Speeches
Monday, 23 February 2026
Reception to launch the 2026 Governor’s Leadership Foundation Program
As patron of the Leaders Institute of SA, it is my pleasure to launch the 2026 Governor’s Leadership Foundation program.
South Australia has a significant role to play in delivering outcomes which not only benefit our state, but which are vital to our nation.
We are already a major contributor to building Australia’s defence capability and will be more so in the coming years through the AUKUS submarine project.
In Whyalla, we produce 75% of the structural steel used in Australia.
Our state is a leader in agriculture and in renewables, particularly wind and solar.
We are the base of the country’s space sector, home to the Australian Space Agency and Cyber Collaboration Centre.
What we offer goes beyond conventional state boundaries, a fact which increases the premium we must place on our leadership capacity and capability.
Leadership is one of my priority areas as Governor, and I am committed to supporting our state’s established and emerging leaders, encouraging them to embrace opportunity with bold ideas and cross-sector action, underpinned by visionary leadership.
Our state is home to many talented leaders, and emerging leaders.
A great illustration of this is the Australian of the Year awards.
Since 2019, four winners have been based here in South Australia, including 2026 recipient, astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg.
The Governor’s Leadership Foundation Program is a vital training ground for our state’s leaders.
For the past 26 years, the Governor’s Leadership Program has equipped more than 950 South Australians with the skills required to bolster our state’s future.
The program also brings a significant sense of collegiality and support to its participants.
Each year at the graduation ceremony, I witness the strong bonds which have formed between graduates.
The GLF alumni network enables participants to form and nurture long-lasting connections across industry sectors.
This provides crucial support and advice as they continue their leadership journeys.
For the 2026 program participants, if the experience of your predecessors is any guide, you have a steep learning curve ahead.
You will be extended. There will be a transformative shift in your world view. You will gain clarity about your capabilities and become more adept at collaborative endeavours.
To maximise your contribution as a leader, you will need to have a vision, to consider a diversity of perspectives, and to be authentic.
I have always appreciated speaking with GLF participants during the program and learning of your aspirations and achievements.
I also love meeting GLFers in my daily work. It happens more often than you would think!
They are keen to tell me about the impact the GLF Program had on them and, if not immediately, then a year or two later, how they are applying their learnings in a transformational way.
Friends,
The GLF Program would not be possible without the work of the Leaders Institute of South Australia and its supporters, and I thank all of these people for their commitment to this important initiative.
I also thank Todd Roberts for his contribution to the Leaders Institute as Chair for five years, and his support to me as patron, and welcome Julianne Parkinson to the role.
To our GLF participants, congratulations on your acceptance to the program.
I wish you all the very best for your studies and look forward to welcoming you back to Government House in the middle of the year.
Make the most of this opportunity, and the rewards will come back to you two-fold, enhancing your career as well as the leadership capacity of our state.