COUNCIL STAFF SECURE SPOT IN RURAL MANAGEMENT CHALLENGE FINAL

Published on 12 December 2023

Image The Highlanders Team at the Rural Management Challenge - Heat 3 in Bellingen.png

Four Council staff members, known as “The Highlanders”, have secured their place in the highly anticipated Rural Management Challenge final after winning Heat 3 of the Challenge at Bellingen NSW in November.

Based on the successful concept of the Australasian Management Challenge, the Rural Management Challenges (RMC) are a development programme that provides real-life problem-solving experiences and produces outcomes that translate into relevant, tangible and enduring benefits for individuals, teams and the organisation.

Specially designed to provide councils in rural and regional areas of NSW, the Challenge develops skills and knowledge that can be immediately applied back at council. Councils nominate a team of four staff members (who may or may not have worked together before) to compete against other Council teams within their region.

The Highlanders, comprised of Council’s Acting Manager of Economic Development, Rhonda Bombell, Manager of Assets, David Hunt, Chief Financial Officer, Shageer Mohammed and Manager of Infrastructure Delivery, Anthony Kamphorst competed against seven other teams over the two-day Heat in Bellingen.

Navigating through a series of challenges that simulated real-world scenarios, testing their strategic thinking, decision-making skills and knowledge of rural management practices, the Glen Innes Severn Council team’s display of innovative solutions earned them the coveted spot in the RMC final.

Glen Innes Severn Council General Manager Bernard Smith expressed great pride in the Council staff members’ accomplishment for their ability to analyse complex situations, devise effective strategies, and communicate their decisions as a team.

“The Highlanders demonstrated exceptional teamwork, resilience, and a profound understanding of the challenges inherent in rural communities. Their success in Heat 3 underscores Glen Innes Severn Council's commitment to effective governance and community development,” Mr Smith said.

We are thrilled to see them excel in the Rural Management Challenge - Heat 3 and wish them the best of luck in the final in Sydney."

As winners of Heat 3, the Highlanders will be heading off to the RMC final in Sydney on 20 and 21 of February, where they will be up against other top-performing teams from various Councils.