We caught up with Kieran Fairbrother, Senior Urban Planner, City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, about what led him to participate in the Emerging Leaders Program, his experience in a recent module, and what he's most looking forward to as part of the development opportunity. 

What made you sign up for the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP)?

Since my days playing football (yes, football!) as a kid in England, I have always had a passion for leading others, both on and off the field. I always strive to bring out the best in people, and I genuinely enjoy doing my best to help others reach their full potential. The ELP offers me an opportunity to refine some of my existing leadership skills while learning a heap of new ones! I’ve tended to struggle with the humanistic side of leading – being too technical-focused – and this program offers me the chance to understand myself and others better so I can become a better leader.

A recent module focused on the Political Context – what were some of your takeaways from this module?

What I learned from this module is just how much politics plays a part in everyday decision-making in local government. Whether we are aware of it or not, politics plays a role in almost all council functions, so it was good to gain a deeper understanding of where that crossover lies in different areas of the organisation. It was great to hear from people of different backgrounds and in different positions about how they view politics in councils and how they see this play out in certain situations. I really enjoyed some of the real-life stories we heard of where politics has played a key role in making a decision.

What are you most looking forward to as the program progresses?

Naturally, I am looking forward to learning more about myself and about leadership as we move through this program. As daunting as it may be, I have always had an appreciation for being chucked in the deep end with new experiences and being forced into uncomfortable positions to learn and grow, which is something that continues to excite me with this program – embracing the unknown. I have made some great connections through this program too, and I look forward to continuing with them even after the program finishes!