This month we caught up with Natasha Hunt, Manager Communications & Engagement at District Council of Yankalilla about her role, the Executive Leaders Program and what she enjoys doing outside of work. 

What is your role and what does it entail?
As of the 1st of November, I'll be heading over to join the Executive Team at Alexandrina Council on a 6-month secondment to the role of Manager Communications & Business Services. I will be responsible for Communications & Marketing, Business Reporting, the A2040 Community Strategic Plan, Elected Member Support, Governance, Risk & Audit. I'm looking forward to joining and working with the talented team over there.

What do you most enjoy about working in local government?
I love getting to know and understand diverse communities and being able to assist them to articulate their vision for their town and then delivering on it. I may also like the sneaky brag to my kids that mum helped get that project going. (i.e a new playground).

You recently participated in the Executive Leaders Program – how did you find the program? Any highlights like to share?
The program was fantastic and I highly recommend it. I learned that growth takes challenge and support and this program provides that. It has given me a deeper awareness of myself, what makes me tick, my values and what I bring to the table. It's given me the tools to understand complex problems and the ability to sit back 'on the balcony' to see what is going on, understand why, and plan how I can successfully affect change.

I believe it has made me a better leader. We were given numerous tools to test and trial on our teams and let me tell you, I tested them all! The tools are not only valuable in the workplace but I've also used them in my home life and in the community where I found them to be extremely effective within sporting teams that I am involved in.
The buddy system within the program was fantastic and allowed you to seek an outside view on the workplace challenge you were facing. The bonus of the program was the connections and networks I developed with my peers.

What advice would you give to someone considering if the Executive Leaders Program is the right program for them?
Say yes, ask questions later, and just do it! You don't have to be an executive right now to do the program. You can make time to do the program, the workload is also really manageable. If you go into the program with an open mind and are ready to challenge yourself, you will get so much out of it.

What do you like to do in your leisure time?
Try to keep up my mediocre netball and football career and I enjoy taking trips away with our kids and friends in our unofficial caravan club.