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the australian farmer
remain even more critical as ever foundational attrib- utes to any successful leadership. As I alluded to, I’ve been enormously privileged to have experienced leadership across a range of leadership roles, locally, domestically, and inter- nationally so in bringing this issue forward, is be- cause it’s a constant present in all I see across the world. In today’s dynamic and interconnected world, the concept of risk has become a central concern for leaders across industries. Yet, paradoxically, many in- dividuals and organizations shy away from accepting risk directly. Instead, they often shift it onto others, whether through strategic decision making, contrac- tual clauses, or operational practices. While this may seem like a pragmatic approach to safeguarding in- terests, it fundamentally undermines accountability, erodes integrity, and ultimately, jeopardizes sustain- able success. Fear of failure is deeply ingrained in human psych- ology. The potential for loss, be it financial, reputa- tional, or emotional makes risk a daunting prospect.
here?’; and ‘What is my greatest risk?’. Well, the prob- lems are many, and consequently in water they are part of the most contested, controversial, complex, and compromised public policy in our Nation, which makes them challenging, not insurmountable but challenging. What is my greatest risk? Well, I believe that is the shifting of risk and consequently accountability of decision makers. A consequence of that, is the black and white or absolute in what we did, how we did it or even how we viewed things are moving to more shades of grey than ever before. When you consider leadership and quality leadership through this prism, I believe that some key fundamentals are less affected and remain fundamentally clear as they have ever been. By this I mean that while tolerance, understanding, and individual management are core requirements of any leadership endeavour, the fun- damentals of integrity, authenticity, and quality com- munication remain absolute hallmarks of successful leadership and in fact due to the fast pace of change
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