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Queensland Farmers
Federation
How QFF is backing its team.
Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) knows that good leadership and networks matter just as much as knowing your stuff. Which is why they’ve teamed up with The Connection Table, giving every team member a 12-month membership designed to support their professional development.
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[Body] With staff based right across Queensland, QFF represents the interests of peak state and national agriculture industry organisations, who collectively represent more than 13,000 primary producers across the state.
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For QFF, this partnership is much more than just ticking a training box. It’s a simple, high-value investment in people built into their annual learning and development budget at around $500 per team member, and already delivering far more in return.
Jo Palmer, co-founder of The Connection Table, says QFF’s approach is one worth celebrating – and it’s being driven by powerhouse CEO, Jo Sheppard.
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“Jo is an extremely well-respected leader and she believes there’s real value in partnering with us for leadership development and capacity building of her team,” she says. “QFF staff are coming to us from this great angle of having a CEO who sees the importance of building them as leaders and the obvious impact that has for their peak body members, which is just fantastic to see.”
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At QFF, the team works across a wide range of policy issues and projects from water and energy, biosecurity, workforce and skills, through to WHS, land use planning and the environment. It’s a diverse mix of skills and interests, and The Connection Table has become a way to strengthen those capabilities and bring everyone together around shared growth.
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“The diversity the Connection Table offers in workshop and keynote speaking topics is a great fit for our team because there’s something for everyone,” Jo Sheppard says. “We've been able to access experts in media training, public speaking, engagement, leadership and governance who our team has been able to learn from and apply new skills in their day to day work at QFF.”
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That learning is flowing beyond QFF, too. One team member has since applied what he learned through The Connection Table to a project he leads, securing funding and bringing an entire cohort from that initiative into the program. It’s exactly the ripple effect QFF hoped for; personal growth turning into broader professional impact.
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“The Connection Table is a new approach to how we can strategically broaden our networks and access quality professional development,” Jo Sheppard says. “ No matter what your current skill level and your area of work, the diversity of the Connection Table delivers value for every team.”
Regional Development Australia Orana
Not just another leadership program.
When Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana met The Connection Table, it wasn’t business as usual. Tossing the usual leadership programs out the window, the partnership is proving a fresh way to build capability and connection across the region.
RDA Orana is one of 50 federally funded organisations driving growth across regional Australia. Covering 12 local government areas, with Dubbo at its centre, RDA Orana’s work is all about helping people and places shine.
“The Connection Table was a natural partnership for us,” RDA Orana CEO Justine Campbell said. “It’s purpose-built to promote regional voices and grow the capability, confidence and connectivity of regional, rural and remote leaders which sits right at the heart of what we do.”
Together RDA Orana and The Connection Table launched a pilot scholarship program offering 10 emerging and established leaders from across the Orana region a 12-month membership to The Connection Table. Fully funded by RDA Orana, the scholarships were open to anyone, any industry, any stage of their career, any background. The only common thread was location – home in the Orana.
Each recipient receives individual coaching, access to a private members’ space for collaboration, and the chance to chat through online sessions and in-person events.
“This partnership complements our own programs by giving local leaders an ongoing national network,” Justine said. “We’re already seeing stronger confidence, new collaborations and fresh ideas coming back into local boards, community groups and projects.”
That impact was on full display in early December when RDA Orana hosted An Evening with The Connection Table at The Vault Orana in Dubbo. Co-founders Jo Palmer and Julia Spicer led an evening of conversation and networking alongside local leaders, professionals, changemakers and the scholarship recipients themselves.
“The energy in the room was incredible,” Jo said. “It was proof of what happens when you give people the space to connect.”
And she’s not the only one who felt that profound sense of banding together. Lucy White, General Manager of Destination Country and Outback NSW, said she left inspired. “I’m so impressed by how The Connection Table is helping people feel confident and amplify their messages and their work.”
As Justine put it, “The Connection Table is proudly regional-first, a network that lifts up and celebrates regional voices.”