Our impact

"The GLF program gave me the specific, practical, and relevant techniques that helped me navigate my organisation as CEO, through a digital transformation. I came away with a multi-dimensional view of how to lead across all layers, with better collaborative and co-design problem-solving techniques. This helped create a more empathetic team situation, fostering trust that allowed for good solutions to emerge from a process rather than rushing to the answer. Being more flexible, knowing how to overcome resistance in the team and understanding problem-solving in a different way helped me get people to come along on the journey, and implement deep transformative change.

"Since completing the GLF, I am more active in community, and have created the opportunity for staff within my organisation to have 3 hours a month of volunteering within work hours, as well as volunteering for the organisation. I’m more committed to including other communities and putting a spotlight on First Nation communities wherever possible. This has also helped to shape the values of the organisation in ways that hadn’t been articulated, or as strong as before.

"For me, the real change is being able to deal everyday with the fast-paced changing world that we live in. GLF really helped me deal with the stressors and expectations with a CEO role. It's such a big-time commitment but it has to be, and it stays with you – if it was shorter, it wouldn’t be as impactful.”

Heather Croall was supported by a scholarship from the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation.

"The Governors Leadership Foundation program has played a crucial role in shaping my trajectory as a young leader by equipping me with the skills necessary to navigate the complexities of today’s dynamic and ever-changing world. As a social worker engaged in adaptive leadership training, I am better equipped to address the unique challenges within the community sector.

"The program has enabled me to mobilise, inspire others, and contribute to positive social change. It has further enhanced my capacity to address immediate concerns and respond effectively to future challenges, thereby making a lasting impact on the communities I serve".

Fida Hussain was supported by scholarship funds from Mike and Mary Heard and the Day Family Foundation Foundation.

As a participant of the Governor’s Leadership Foundation program, Ma-Musu grew her leadership skills and used the adaptive leadership model to push her personal and professional development.

“Through this course I became a better leader to others, but most importantly a better person to myself,” she said. Ma-Musu organised a youth-led elder support initiative during COVID which included regular check-ins, grocery shopping and emotional support.

“Before completing the course, I wouldn't have felt confident reaching out to other community members due to internal community politics, but I felt equipped with the necessary skills and self-assuredness about the purpose behind the initiative to support the most vulnerable people in our community.”

Ma-Musu Kugba Nyande was supported by a scholarship from the GLF Alumni.

"My journey through the GLF was a sliding doors moment, although not one I realised for some time and not without the help of 41 other remarkable leaders from different walks of life. There is a deep seeded power in diversity and the perspectives it can afford you which is the greatest gift the GLF offers, but it’s your willingness to be open and to learn from these, without judgement.

"Through my career I had been given an idea of leadership and found myself in positions of leadership, sometimes by trial and fire but it appeared to work out and I felt comfortable in what I assumed was ‘good’ leadership. In reflecting on my year and a bit since completing the GLF course I can honestly say that my view of leadership has completely changed and with that my approach to leading a development business that interacts with thousands of stakeholders has benefitted from this.

"My newfound ability to step back from situations where I once lead technically and observe interactions and emotions of those we engage with is the greatest opportunity to find mutual ground and common purpose.

"My impact as a leader has only just begun, but it’s one which I now see as limitless and driven by higher-purpose than that of positional influence."

"Through the GLF I gained the confidence to transform my life and have moved from chaos to creating a new foundation for myself.

"In 2021, I was selected to develop a new service model for the Adelaide Primary Health Network's Service Navigation Measure, allowing me to utilise my leaderships skills across a range of domains and was able to apply many of my GLF learnings around systems. My self-awareness had increased in relation to staff and other stakeholders, and I often found myself on the balcony, rather than the dancefloor, in terms of decision-making processes during the project development and pilot phases.

"My last role saw me extending myself from the mental health space into community development, as the Coordinator of the Department of Human Services' Community Connections Program, leading a team across metro and regional SA. I contribute in a volunteer capacity to the service development of the Statewide Eating Disorder Service at the WCHN and the new residential facility at the Repat as a carer on the consumer advisory committee, as well as the update of the Eating Disorder Mental Health First Aid through Melbourne University.

"I have experienced, and continue to experience, significant personal and professional growth and have become more comfortable with risk taking, being out of my comfort zone and pushing myself to try new things. The GLF cemented my values in life, one of them being a lifelong learner.

"This Semester I commenced my Masters in Counselling Practice full-time, being drawn to explore the therapeutic space and looking to utilise my lived experience as a carer. As I learnt at the opening retreat in 2021, 'my handbrake' was fear of rejection, which had always impacted on my ability to set boundaries and recognise my self worth. The GLF helped me release the handbrake and life went in a whole new direction after that."

Alex Emmerich was supported by a scholarship from REDARC Australia.

“For me the GLF was a steep learning curve. When I started this ‘leadership’ course, I thought I was going to learn about leadership, but I ended up learning about the world. The GLF makes you think big, but also gives you the tools to look big and examine the landscape. This helped me shift from operational to strategic thinking and made me realise that your own view may be flawed so you must be flexible enough to shift your thinking.