Country to Canberra Leadership Competition

A leadership opportunity for young rural women

Earlier this year Hort Innovation announced a partnership with Country to Canberra to help young women in regional Australia access life‑changing leadership opportunities.

Hort Innovation’s support contributes to the Country to Canberra Leadership Competition which is a prestigious annual competition empowering young rural, regional and remote women and non-binary people in Years 10–12 to share their ideas for the future of Australia.

This year’s competition asks: “What does the future of health look like for you, your family and your community?”

Entries are open now and close on Sunday, June 28, 2026. All the details are on the Country to Canberra website.

Among the resources being provided to teachers and students are guiding questions Hort Innovation helped design around the role horticulture plays in creating healthier futures for communities, as well as food waste minimisation.

The winner receives an all-expenses-paid Power Trip to Canberra, leadership development and mentoring, and connection to a national network of young rural leaders.

If you know a young person – someone in industry, a family member, friend, neighbour or community member who might be eligible – please share the competition details with them. Rural voices deserve to be heard, and this competition is a powerful platform to make that happen.

Learn more on the Country to Canberra website

This article appears as part of the 5 June 2026 issue of Guacamole, our e-Newsletter.