In this month’s Member Spotlight, get to know your new IML Board Director, Brendan Blomeley FIML, Mayor of Clarence City Council in Tasmania. In this interview, Brendan shares his insights on leadership, community, why he wanted to join the IML Board, and his top tips for visitors to Clarence!
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your leadership journey
I am the eldest of six and raised on a beef cattle farm in the Southern Riverina district of NSW. With Mum as a primary school teacher, the importance of education and continual learning was impressed upon us from an early age. With the benefit of supportive parents, we were actively encouraged to always strive to “do our best”, even if that didn’t always mean “coming first”. The value of hard work, reward for effort and “giving back” to community were also fundamental values that were instilled in us.
Throughout my varied career, traversing business, politics, sports administration, and community, I have been fortunate to have benefited greatly from the experience and generosity of highly valued mentors.
The best advice I ever received was the importance of leading with “both head and heart”. Emotional intelligence is key to unlocking the full potential of any team and fully understanding the needs of key stakeholders.
From my perspective, the leadership journey never ends as we should continually invest in learning and remain open to honing our skill set to achieve our full potential. Be that as an individual, an organisation, or as a community.
2. Why did you want to join the Institute’s board?
Whilst the attributes of true leaders are not innate to us all, the importance of learning from others and developing a solid leadership skill set should not be underestimated as, I firmly believe, this will deliver better outcomes across our community.
I saw an opportunity to assist IML in growing its reach and influence across our market, to enhance and further develop the overall leadership capacity for managers in our region.
3. What would you like to achieve during your time as a Director?
Simply put, to grow the reach and influence of IML. To ensure our services and training meet market demand and are widely recognised as world’s best practice.
4. You have a strong background in community leadership, what do you think are the keys to building successful communities?
Listening. Empathy. Perspective. Humility. Courage. Self-awareness.
The most important attribute is a willingness to engage with a wide cross-section of individuals. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to agree, or even find common ground, but listening to and understanding other viewpoints provides valuable insights that ought to deliver informed outcomes. It does not need to be a zero-sum game.
Successful communities, like successful businesses, are those that actively engage with key stakeholders and continually look for better ways at doing things.
5. Do you have a top career or leadership highlight?
Being elected Mayor of the City of Clarence in 2022 is unquestionably a career highlight.
6. What are your top 3 recommendations for members who are travelling to Clarence?
- With some of the best cool climate wines in the world produced in the Coal River Valley, a visit to any number of our multi-award-winning vineyards is a must!
- The historic village of Richmond, presently celebrating its bicentenary, showcases some of the best Georgian architecture in the country.
- With 191kms of coastline, Clarence also boasts some of the best beaches and golf courses in the world!
