Case Study: Suzie Haslehurst
Suzie Haslehurst, General Manager of Indigenous publishing house, Magabala Books, attended the Leadership Development Program supported through a scholarship from the Australia Business Arts Foundation and the Margaret Lawrence Bequest.
Suzie says the five day residential program she completed at Mt Eliza was a fantastic opportunity to meet and network with a group of people facing similar management issues and challenges.
"It was a fabulous week - inspiring and enlightening. The program offered a personal development opportunity that I have been able to apply not only in my daily role, but also in my position as Chair of Regional Arts Western Australia."
Located in Broome in the north of Western Australia, Magabala Books is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes and publishes work by Indigenous Australians. As General Manager, Suzie oversees the strategic development, human resources, financial and overall performance of the organisation.
Due to its remote location, and the non-for-profit nature of the organisation, opportunities for Suzie to participate in management courses were limited. When the publishing house started to embark on an ambitious growth plan, she decided to apply for the scholarship to attend an executive education program at Mt Eliza.
"I chose the Leadership Development Program initially because the course content seemed particularly useful given the leadership needed to deliver our new business plan. However, other benefits included the opportunity to network with peers from a diverse range of industries - and we continue to keep in touch through an email group network - as well as the time to focus on planning and development; a rare treat for most managers!
"I feel very privileged to have been able to attend and look forward to putting into practice all that I have learned."
Margaret Lawrence, an alumna of The University of Melbourne, was a strong advocate for education and was passionate about the arts. The Margaret Lawrence Foundation assists not-for-profit organisations whose work can benefit through greater access to education.
