The Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP) is run by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) and provides an opportunity for leadership development using challenge-based and experiential learning.
This year, ALFA and MLA has awarded a scholarship for a lot feeder to attend ARLP, an investment of $55,000.
Greg Zillman of Beef Connect Feedlot, QLD, has been awarded the grain fed beef industry scholarship for Course 31 of the ARLP and will share his experience on the program through regular updates as his course progresses.
Accompanying Greg in this cohort are individuals from a diverse array of sectors, including agriculture, aquaculture, healthcare, local government, retail, research, and community services, all with a common drive to create opportunities for rural, regional and remote communities and industries to thrive.
About Greg
Greg operates a family beef business, Beef Connect Feedlot, and is heavily involved in local non-profit groups working in roles such as President of the school P&C, President of the RSL, and the local area Fire Warden Officer.
Greg's approach to business development is highlighted by his skills in communication, strategic planning, project management, financial analysis, operational management, employee development, and logistics.
His extensive experience includes managing large-scale intensive livestock and rangeland production systems, commodity trading, project management, business development, software implementation, asset acquisition and divestment, and meat processing.
Greg has spent many years working in regional and rural Australia, and he has also served in the Australian Army with keen interest in travel. Greg has also played rugby professionally in the UK.
We wish Greg all the best on his leadership journey over the coming months and look forward to following his progress.
Session 1: June 2024 // 12 days, Regional NSW
Growing up on a cattle feedlot in Queensland may have gifted Greg Zillman with a raft of skills, however nothing could have prepared him for the challenge of the first session of the Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP).
Awarded the Course 31 scholarship in 2024, the Beef Connect Feedlot owner/operator travelled to Sydney in June to engage in a series of physical and mental challenges.
Run by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF), the program is designed to provide an opportunity for leadership development using challenge-based and experiential learning.
This year, ALFA and MLA has awarded a scholarship for a lot feeder to attend ARLP, an investment of $55,000.
Accompanying Greg in this cohort are individuals from a diverse array of sectors, including agriculture, aquaculture, healthcare, local government, retail, research, and community services, all with a common drive to create opportunities for rural, regional and remote communities and industries to thrive.
With a background in business, Greg said he has always enjoyed the consistency that comes with lotfed cattle and has a growing interest in the science behind animal nutrition and feedlot technology, implementing new ideas and practices on his family property.
“I have been able to show my family what I can do but I wouldn’t have the knowledge and confidence I do now without branching out when I was younger,” Greg said, referring to his time working at AACo and studying in Brisbane.
Proud to join the ARLP Course 31 cohort, Greg said he is looking forward to the experience.
“I am keeping my cup empty for this, I don’t want to have any paradigms about where we’re going or what’s in front of me.”
Completing the first session in June, Greg said travelling to Sydney, whale-watching in Sydney Cove and camping in Kangaroo Valley were just some of the many highlights.
“The sailing trip in Sydney allowed everyone to get to know each other briefly and then we were camping for 15 days out of a backpack - no watches, no phones.
“There were nine people in my group and we really started to get into the nitty-gritty in terms of getting to know one another.”
Greg said management profiles completed before the trip showed a stronger inclination for some group members to be strong or passive leaders, influencers or those who were detail oriented.
“It was about learning how to navigate everyone’s needs and wants. Some people want to know what we are doing tomorrow and others don’t care.”
Greg said the trip helped him learn to acknowledge the moments where he needed to back down and let others take the lead.
“In the past I’ve been a task oriented leader. I like to achieve goals and, sometimes, if I have someone around me who isn’t quite with me, or doesn’t have the same vision, I can get frustrated with them.
“For me, this leadership course is about picking up the people at the end and trying to help bring them through.
“Everyone has their own internal goals for this course - I want to become a better person out of it.”
Greg will now travel to New Zealand to attend Session 2 titled ‘Connection and Mobilisation’ which will include, among other things, an immersive exploration of treaty for First Nations Peoples.
Stay tuned to hear Greg’s next session update.
Session 2: October 2024 // 10 days, New Zealand
Session 3: April 2025 // 6 days, Regional Victoria
Session 4: August 2025 // 10 days, Central Australia
Graduation: September 2025*Session dates are preliminary and may change.