The Sheep Industry Ambassadors Award is an initiative of the Building leadership capability for the sheep industry project offered by Sheep Producers Australia and Meat and Livestock Australia.

It acknowledges the contributions of two outstanding young sheep producers as well as their future potential as industry leaders.

The award includes an all-expenses paid, week-long study tour from 1-5 August 2018. It features visits showcasing the industry supply chain across Victoria and South Australia with leaders of the United States sheep industry.

Ambassadors will then travel to Perth to attend the SPA Leadersheep Forum and Australia’s premier sheep industry conference LambEx 2018, from 5-7 August 2018.

A range of other opportunities and professional development are also included as part of the award, totalling $4500 value.

Do you know someone working in the sheep industry who could be a future leader and would benefit from networking with Australian and international industry leaders?

Sheep Producers Australia is seeking applications from people in the sheep industry aged 25 to 40 for the 2018 Sheep Industry Ambassadors Award.

The award recognises the contributions of two outstanding sheep industry people and their potential as industry leaders as part of the SPA and Meat & Livestock Australia joint initiative, ‘Building Leadership Capability for the Sheep Industry’.

The initiative’s objective is to ensure the Australian sheep industry attracts and retains people with leadership skills to contribute to the long-term viability of the industry by developing industry capability and capacity.

The Ambassador Award includes an all-expenses paid, week-long study tour from 1-8 August 2018 including attending Australia’s premier sheepmeat industry event, LambEx 2018 and the SPA Leadersheep Forum in Perth. It features visits showcasing the industry supply chain across Victoria and South Australia with leaders of the United States sheep industry.

There is also the potential to be part of other professional development and industry representation opportunities with SPA. The award is valued at more than $4500, a significant investment in developing each future leader.

Interested future leaders must submit an application form and a two-minute video clip to be considered for the award. In the video, applicants must demonstrate their role in the industry and their vision for its future.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate their industry involvement including work and education history, their capacity to be a current sheep industry ambassador, their understanding of the industry’s importance and articulate a vision for its future. They must also have the potential to be a future leader within the industry and SPA and be willing to work with SPA on industry initiatives.

Ben Munzberg, Victoria, was one of the 2016 ambassador award winners. He says the award provided him with a deeper understanding of the entire sheep industry and how all segments of the industry work together.

“I feel I am now better equipped to have input to producer groups and take on leadership roles, both at the workplace and within the industry,” he said. “Since starting the program, it has driven and encouraged me to join and be more active in producer groups, which has improved my networking and provided a great place to learn from other people.

“I would certainly recommend the Ambassador Award to others. It has been a fantastic experience which has allowed me to meet some great people involved in the sheep industry, build international networks, gain a better understand of all aspects of the industry and develop as a person.”

Applications close at 9am on Monday 25 June 2018. The application form and video guidelines are available at www.sheepproducers.com.au/ambassadors