The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in partnership with The Regional Australia Institute (RAI) are seeking applicants from regional and rural shire councils, chambers of commerce and economic development organisations to participate in a leadership program designed to better inform participants about the benefits of regional Australia from international trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) and international tourism. The program consists of six interactive webinars designed to generate ideas on how regions may develop their own international strategies as part of their COVID-19 recovery efforts.

The workshops will run from 29 April to 15 July 2022 with the final presentation comprising of short-listed video presentations from participants on their International Engagement proposal for their region. A mentorship platform will guide the learning process and inform the proposal. The program is open to early to mid-career applicants who are working in economic/growth roles within regional and rural organisations. Participants will have access to industry experts and senior government officers, as well as mentoring and networking opportunities.