This year, participants began their journey in Canberra, starting with a Welcome to Country by Paul House outside the National Gallery, who also took the opportunity to share stories of his lifelong advocacy work and the ways he has influenced change. The cohort then gathered at Old Parliament House for a fireside yarn with leaders from four advocacy groups shaping rural, regional, and remote Australia. This session featured Suzi Tegen (National Rural Health Alliance), Natalie Collard (Farmers for Climate Action), Troy Williams (National Farmers’ Federation) and Ken Dachi (Welcoming Australia). Together, they explored the critical role advocacy plays in shaping policy and driving meaningful change across rural, regional, and remote Australia. Following this session, participants engaged with political staffers at Parliament House, gaining firsthand insights into government advocacy processes. These discussions prompted deep reflection on contemporary leadership amidst complex challenges and opportunities within their own sectors and communities, laying a solid foundation for self-advocacy. Next, participants moved into the challengebased outdoor phase of the program, set within the stunning Namadgi National Park. Through a series of outdoor challenges which included bushwalking, abseiling, caving and raft building, participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions, reflecting on their behaviours, mindsets and values. These activities encouraged them to explore alternative perspectives on leadership and challenges, deepening their understanding of how others navigate complexity. The final stage of the program featured ARLF Fellow Dan Bourchier (ABC journalist) and Jonothan Watchman from Rabbit and Lion, who led a series of practical workshops on crafting and delivering messages effectively. Participants learned how to communicate with impact across diverse audiences and media platforms, aided by applying their understanding of DISC behavioural profiling to their messaging, equipping them with the skills to engage stakeholders with confidence. As the program drew to a close, participants gathered around the fire for an evening with Her Excellency the Governor-General, Sam Mostyn AC, where she shared her personal leadership journey, the challenges she has faced and how she has created meaningful impact throughout her career. The experience concluded with participants developing and sharing personal leadership action plans, affirming their commitment to continued growth and their future leadership impact within their industries, communities and beyond.