1. insurance & finance
Investment in people crucial to agribusiness
Wineries seek to build leadership from within
Kellie Arbuckle
A NEW PROGRAM that trains middle-to- “Once every two years, Yalumba where we’d like it to be,” Slape said.
senior level agribusiness managers could brings its top level managers from around “Planning for learning and
help wineries improve innovation in the the world to the Barossa and puts them development requires the same kind of
office and source future leaders from through its intensive Signature School rigour and attention from our managers
within their business. leadership program. We work with as their other responsibilities, and we
The Agribusiness Management Yalumba to provide relevant managerial believe very strongly that it delivers big
Development Program (AMDP) is a new content,” Stevens said. benefits to us in terms of innovation,
program that was launched by The In developing the AMDP, Stevens says people retention, succession planning
University of Adelaide and SOS Group he saw a need to bridge a gap in the wine and continuous improvement.”
last year to improve the managerial and industry where people were taking on Stevens says a major part of capability
leadership capabilities of agribusiness leadership roles they had no skills in. development is teaching people how
people. “We found that it’s no different in the to think, rather than how to act, in
SOS Interim Management managing wine industry than it is in most other particular situations.
director Jeremy Lomman says investing industries – that you get promoted based He says teaching people how to
in staff leadership and managerial on what you used to be good at,” Stevens manage people and finance, and how to
training is fundamental to the survival said. improve certain processes and strategies
of agribusinesses, including the wine “Good winemakers become senior were also important aspects of capability
industry. winemakers, and then become managers development.
“Raising the core skills of existing or owners; and while they may have a To avoid clashing with vintage, the
workers is now just the minimum fantastic technical skill set, what they first program has been organised to run
requirement for an industry to continue find themselves doing is not what they from 30 April to 4 May this year.
to exist in the future, rather than a source were trained to do. Lomman believes education aimed at
of additional competitive advantage,” “Unless you’ve spent money in mid- to senior level managers in the wine
Lomman said. developing their managerial and industry could help wineries struggling
“If Australian agriculture and the wine leadership skills, you need to ask what to find fresh talent.
industry not only want to exist in the sorts of decisions they are going to be “Due to increasing skills and labour
future, but be in a position – both locally making. In order to be a successful shortages, it is becoming increasingly
and globally – to prosper, then managerial organisation, you need to augment difficult and cost-prohibitive for many
and leadership capability is required.” technical skills with management and agribusinesses to attract (and retain) new
Delivered over five days at The leadership capability.” talent,” he said.
University of Adelaide, the program has Yalumba people general manager Nick “Consequently, investing in the
been designed for people with varying Slape is heavily involved in the Yalumba education and professional development
levels of industry experience and does Signature School. He says investment in of existing management is back on the
not require previous university study. learning and development is fundamental agenda for many agribusinesses, as they
University of Adelaide executive to the business. seek to build their next leadership group
education director Andrew Stevens “For us, a continuing investment in from within.”
designed the program with Lomman. learning and development – not just in The cost of the program is A$3500
Stevens also provides academic dollars, but in time, energy and attention plus GST.
content for leadership development – is simply about making sure we have
programs at a number of Australian the right people, with the right skills, at For more information or to register,
wineries, including Yalumba. the right time to help our business get to visit: www.thesosgroup.com.au.
86 Grapegrower & Winemaker www.winebiz.com.au March 2012 – Issue 578