During his final week of study Mr Mirams participated in a symposium that put the spotlight on leaders who are developing and implementing innovative solutions which will benefit Australian rural communities.

Over the past 18 months he has spent time with 33 other rural and regional leaders in the program and has been challenged to new levels of leadership practice.

Mr Mirams was impressed by the words of Managing Director of Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Dr Peter O’Brien who said, “The future of agriculture depends on leadership and innovation.”

“One of the biggest challenges farmers face now is that we have to make lots of complex decisions in an environment of rapid change,” Mr Mirams said.

In the past, farmers knew the answers to all the questions. Today, farm managers may not know the answers but they have to know how to tap into a network of experts who can provide answers and support.

“Farm managers have to make rational decisions with evidence based systems,” he said.

His personal vision is to see vibrant rural communities supported by profitable farming enterprises supplying food and fibre to an appreciative global market.

The Australian Rural Leadership program aims to produce a network of informed, capable and ethical leaders who are able to work collaboratively to advance the interests of their industry, communities and rural Australia in general.

The program works to improve the capacity of rural leaders to engage wherever a challenge is best addressed and wherever they can contribute most effectively.

Mr Mirams is the manager of Woomargama Station, a grazing property in southern NSW which carries a flock of fine wool Merino sheep and a herd of Hereford cattle.

He has a keen interest in farming systems that concurrently strive to achieve demanding production targets and natural resource management targets. He has been active in Landcare and Evergraze.

As the new chairman of the Holbrook Landcare board, Mr Mirams said, “leadership is about bringing the best out of people - the best out of the board, the local community, the wider community and everything else will follow.”