March and June.

Community Bank Buninyong staff member Peita McNaught was also among the participants.

“I applied for Future Shapers because I care deeply about the future of Ballarat and the wellbeing of the people who call this place home, including myself,” Ms Taylor said.

“For me, as someone who is neurodiverse and hearing impaired I know firsthand how powerful it is to see leaders who reflect the diversity of our community – for me, representation matters.

“At its heart community leadership is not just about leading from the front, it’s about walking with people, fostering relationships built on trust and ensuring that leadership itself is not just a title but a shared responsibility.”

Ms Taylor said she knew people who had completed the program and had described it as “incredible” – and now fully agrees with that sentiment.

“I have had so many people rallying around me and who have given me support to be the best person that I can be, I was like, okay, maybe it’s time for me to do that,” she said.

Ms Taylor said she applied for the scholarship because she was not part of an organisation with the financial resources to pay for the program but was drawn to it because she could see its benefits.

She said one of the best things about Future Shapers was connecting with people she might otherwise have never crossed paths with.

“It was such a privilege to gain an insight into the people, organisations and places that are quietly shaping our city,” she said.

It was also an opportunity to examine what she described as people’s internal mental models and how they shape their interactions with their communities.

“The program expanded my network, sharpened my systems thinking, and challenged me to think more strategically about the kind of change I want to lead,” she said.

“I think true leadership means being accountable for how we show up while also recognising that real change happens in communities through shared effort, care and vision.”