OC 3 Wing AAFC wins prestigious leadership award

Wing Commander (AAFC) Paul Hughes, Officer Commanding 3 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets, last week received the prestigious Sir John Storey Outstanding Intentional Leader Award from the Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML) during a ceremony in Sydney.

CAPTION: Wing Commander (AAFC) Paul Hughes, Officer Commanding 3 Wing of the Australian Air Force Cadets with his Sir John Storey Outstanding Intentional Leader Award from the Institute of Managers and Leaders. Photo supplied.

This award recognises outstanding and invaluable leadership service and excellence in the management and leadership sector.

Appointed in 2012, Wing Commander Hughes is currently responsible for training and developing more than 2400 cadets and 500 staff between the ages of 13 to 78 spread across NSW and ACT.

He also leads the administration of more than 40 separate units from Lismore to Canberra and Albury.

He has innovated, improved, inspired and lead by the motto developed by the team under his leadership: “setting the standard, leading the way”.

When Paul assumed responsibility of 3 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets in 2015, it became clear staff and cadets had been stagnant over the previous five years. There had been no growth, innovation or purpose, and Paul was inundated with feedback that there was no leadership, direction or passion. Morale among the 400 staff was at an all-time low with feelings of neglect, and high staff attrition.

To transform this, Wing Commander Hughes developed a vision and mission for the organisation, providing his team with a sense of purpose and meaning. He implemented programs changing business delivery with consideration of the very diverse group of volunteers. He also devised a strong communication strategy that was conveyed by personally connecting to his people and not through corporate jargon. He took five weeks away from his day job to visit all 40 units around NSW and ACT to provide people with a voice in playing a part in the organisation’s future direction. His leadership style is said to emphasise the importance of emotional intelligence, transparency and collaboration.

“Leadership with a volunteer force is positive manipulation. I have to tap into people’s emotional intelligence and lead by example to get them on side,” Wing Commander Hughes said.

The 2018 Sir John Storey Leadership Awards were announced and presented to 12 distinguished individuals and organisations around Australia in honour of their exemplary leadership achievements.

In their inaugural year, the awards were presented by the Institute of Managers and Leaders at their Leadership Impact Series in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra last week.

The Sir John Storey Leadership Awards were introduced to recognise individuals who exemplify key leadership values of excellence, integrity and ethics.

They are presented in honour of renowned Australian industrialist – and the Institute’s first president – Sir John Storey.

There are four categories of the Sir John Storey Leadership Awards, each focusing on different areas of leadership with a distinct impact on society.

The Sir John Storey Award for Lifetime Leadership Achievement is IML’s most prestigious accolade awarded by the IML Board of Directors to recognise leaders who have rendered significant and distinguished service over an extended period of time to the management and leadership profession and the community.

Awards for Lifetime Leadership Achievement:

• Dr Jim Kable – Brisbane, Queensland

A former president of the institute before the organisation was federated, Jim made a significant contribution to management and leadership in Australia and internationally over the past 50 years. At IML, Jim led the Skilled Migration unit for 15 years, assessing thousands of applications of international professionals seeking futures in Australia.

• Professor Shirley Randell – Sydney, NSW

World renowned for her work with women in Rwanda after the genocide, Shirley has had a fascinating and eminent career as an educator and expert in public sector and institutional reform in developing countries across the globe.

• Dr Donna Odegaard – Darwin, Northern Territory

Donna is the founder and CEO of Darwin-based Aboriginal Broadcasting Australia. Despite her humble beginnings, Dr Odegaard has risen to become one of Darwin’s most respected business women and has dedicated her life to increasing indigenous opportunities.

 

The Sir John Storey Outstanding Intentional Leadership Award recognises outstanding and invaluable leadership service and excellence in the management and leadership sector.

Outstanding Intentional Leader Award winners:

• Professor Scott Bowman – Vice-Chancellor and President, CQ University Australia – Rockhampton, Queensland
• Wing Commander (AAFC) Paul Hughes – Officer Commanding 3 Wing, Australia Air Force Cadets – Sydney, NSW
• Cindy Welsh – General Manager, People and Culture, St John Ambulance – Melbourne, Victoria

 

The Sir John Storey Emerging Leader Award is a distinction given to leaders who are new to the leadership space and who have made a significant impact and demonstrated potential for future leadership.

Emerging Leader Awards:

• Ryan McKergow – Group Manager (Qld), Elabor8 – Brisbane, Queensland
• Emma Hendry – CEO, Hendry – Melbourne, Victoria
• Gemma Wood – Project Manager, Aurecon Australasia – Adelaide, South Australia

 

The Sir John Storey Catalyst Award for Business Innovation is awarded to organisations with innovative leadership operations or governance. These organisations may operate in the leadership sector or utilise an innovative leadership model.

Catalyst Award for Business Innovation winners:

• Fantastic Furniture
• Mornington Shire Council
• Cahoots

 

Chief Executive of the Institute of Managers and Leaders David Pich said the Sir John Storey Leadership Awards were about looking beyond the global leadership landscape.

“It’s about remembering that our workplaces, our schools, our universities, our not-for-profits, our local clubs and societies are filled with great managers and leaders doing great things,” he said.

“They might not have 3-million Twitter followers or billion-dollar re-election campaigns, but they are the true leadership role-models.

“The inspiring stories of the 2018 Sir John Storey Leadership Awards recipients are a testament to the significance of local leadership.

“The impact of leadership decisions is felt well beyond the workplace – they have the power to shape our society.

“Through their leadership integrity, courage and innovation, the winners of the institute’s leadership awards have shaped our society for the better.”

 

Born in Sydney in 1896, Sir John Storey – the son of a NSW Labor Premier – soon grew to become one of Australia’s foremost leaders in management. Among his many respected positions, he was Director of Manufacturing of General Motors Holden, Chairman of Joint War Production Committee and Immigration Planning Council, Chairman, Managing Director of Repco Limited, and founder and President of the Australian Institute of Management – now the Institute of Managers and Leaders. He was knighted in 1950.

For more information on the Sir John Storey Leadership Awards, visit: https://managersandleaders.com.au/sir-john-storey-leadership-awards/
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