The Australian Future Cotton Leaders program framework was managed by Cotton Australia. The program involved three key stages over 14 months: Stage 1 􏰁 Leadership development Stage 2 􏰁 Individual skill development Stage 3 􏰁 Leading change Program Overview An overview of the Australian Future Cotton Leaders program is outlined below. This customised program is the result of an industry briefing regarding the issues and requirements regarding human capacity building in the current Australian cotton industry. A key focus of this program was participant􏰀 knowledge and skill application via their individual leadership project in the industry. This real time, real industry leadership project is what stands this program apart from other content based leadership programs currently in the market place. A comprehensive suite of elements make up the Australian Future Cotton Leaders Program. This is based on the initial brief provided by industry in terms of the ultimate industry goals of this program. We align these elements to the leadership maturity continuum and ensure participants are introduced to them at the most appropriate stages of the program. All elements place demand and accountability on participants in and outside of the face to face workshops as we are encouraging participants to become leaders and to operate in this way throughout the program. For development, it is essential that they actually do this in their industry context. This way we can ensure there is a higher chance they will continue to contribute to their own and hence their business and industry development post this program. In addition, some of the elements require limited funding, so hence greater value is achieved for the cotton industry from the program budget.This project jointly funded by Cotton Australia supported the Future Cotton Leaders Program over a 14 month period. Fifteen participants graduated from the course in 2014, that involved three developmental stages, Leadership Development, knowledge and skill application, and leading change. The benefits to the industry included a cohort of emerging leaders with increased knowledge and understanding of how the cotton industry works and where they can contribute/assist? To enterprise and industry development.