 Sarah Powell, the creator of a pilot program designed to encourage future rural leaders to recognise their potential, is the 2015 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Rural Women's Award winner. From Waimenda on the Air Peninsula, Sarah is passionate about her local community and Port's football and netball club, and was presented the award by Minister for Regional Development Geoff Brock. When girls see women from their own communities in leadership positions, the possibilities of their own accomplishments become more real, and I know from your own regions there people will be looking up to you and saying they can do it, so can I. You are leaders, you are inspirations to the people below you or younger than you and above you also. As part of the award, Sarah has received a $10,000 bursary from Reddick, which she will use to pursue her program called the Champions Academy at her sports club. The activities run by the academy will further develop social and professional skills that extend beyond the participants' interest or ability in sport, through to community participation and life skills. I was really excited to have the financial support to roll out some of the activities within the Champions Academy, but most importantly to me are the fundamental leadership training which will be rolled out for the core group of participants called Ignitioned, and what that does is uses brain-based behaviour in a cutting-edge mentoring framework to engage and empower the club members, particularly youths, to recognise their potential, become a high-performance team, reinvesting in a system of volunteerism that really sees benefits for the community. Sarah is eager to start her Champions Academy and has some advice for rural women thinking about applying for the award in the future. If you have a concept that you think has benefits for your region, strengthening the region and expanding your resilience, I think absolutely just go for it. Work with the team, they're so positive, they're so helpful in preparing the applications, dress testing your concept, helping you to get your head around where the boundaries are on it and what you can and can't do in a 12-month period with $10,000, absolutely just give it a go. I can't encourage that enough. Now, in its 18th year, the Riddick Rural Women's Award recognises women dedicated to primary industries and community. Pazza is proud to support this award and the women it recognises.