Lockyer Valley Regional Council’s ‘Shadow the Mayor’ Program has celebrated an important milestone.
First launched by Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor, Tanya Milligan in 2017, the program takes place several times a year with the aim of mentoring and encouraging local Year 11 students to unleash their leadership potential.
Six years on and Mayor Milligan has welcomed her 30th student to the important initiative.
The students are given the opportunity to spend the day with the Mayor, shadowing and being mentored by her as she fulfils her varied duties. They also get to experience the responsibilities and tasks business and community leaders face firsthand, as well as the inner workings of local government.
Mayor Milligan said her hope was to instil self-belief in young people by giving them the encouragement needed to dream big and unlock their leadership potential.
“It is a privilege to help foster the next generation of leaders and one I wholeheartedly embrace,” she said.
“As a high school student, I never imagined I would one day become a future mayor. However, through learning to believe in myself, and importantly, having others believe in and encourage my potential, I did.
“Developing and fostering the next generation of leaders is an honour, and I only hope the students who take part in the program experience real benefits,” Mayor Milligan said.