AWI Breeding Leadership
AWI Breeding Leadership is a national program to develop the leadership and professional skills for young people in all facets of the wool industry, and forms a key part of AWI’s commitment to people in the wool industry.
Applications for AWI Breeding Leadership 2026 are now open and close on Friday, 17 October 2025. For more information, including the course outline and application and selection criteria, download the AWI Breeding Leadership 2026 flyer.
AWI Breeding Leadership 2026 will be held in Clare, SA from Monday, 16–Friday, 20 February 2026.
Since its inception, more than 220 people have completed the Breeding Leadership course.
2026 will be the 11th time the five-day course will be delivered. The week covers a range of topics including strategy (understanding your business and industry), understanding yourself (personality typing), working in teams (accountability, communicating expectations, decision making) and the future (entrepreneurship, innovation and managing change). There is also full day bus tour to allow participants the opportunity to visit local leaders in a range of agricultural industries.
"I LOVED this course!!!!! All parts of Breeding Leadership covered areas I knew a bit but were the final piece to the puzzle. Enjoyed learning from Pinion Advisory and AWI. I really enjoyed that whilst we had content to achieve, we were able to have informal discussions."
- Chloe Smart from SA – AWI Breeding Leadership 2024 participant
"The conversations that were had with representatives from AWI were very insightful and motivating. The personality session was also very insightful. The entire course was very valuable."
- Trent James from WA – AWI Breeding Leadership 2024 participant
The program develops skills and knowledge in personal leadership as well as strategic planning and team leadership. It also provides an excellent opportunity for participants to network with other like-minded people from across Australia, as well as the skilled program deliverers and leaders from the wool industry.
Established in 2002 by South Australian Stud Merino Breeders Association, Breeding Leadership became a national program through the Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders in 2004. Since 2012, AWI has funded the course.
Why participate in AWI Breeding Leadership?
Check out the video below to hear from past participants about what they think is so great about AWI Breeding Leadership.
For more information, contact:
Emily King
National Extension Manager
0437 523 036
