When Lisa Birrell moved to Shepparton in 2002, she knew little about the region beyond its strong dairy roots. That changed in 2014 when she received a Gardiner Foundation scholarship to undertake the Fairley Leadership Program, an experience she says opened her eyes to the breadth and potential of her community.
“It was an amazing opportunity Gardiner gave me, to explore, to be curious about what happens in the region and to meet people from different sectors,” Lisa said. “It helped me understand what else happens here beyond agriculture.”
As the former Executive Manager of NorVicFoods, a University of Melbourne initiative supporting agri-food innovation across Victoria’s Hume region, Lisa credits the Fairley program for giving her the confidence to step forward and lead.
“The program gave me the confidence to put my hand up for committees and board roles, to contribute and make a difference at both local and professional levels.”
Since completing the program, Lisa has served on the board of Primary Care Connect and now chairs the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) Steering Committee in Shepparton, a partnership between Gardiner Foundation and Agriculture Victoria helping to attract new communities into the agricultural workforce.
“I feel really fortunate and excited that Gardiner continues to invest locally, not only through leadership programs but also through initiatives that connect new people to agriculture as a first-choice career,” she said.
Lisa believes leadership programs like Fairley play a vital role in regional development by equipping people to act, collaborate, and create change.
“There’s such a strong alumni, people who’ve been through the journey and understand their community to a deeper level,” she said. “The power of regional Victoria is in those connections and the willingness of people to help each other.”
Watch Lisa’s story below to see how Gardiner’s investment in leadership continues to strengthen communities and open doors across regional Victoria.