The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) Future Leaders Program supports the Australian and New Zealand rail industry’s best and brightest future leaders.  

The comprehensive seven-day program (held over three separate workshops) is based on contemporary leadership best practice and provides a unique opportunity for the professional and personal development of rail professionals who are expected to make a difference to the industry over the coming decades. 

The leadership program is specifically tailored for the rail industry and supports a hand-picked group of emerging leaders in our industry to: 

• Develop the capabilities required of successful leaders 
• Build a cross-industry network 
• Raise their profile through an executive sponsorship program 

Program Summary

The ARA 2026 Future Leaders Program is an exclusive leadership program, equipping emerging leaders with the concepts, tools, networks and self-awareness needed for successful leadership.  

The 2026 cohort of the ARA Future Leaders Program will be limited to a gender-balanced group of 40 emerging leaders nominated by employers.  

The ARA has once again partnered with Dr Polly McGee of Disruptive Consulting (DisCo) as lead facilitator. Polly will draw from a diverse range of contemporary leadership theory and practice and apply a rail-specific lens to the program. 

The ARA Future Leaders Program offers participants the opportunity to:  

• Escalate their leadership performance 
• Immediately boost their impact as an employee 
• Expand their talents and test their weaknesses 
• Build capacity in relational communications and contribute to building inclusion and psychological safety in their workplace
• Incorporate complexity, polarity and systems thinking into their strategic approach 
• Join an influential and diverse network of rail professionals at all levels 
• Tackle critical current and future issues facing the rail industry and society 
• Receive powerful insights and self-awareness to create positive change within their organisations and the industry more broadly 

Applicant eligibility

• Applicants must: 

• • • Be endorsed by their member organisation 
    • Have at least five years’ experience in the rail industry with an intention to stay in the industry 
    • Be under 35 years of age  
    • Be a permanent resident of Australia or New Zealand 
    • Be directly engaged in Australia or New Zealand’s rail industry 
    • Have an identified sponsor* 

• You can nominate a maximum of one female and one male applicant per ARA member organisation who are: 

• • • Poised to make a significant impact on the rail industry over the next decade 
    • Demonstrating leadership qualities that could be further supported and refined

• An Expression of Interest form needs to be completed by both the applicant and their organisation 
• Participants must be able to attend all scheduled workshops and webinars of the ARA 2025 Future Leaders Program to receive a certificate of completion 

*Sponsorship Program

The Future Leaders Program will incorporate a sponsorship program. 

All Future Leaders are to have a self-identified executive sponsor within their organisation (not the Future Leader’s immediate manager), who believes in the individual’s capabilities and is willing to advocate for them.  

A sponsor is expected to: 

• Provide opportunities to increase the visibility of the Future Leader, share insights, make meaningful introductions and provide candid feedback for their growth
• Attend the Future Leaders sponsorship webinar with them to understand expectations on their role
• Invite the Future Leader to an ARA networking event or industry networking event. Sponsors can also choose to attend the Brisbane networking dinner which all Future Leaders attend or the ARA can provide a two-for-the-price of one ticket to an alternative ARA networking event 
• Sponsors will also be invited to the Future Leader’s program graduation 

Program Costs

$3,960 including GST (including all events in the program schedule listed below).  

Accommodation and transport expenses are not included and are to be booked separately at the expense of the Future Leader’s organisation. (Recommended hotels in the vicinity of the venues will be provided.)

Program Schedule

View the full program here

To Apply

The application criteria and expressions of interest form is available here and must be submitted to the ARA by Friday 12 December 2025. 

Testimonials

More than 150 people from 50 organisations have participated in the ARA Future Leaders Program.   

An average of 9/10 past participants said the program met their expectations, and they would be likely to recommend the course to others. Dr Polly McGee received on average 5-star rating. 

Below are some of the testimonials we have received previously: 

“Polly was … awesome. Unlike any other workshop teacher I have ever encountered. Really engaging and forced me to get out of my comfort zone so I could grow. Honestly, one of the best work weeks I can remember in ages. Legend.” 

“Polly creates a safe environment for learning and sharing, her facilitation and ability to adapt to different levels of experience are excellent.” 

“Polly is one of the most insightful and knowledgeable facilitators I have had the privilege to work with. She does an amazing job of creating a safe environment which was visibly reflected in the enthusiasm and participation of the group.” 

“Polly is an amazing facilitator. She has a fantastic connection to the group, a genuine and brilliant personality, which allows all types of characters to excel and grow and bringing the best out in people.” 

Thank you to our 2026 Future Leaders supporting partner Speno Rail Maintenance Australia.  

Speno is a world leader in the field of rail maintenance, technology, diagnostics. As a local rail organisation whose machines are designed, manufactured and assembled, operated and maintained in Australia, Speno is committed to investing in the professional development of the future leaders of the rail industry.