Future cotton leaders turn ideas into action
A record 17 Future Cotton Leaders graduate with projects supporting farms and regional communities.
What’s Happening?
The 2026 Australian Future Cotton Leaders Program cohort has graduated, with members already applying their work across cotton communities.
The program brought together growers, consultants, merchants, researchers and extension personnel from across Australia. Participants came from Kununurra to Emerald, and Walgett to Sydney.
Each participant developed a project addressing a practical need within their business, region or community. Their work covers staff retention, school engagement, women’s leadership, career pathways, water communication and regional connections.
Why It Matters
Graduates are putting their training into practice through projects that respond to issues affecting the cotton sector and regional communities.
Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay said the graduation recognised both program completion and the participants’ wider contributions.
“The Future Cotton Leaders Program is about building confidence, capability and networks, but it is also about action,” Mr Kay said. “This cohort has embraced the challenge of identifying issues that matter to their businesses, regions and communities, and then developing practical projects that can make a difference.
“From developing planning templates and toolbox meetings to retain staff, to connecting school students with cotton farms, and hosting conversations about women’s leadership and career pathways in the cotton industry, these projects show the value of investing in emerging leaders.”
Local Impact
Emerald agronomist Bridget Bender created a Young Aggies group for agricultural professionals across Central Queensland.
She based the group on the Darling Downs Young Ag Professionals network after moving from Chinchilla to Emerald. Ms Bender saw a need for people to connect outside work and support their peers.
“It is about connection building and having someone to talk to outside your own workplace,” Ms Bender said. “We meet once a month, and it seems to get bigger and bigger every month, which is exciting but intimidating.
“I would never have had the confidence to create this group without the support of Jo Eady and the Future Cotton Leaders Program.”
By the Numbers
The 2026 program graduated 17 participants, making it the largest cohort in the program’s history.
More than 130 people have graduated since the Australian Future Cotton Leaders Program began in 2006.
Cotton Australia delivers the program every two years, with funding from the Cotton Research and Development Corporation.
Zoom In
Murrami grower Sam Ryan focused his project on improving communication between irrigators and water organisations.
Growers had expressed frustration about limited access to senior decision-makers at Murrumbidgee Irrigation. Mr Ryan is working with its chief executive and general manager on an open-door initiative.
The proposal would give customers and shareholders regular opportunities to speak with senior management, the chief executive and board members.
“Water is such a precious resource in our area,” Mr Ryan said. “If growers and irrigation corporations can work together better, it benefits the whole community. Irrigation and healthy rivers mean kids in schools, people in local shops and strong regional towns.”
In Far North Queensland, Jason Salvetti is developing an online resource for growers in the region’s relatively young cotton sector.
Local producers face issues involving wet seasons, freight and production systems. Mr Salvetti plans to share farm updates through social media and videos.
His family grows cotton in rotation with sugarcane and soybeans. The content will cover their lessons, mistakes and production decisions.
“The idea is to create a place people can go to find out information,” Mr Salvetti said. “Cotton is a great industry, but it’s always tricky when you’re starting off and you have to deal with a unique environment like that in Far North Queensland.
“So if we can share what we have learned and help others get started, hopefully we can help grow the cotton industry in the north.”
Zoom Out
Participants completed group face-to-face workshops, one-on-one coaching, online learning and industry engagement. These activities supported the individual projects developed throughout the program.
Cotton Research and Development Corporation Managing Director Georgina Pengilley said the graduation provided a fitting introduction to Australian cotton.
“As I begin my role with CRDC, it’s been wonderful to see firsthand the Australian cotton industry’s commitment to supporting and developing its people,” Dr Pengilley said. “Programs like Future Cotton Leaders are a great example of the value the industry places on backing the next generation.
“The projects developed by these graduates show what can happen when you give passionate people the confidence, skills and networks to turn good ideas into action. The benefits extend well beyond the individuals involved and into the broader cotton industry.”
The graduation was announced ahead of the separate Australian Cotton Conference 2026, providing broader context for the leadership program, which runs from 4 to 6 August at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. Its Trade Hall opens from 9 am to 6 pm daily, with more than 150 exhibitors expected.
Cotton Australia delivers the Future Cotton Leaders Program every two years.
2026 Australian Future Cotton Leaders
Emily O’Shannessy, CGS, Kununurra, Western Australia
Alexander Stephens, McVeigh Partnership Pty Ltd, MacAlister, Queensland
Angus Dalgliesh, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Cloncurry, Queensland
Bridget Bender, AGnVET, Emerald, Queensland
Henry Perry, Perry Farming, Goondiwindi, Queensland
Jason Salvetti, Salvetti Farming Co, Arriga, Queensland
Lauren Roellgen, Tyunga Farms, Brookstead, Queensland
Liam Blackwell, Clark Farming Group, Billa Billa, Queensland
Ashley Hollis, Cotton Australia, Sydney, New South Wales
Georgia Carrigan, Australian Food and Fibre, Warren, New South Wales
Georgina Rowlands, Australian Food and Fibre, Ashley, New South Wales
Hugh Lennon, Hancock Agriculture, Merah North, New South Wales
Lachie Holz, B&W Rural Walgett, Walgett, New South Wales
Jessie Schwager, Priag Marketing, Narrabri, New South Wales
Megan Baker, Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Narrabri, New South Wales
Natalie Aquilina, Cotton Seed Distributors, Narrabri, New South Wales
Sam Ryan, RynCo Enterprises, Murrami, New South Wales
What To Look For Next?
The Australian Cotton Conference will continue through Thursday 6 August under the Future Fit Cotton theme. It will finish with the Australian Cotton Industry Awards Dinner, hosted by Vince Sorrenti.
Beyond the conference, the Emerald Young Aggies group will continue its monthly meetings as participation grows.
Mr Ryan will continue working with Murrumbidgee Irrigation to improve contact between growers and senior leaders. Mr Salvetti also plans to share practical farm videos with northern cotton growers.
These projects could improve industry communication, local connections and access to practical knowledge across Australia’s cotton regions.