The new participants will join an alumni of about 550 graduates since the establishment of the program in 1997.
Celebrating its 23rd year, the program provides an opportunity for people to develop leadership skills across the Goulburn Murray region.
Newly appointed Fairley Leadership Program facilitator Sandy Gunn said the event was just the start of the an eye-opening year for the new participants.
‘‘The new cohort will experience over 120 speakers who aim to inspire and challenge the group,’’ Ms Gunn said.
‘‘It is a marvellous opportunity to listen to and engage with the people who have shaped our community and who are certainly profound in their different styles of leadership.’’
Goulburn Murray Community Leadership Inc. chief executive officer Michelle Luscombe said the selection process was difficult this year, after receiving 40 applications.
‘‘We had a lot of interest from a diverse range of people,’’ Ms Luscombe said.
‘‘We’ve put a lot of work into the selection process, looking throughout the year for good community leaders from across all sectors and diverse backgrounds.
‘‘We cut it down to 28 and now already have a waiting list for next year.’’
Ms Luscombe said diversity in people and perspectives was a key part of the program.
‘‘Participants gain skills by hanging out with different people, having the opportunity to learn from others and networking,’’ she said.
Fairley Leadership Program chair Sam Birrell echoed Ms Luscombe’s comments and said the program was a ‘‘real touch point in people’s lives’’.
‘‘I grew up in Shepp and you can really exist in a silo if you choose to,’’ Mr Birrell said.
‘‘You don’t know what you don’t know.’’
Mr Birrell completed the program in 2013 and praised it for being a strong catalyst for change and action in his life.
‘‘You get to speak to amazing leaders, but you learn most from your cohort,’’ he said.
‘‘It really helped me learn a lot about the history of the region and those most vulnerable in our community.’’
He also said the success of the program was evident in the number of community leaders present in the Greater Shepparton and Murray regions.
The event included addresses from Committee for Greater Shepparton chair Rob Priestly and City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Kim O’Keeffe before the this year’s participants were announced.
Guest speaker Mr Priestly challenged the Fairley candidates to take a regional perspective of their leadership opportunity and to never settle for the option of ‘‘wanting to make things like they used to be’’.
Across the year, participants will take part in an opening and closing retreat, 12 regional-issue themed seminar days, three skills-based days and study tours to Canberra and Melbourne.
