June 2026 Update
Victorian Leadership Network
Network Update
June 2026
The five work streams are now all active. This update covers what has happened since the May whole-of-network meeting, what is coming up, and two important asks of your organisation.
Work stream updates
Alumni
– A two-tier approach to alumni engagement has been agreed: each organisation continues its own alumni activities, while a statewide layer sits across all ten organisations
– A calendar of network-wide alumni events is being developed — listing events that are open to all alumni regardless of which organisation they completed their program with. Ot may also list events that are regionally specific.
– LV have a fishbowl event with Greater Melbourne Foundation planned for September — alumni and community members discuss shared challenges and potential collective responses. If successful, the intention is for it to be replicated in different locations across the state
– Alumni reciprocity confirmed: an alumnus of any member organisation is an alumnus of the Victorian Leadership Network. Individual program identities (e.g. Williamson Fellow) are retained alongside VLN affiliation
MEL / Alumni survey
The statewide alumni survey launched on 15 June. If you haven’t sent it to your alumni yet, please do so as soon as possible. The survey is open for four weeks, active promotion is strongly encouraged!
You can track your organisation’s response numbers in real time using the link below:
Alumni survey dashboard — live tracking
Survey insights will be available by end of August and will feed directly into the network’s funding case and impact story.
– The next phase of the MEL workstream will include refinement of the MEL framework in relation to the Leadership model. This has highlighted Work stream interdependencies:
– MEL, the Leadership Model, Funding, and Operating Model all connect and depend on each other. A cross-work stream dependencies map is being developed to make this sequencing clear. This is why some work is progressing in parallel and some is waiting on other streams to reach a certain point first.
– New work stream members will be onboarded at the next MEL meeting, to be held on the 24th June
Leadership Model
– First work stream meeting held — the model was well received, with participants noting it connects individual leadership development with community outcomes in a way not seen in other frameworks
– The group suggested working with the model as-is for the first 8–12 months, testing and applying it before making any refinements
– Next step: a current state mapping exercise across all ten programs to see how each already reflects the model
Funding
– Work stream terms of reference approved
– A distributed funding model has been proposed; identifying partners across ten sectors, with each of the ten organisations helping to cultivate one or two relationships
– A parliamentary delegation is confirmed for 26 August at State Parliament — expo format, with invitations going to MPs and alumni across all parties. Details to follow
– Two-page election pitch attached — please use it in conversations with local MPs and government representatives of all parties; additional information is in the for action section
Operating Model & Governance
– The work stream had it’s 2nd meeting on the 17th of June; continuing to refine the language used to describe the network’s shared vision, purpose and goals — including how the network builds individual capability and community capacity, and how it can influence systems and shape policy over time
– Work is continuing on the governance model, with a focus on getting the foundational decisions right before moving into operational detail. Final decision on a governance model will be made as a network.
– Ronda Held (Leadership Great South Coast) has been confirmed as work stream lead
Action required
1. Alumni survey
If you have not yet sent the alumni survey to your alumni list, please do so ASAP. The broader our reach, the stronger our collective impact story — and the more compelling our case to funders and government.
– Actively promote survey completion
– Resend the link and a reminder at the two-week mark (week of 30th June)
– Track your organisation’s completion numbers:
https://app.mel-on.ai/f/leadership-alumni-2026-results
What’s working — tips from the network
A few approaches being used across the network to boost response rates — take what works for you:
● Personal outreach — personally contacting one or two alumni from each cohort to champion the survey and encourage their peers to respond. A personal ask goes a long way.
● Closed alumni social media groups — posting in private Facebook groups or LinkedIn communities where alumni are already connected.
● Alumni newsletters — including the survey link in regular alumni communications where these are already going out.
2. Government advocacy — election pitch
Two versions of the two-page election pitch are attached to this update:
– Version 1 — Victorian Government: for use in meetings with the current government, including the Treasurer’s office and Labor MPs
– Version 2 — All parties: an infographic for use with opposition MPs, crossbenchers, and candidates of all parties
Please use these in any conversations you are having with local MPs and representatives. The more voices making the case across the state, the stronger our collective ask. If you are attending any political events or have relationships with local MPs, this is the material to use.
A full version of the submission to government can be found here: PAPERS & PUBLICATIONS | Regional Leadership
The parliamentary delegation on 26 August is a key opportunity to put this directly to MPs in person. More details will follow.
3. For your 2027 program prospectus and recruitment materials
The Steering Committee has agreed the following statement can be used by all member organisations in upcoming program recruitment materials. Please feel free to adapt the language to suit your organisation’s voice.
“[Organisation] is part of the Victorian Leadership Network, an emerging statewide collaboration of nine regional leadership organisations and Leadership Victoria. Through this, our participants and Alumni will gain access to a broader network of leaders, statewide learning and professional development opportunities, cross-regional connections, and opportunities to engage with issues and initiatives shaping communities across Victoria”
The key elements to retain are the VLN name, the statewide collaboration framing, and the reference to network access and cross-regional connections.
Coming up
– Alumni survey closes — 13 July. Keep encouraging your alumni to respond.
– Alumni survey insights report — end of August
– Funders trustees meeting — 9 July
– Parliamentary delegation — 26 August, State Parliament
– Next Steering Committee — second Tuesday of each month, 10:30am
A note of thanks
This is a demanding phase. Five work streams are running simultaneously, with significant interdependencies between them, and participants are carrying this work alongside other roles.
The Steering Committee wishes to acknowledge this, your commitment and participation matters enormously. Thank you.