2023 June Rising Leadership Program Graduation

On 7 December, our June Rising Leadership Program cohort enjoyed their final Experience Day and Graduation Ceremony.

Experience Day

During their Experience Day, our cohort presented their Community Impact Projects, which are aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and aim to make an impact and improve our Western Australian community. 

The projects included:

• Zero Hunger - The Zero Hunger team developed a funding pack to assist food rescue organisations delivering services to alleviate the prevalence of hunger in WA communities. The pack can be used as a basis for investigation of additional funding sources and can draw on the various content to improve their pitch for funding and support from their stakeholders.
  
• Reducing Inequalities - In looking to address the critical role of education equity in mitigating societal inequalities, the Reducing Inequalities team developed a comprehensive survey for parent/caregivers, primary and secondary school education staff, and community service organisations. The group will be working with 12 Buckets to produce a community driven resource, accessible through a variety of mediums, that would serve to guide teachers, parents/caregivers to available support.
• No Poverty - The No Poverty team created a project called 'My Device' that collected unwanted phones to be donated to children in out of home care to connect them with their biological families via the network of Fostering Hope Australia. 42 devices have already been donated to foster homes.

Thank you to our Not-For-Profit mentors who generously donated their time, insights and support to our cohort throughout their Rising Leadership Program journey and Community Impact Projects:

• Jennifer Keen, WA State Manager at OzHarvest (Zero Hunger)
• Elise Jorgensen (Signature 2020), Regional Leader at Mission Australia (Reducing Inequalities)
• Amanda Hunt (Signature 2007), Director at 54 Reasons (No Poverty)
  

The cohort were also joined by Dominique Mecoy (Signature 2009), CEO of Leadership WA who shared her personal insights and learnings from her leadership journey.

Graduation Ceremony

Throughout the 6-month Program, these talented leaders strived for knowledge, connection and discovery. The cohort formed unique bonds and relationships to call upon throughout their continuing journey, and have positively contributed to Western Australian Not-For-Profits through their Community Impact Projects.

Many congratulations to Dylan Hearty, Customer Programs Manager at Horizon Power who was elected by his peers as Valedictorian of the cohort. Dylan delivered a speech on the evening that reflected on the learnings of the Program and how it helped guide the cohort to remain on the path of betterment as leaders. Dylan then thanked everyone who supported the cohort.

Leadership WA congratulates all our new graduates and warmly welcomes them to our growing Alumni Network of nearly 1300 leaders.