Program Dates
Dates:
Applications have now closed for 2025. Thank you for the overwhelming interest.
2026 Applications will open later in the year, but please register your interest using our enquiry form.
Program Fees
2025 Fees are inclusive of GST and all Program costs, including refreshments on Experience Days.
To learn more about why why we have Organisation and Personal fees, visit our FAQs.
Rising Leadership Program
The Rising Leadership Program is designed for leaders at the mid-point of their leadership journey, providing the tools and frameworks to become authentic, courageous and effective leaders.
The experiential, face-to-face Program includes cohort-based peer learning. Participants advance together through the Program with personal and collective learning, reflections and action.
Selection for the Program is a competitive process and candidates are required to complete an online application, which is followed by an interview. Prospective applicants are encouraged to give themselves sufficient time to compose considered answers to the questions included in the online application form.
Over the six-month Rising Leadership Program, Participants explore a variety of themes using collaborative discussions and unique leadership experiences. Rising provides leaders with invaluable access to guest speakers, including Western Australian leaders, who share their leadership journeys and insights with candor, under the confidentiality of the ‘Chatham House Rule’.
Participants undertake the Program alongside a cohort who have been carefully curated to ensure a diversity of sector, experience and thought, to strengthen their leadership skills, broaden their perspectives, develop deep connections within their cohort and expand their networks.
“The Rising Leadership Program provided me with the opportunity to reflect on my professional and personal journey, both past and future, and helped me better understand how I could be more effective and impactful through my actions. Rising also provided me with an incredible network of people that I can now call on for guidance.” – Regan Ashley | Senior Project Manager, Vital Images, Rising Leadership Program Graduate
Discover more!
Leadership WA Annual Review
2024 saw us celebrate 20 years of creating courageous leaders for Western Australia. We invite you to view our commemorative 2024 Annual Review for insights into the impact of Leadership WA and our Programs, Alumni and connected community of leaders.
Rising Webinar
We invite you to watch the 2025 Rising Webinar to learn more about the Program and hear from Leadership WA CEO, Dominique Mecoy OAM and Leadership WA Alumni:
- Rebecca Fitzpatrick (Rising 2021) | A/ Executive Services Manager at Holyoake (position at the time of recording the webinar)
- Ryan Loxton (Rising 2024) | Director of the Centre for Optimisation and Decision Science at Curtin University
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- Ryan and Rebecca provide their insights into the impact of the Program and their personal experiences and outcomes.
- Ryan graduated from the March 2024 cohort. Rebecca had graduated in 2021, having had three years to implement her learnings (at the time the webinar was filmed).
- They answer questions and share helpful information on the time commitment for the Program, the opportunities, the connections made and what to consider when applying.
Program Overview
The Rising Leadership Program is uniquely structured with carefully designed immersive cohort learning experiences.
Set over 12 unique leadership Experience Days, the Rising Leadership Program combines collaborative group work, opportunities for reflection and diverse experiences with respected WA leaders. Each Experience Day typically runs from 9:00am to 4:30pm and include refreshments and lunch.
Throughout the Program, you will also undertake a collaborative group Community Impact Project, centred around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, under the direction of an industry mentor from the not-for-profit sector.
Learning Outcomes
The Rising Leadership Program focuses on developing courageous and authentic Leadership and you will receive frameworks, tools and relevant resources.
The Program has three foundation pillars:
Leading Me
- Understanding who you are as an authentic leader
- Identifying and building on your existing strengths
- Creating helpful habits to lead with courage, wellness and to flourish
Leading Us
- Understanding what it takes to inspire people and teams to achieve performance goals by focusing on outcomes over outputs.
- Applying human-centered leadership strategies and tools (such as coaching and feedback) to build individual and team performance.
- Building confidence and capacity to lead teams through complex challenges
Leading Together
- Increasing your ability to drive positive change and new ways of working
- Creating collaborative networks and relationships to advance your organisation’s purpose
- Improving your ability to influence and make an impact
Scholarship Opportunities
Strong leadership development is vital to the functioning of Western Australia, and we believe it should be supported for those who lack the financial means to participate. The Leadership WA Foundation, in collaboration with our valued Partners, support a range of Rising Scholarships.
Visit our Scholarship page for more information
Alumni Network
Following completion of the Program. you will join a strong and influential network of more than 1300 Leadership WA Alumni. This network comes together regularly to continue to grow and learn, and to give back by contributing to Leadership WA’s Skillsbank initiative, where Alumni share their expertise and time to support social impact activities across WA, making a real and meaningful difference in the community.
University Accreditation
The Rising Leadership Program has been endorsed for advanced standing by Curtin University towards their Master of Business Programs, for Rising graduates from 2020 onward.
Curtin University provides Rising Alumni with one credit (1 x credit point unit) for their MBA Programs: Graduate Certificate in Business (complete 3 units instead of 4) | Graduate Diploma in Business (complete 7 units instead of 8) | MBA (complete 11 units instead of 12).
Apply Now
Start your Application (applications can be saved and completed in stages)
NB | If you work for a Government Department or GTE, we encourage you to speak with your Organisational Development team ahead of commencing your application, to find out if your Department/Organisation runs an internal selection process for supported professional development opportunities, including Leadership WA Programs.
2025 PROGRAM DATES | June Cohort
*If we achieve the maximum number of successful candidates representing a diverse cohort prior to the published application closing date, we reserve the right to close applications early. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.
