General News
8 December, 2025
Board members resign in shakeup Leadership program paused
LEAD Loddon Murray has “paused” its annual leadership program.
LEAD Loddon Murray has “paused” its annual leadership program.
The decision was announced hours before last Friday’s graduation of the 2025 cohort that included Loddon’s Alex Mountjoy, Katie Gillett and James Stewart.
Loddon Shire Council and Inglewood and District Community Bank have been long-term sponsors of participants in the leadership program.
Program director Jude Hannah’s role has been abolished and at least two board members have resigned.
The Loddon Herald understands former course graduates Colleen Condliffe and Will Sanson quit in a shakeup week for LEAD Loddon Murray.
Both directed inquiries to the program’s office.
The program that has seen more than 700 people graduate ove the last 30 years has faced an uncertain future since losing State Government funding two years ago.
However, applications for the 2026 program had been opened only a fortnight before
In its statement, the board said: “The Lead Loddon Murray Board is taking an opportunity to re-assess and refresh our suite of activities. Our aim is to ensure we remain current and impactful in Loddon Murray communities.
“The board advises that following a detailed financial review of current LEAD Loddon Murray programs, the current program is not financially sustainable.
“Our organisational reset also means that the intensive nine-month community leadership program is paused. These decisions have been made with urgency to ensure the financial solvency of the organisation.
“The initial phase of this review and transition has involved restructuring the organisation and also some changes on our board and our team.
“We will send separate communications out soon regarding those changes and acknowledging the contributions of those who leave us and who have played important roles in the success of LEAD Loddon Murray.
“As part of the review of Lead Loddon Murray the board looks forward to working with organisation members in collaboration to develop a refocussed organisation that can deliver a suite of activities and programs that are financially viable.
“We remain optimistic but realistic and will need your input and ideas over these next few months to identify priorities and gaps in leadership and community strengthening training and your ideas on how we can secure the funding needed to deliver on those priorities and gaps.”
The State Government had given $1.8 million for nine regional community leadership programs in 2022.
Then Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas said: “The Regional Community Leadership program is about building a strong and diverse group of leaders across the state and helping to drive positive change.”
A year later, government funding was abolished and LEAD Loddon Murray relied on support from participant sponsors.
Northern Victoria MP Gaelle Broad campaigned against the Government axing leadership program funding two years ago, saying regional Victoria needs strong community leaders now more than ever.
“In the last decade we have experienced drought, bushfires, COVID and, more recently, floods that have devastated local communities across northern Victoria.
“We need training opportunities to equip and encourage people to step up to support the future growth and development of our regional communities,” Ms Broad said.
“It’s disappointing that this important program has had to cobble together funding from different places just to keep operating.
“It is disappointing that the Premier and Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan has wasted billions of dollars on cost blowouts on city-based projects and yet is cutting small regional programs proven to deliver strong community benefits.
“Formal evaluations found these programs to be an effective use of taxpayers’ money ... once again our regional communities are paying the price,” she said.