Leadership that elevates: Reflections from the 2025 AgriFutures Australia Summit

By Sarah Hope, Manager, Capacity Building, AgriFutures Australia

As a brand-new team member at AgriFutures Australia (literally, just a few weeks old), I didn’t quite know what to expect when walking into the recent 2025 AgriFutures Stakeholder Summit in Canberra. What I uncovered over the week was a powerful and moving example of what real leadership looks like – not just in words, but in collaborative action.

Leadership isn’t about standing at the front of the room or “managing people”. It’s about creating the space where others can rise, where collaboration replaces competition, and where purpose fuels progress. That’s the kind of leadership AgriFutures Australia, and the wider team, lived and breathed over the five-day event.

The Summit works to develop pathways and foster the next generation of Australian agricultural leaders. It brings together our organisation’s diverse network: the seven AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award finalists, Horizon Scholars, researchers, industry leaders, fellow Research & Development Corporations, farmers, representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and policy makers. It was a gathering of people who care deeply about the future of agriculture and who are actively shaping it. In a post-event survey, a Rural Women’s Award National finalist reflected on her experience and said:

“It was a truly humbling experience to be part of something so powerful, and purpose- driven. The opportunity to connect and share a space with such a diverse and driven community was incredibly special.”

From the moment the Summit officially opened, it was clear that this wasn’t a ‘tick the box stakeholder relations exercise’ – it was about connecting people, nurturing development and green-housing ideas. Bryce Ives, the Summit’s much-loved facilitator, described it as a “collision of collaborative ideas”. I knew from then I was in for something special. The diversity of voices in the room, from seasoned leaders to those just starting on their journey, was not just acknowledged – it was amplified. And that was especially evident in the words of one Horizon Scholar and agtech university student, who wrote in the post-event survey:

“I can’t think of another opportunity in life where young people are provided a platform to say what they think – and for established industry professionals to genuinely want to hear what we have to say, and to work with us to develop our opinions. Normally in life, it’s the other way round and we have to listen and wait for our opportunity to be heard, when we get older. This has been a really unique experience.”

This really struck a chord with me. As someone who’s had a long career in sectors outside agriculture, I know how rare it is for an organisation to truly walk the talk when it comes to collaboration and empowering emerging voices. But at AgriFutures, it’s clear that creating platforms for others to lead isn’t a side project, it’s their vision.

For me personally, the visit and tour of Parliament House was another standout moment. Energising, and deeply grounding, it reminded everyone in the room – whether a Rural Women’s Award finalist or a university student – that their voice matters at a national level. As one of the participants reflected:

“The visit to Parliament House was emotional, exciting and unforgettable. It added a depth and sense of national pride that we’ll carry with us for a long time.”

Behind it all was the kind of attention to detail and care that makes these things work. As someone who has worked in events in the past, I know how hard it is to make something feel this seamless. Another Summit participant who also has a background in events commented:

“From an ‘old event hat’ – I just want to say how brilliantly run the entire Summit was. Seamless, polished and welcoming… I’m so grateful for the heart and detail you all brought to every aspect.”

As a new team member, the Summit made it clear I’ve landed somewhere special. AgriFutures is bold about the future, not afraid to challenge traditional thinking, encourage new technologies, or rethink how we support rural industries to thrive. But what impressed me most is how that vision is being delivered: through deep listening, shared leadership, and a genuine commitment to lifting others up.

In a time of disruption and rapid change, leadership that listens, invites, and adapts is what will carry Australian agriculture forward. AgriFutures isn’t just preparing the next generation for leadership – it’s handing them the mic, and asking: what do you think?

And when that happens, real change begins. And I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it.