Reflecting on Future Leaders Forum 2018

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It is hard to believe we are halfway through the year, let alone at the start of a new financial year.

It was less than two months ago that we held the Future Leaders Forum on the Gold Coast in conjunction with the National Conference.   Since the beginning of the Future Leaders program we have discovered that the ideals of the industry’s under 40s mirror those of current thinking, yet the thoughts and solutions created by this group also have different applications to recognised threats and weaknesses as we move towards 2030.

The Future Leaders Forum identified that we have a large group of committed and energetic leaders looking to get involved in the future direction of the industry.  We believe this commitment and energy must be harnessed and encouraged for the industry to remain relevant and contemporary with the ideas of this group integrated into the thinking of industry.

Last year we put out a call for nominations for the Future Leaders Committee and were excited with the diversely skilled and uniquely talent applicants we received to be part of the Future Leaders Committee.  This is a true testament to the calibre of youth that we have progressing through the ranks of industry.

The Caravan Industry Association of Australia, together with the Future Leader Committee, decided it was time to go back to the drawing board and re-conceptualise the way the Committee exists, developing a pilot program – a series of ‘Agile Project’ teams.  These will be led by current committee members to kick start some exciting activity and channel the youthful optimism and enthusiasm that shone so brightly from the industry conference into tangible outputs that will create a significant positive impact on the future of the industry.

The committee’s vision is to ‘attract, develop and retain current and future leaders and foster collaboration’, with the Agile Project teams working towards making the vision a reality.

The teams include ‘Innovation and Blue-Sky Thinking’ led by Brad Hooper, ‘Content Creation and Engagement’ led by Kate Mitchell, ‘Networking Events and Conference Concept’ led by Tracey Clarke and ‘Mentoring and Research’ led by Stephen Edwards.

Former chairman Josh Carnavas and myself will be overseeing the process. We are excited and thrilled to offer the future leaders of our industry an opportunity to join and be part of the team that will drive new industry projects and initiatives.

I would like to acknowledge all the applicants who nominated for the industry’s Future Leaders Award and participated in the judging process.  Congratulations to Margaret Shannon of Ballina Beach Village on taking home the 2018 Future Leaders Award.

The Future Leaders Forum highlighted the enormous amount of talented young leaders we have within our industry.

I’d like to encourage all our future leaders to step outside of their comfort zones occasionally; take the risks that seem worth taking for you to grow along with our fantastic industry.

-Michael McIvor