Two decades of community leadership

ONE of the region’s premier leadership programs turns twenty years old next year.

To celebrate two decades of their Future Shapers initiative, management behind the Committee for Ballarat are inviting everyone to celebrate the occasion with an event next week.

Future Shapers program lead Adele Nairn said the occasion will be a chance to reconnect for many.

“It’s an opportunity for us to bring out almost 500-strong alumni back together, some of whom will be 20 years on from the program,” she said.

“We really want to make sure it’s a celebration of what we’ve achieved over the years and much of that comes from the individual achievements of our alumni.”

Ms Nairn said there’ll also be some exciting announcements to make.

“We’re partnering with the Ballarat Foundation on an initiative which is part of evolving the program and ensuring its sustainability well into the future,” she said.

“There’ll also be the opportunity for alumni and stakeholders to continue to be involved in Future Shapers. We’ll also be opening applications for the 20th year in 2025.”

Special guests will include Future Shapers inaugural chair Lynne McLennan, and Ballarat Foundation CEO Andrew Eales.

Established in 2005 as Leadership Ballarat and Western Region, the Future Shapers 10-month program allows up to 20 people each year to tackle community issues while building connections and strengthening leadership capabilities.

Committee for Ballarat media and communications officer Sally Rothberg said the event is also about highlighting the work of alumni.

“We’ve seen there’s a lot of alumni doing great things in the community,” she said.

“Andrew Eales, who’ll be speaking, is an [alumnus] and his contribution to the community with Ballarat Foundation is immeasurable. That’s just one example.”

The Looking Back – Leading Forward event will take run from 5.30pm on Friday 10 October at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.

Tickets are $25 and are available via the events page on the organisation’s website.