Leadership Great South Coast Inc.

What Leadership Great South Coast Inc. does

Leadership Great South Coast Inc. (LGSC) is a regionally embedded, not-for-profit leadership development organisation incorporated under Victorian law and registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Warrnambool, Victoria, the organisation delivers a portfolio of cohort-based, action-oriented leadership programs across the five local government areas of the Great South Coast region: Glenelg, Moyne, Southern Grampians, Corangamite, and Warrnambool City. Its flagship is a 10-month Community Leadership Program, supplemented by shorter offerings including Lead with Confidence (a three-part workshop series), Stepping Up into Community Leadership (a 10-day immersive), Project-Ready-Go! (a 3-day project management course), Dare to Lead (a Brené Brown-based 3-day courage-building program), Rural Women LEAD (workshop series), Governance Training, and a pilot Leadership Connections community mentoring program. Since inception the organisation has supported 195+ alumni from diverse sectors.

The business model is hybrid. Revenue derives from participant fees (e.g., Stepping Up $4,470+GST, Dare to Lead $2,835-$3,035+GST, Project-Ready-Go! $750-$825+GST, Rural Women LEAD $225-$300+GST per workshop, Lead with Confidence $600-$1,200+GST) and from grants and philanthropic support drawn from a wide base of foundations including Gardiner, Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, Hugh D.T. Williamson, Menzies, DemoDAIRY, South West Community Foundation, and several others, alongside co-development funding via the Regional Leadership Collective and Leadership Victoria for a 3-year Citizen Leadership Project. Scholarships are institutionalised to reduce financial barriers (over $30,000 allocated to the 2026 Stepping Up cohort). Programs are promoted through a Squarespace-hosted website, email, Instagram, Facebook, partner referral networks (local councils, Deakin University Warrnambool, South West TAFE, community organisations), and word of mouth within the regional community, with registrations processed via Microsoft Forms and ticketing via Humanitix.

The organisation is operated by a small team of approximately 9 staff on flexible/part-time arrangements (Executive Officer from January 2026, Program Manager, 0.6 FTE Program and Impact Lead, facilitators) governed by a volunteer Board. In late 2025/early 2026 the organisation underwent a leadership transition, appointing Andrew Castles to succeed Kate Roache as Executive Officer and refreshing the Board at the 2025 AGM. There is no proprietary technology platform and no disclosed AI capability; competitive advantage rests on regional trust, cross-sector networks, and embedded community relationships built over 13+ years.

Name

Leadership Great South Coast Inc.

Legal name

Leadership Great South Coast Inc.

Website

https://leadershipgreatsouthcoast.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Leadership Great South Coast Inc. is a regional not-for-profit, founded in 2012 and based in Warrnambool, Victoria, that delivers cohort-based, action-oriented leadership development programs across the Great South Coast region for emerging, new, and established community leaders, particularly rural women.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leadership Development Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Coaching Leadership & Mentoring Skills (EDABAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leadership Assessment, 360 Feedback & Development Planning (EDABAAAK), Team & Group Executive Coaching (Leadership Teams) (EDABANAF)

Keywords

• Community leadership programs
• Leadership development training
• Regional leadership capacity
• Governance and board training
• Women in leadership

Headquarters

HQ city

Warrnambool

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Program fees charged to participants for leadership development courses including the Community Leadership Program ($4,470+GST), Dare to Lead ($2,835-$3,035+GST), Project-Ready-Go ($750-$825+GST), Lead with Confidence ($600-$1,200+GST), and Rural Women LEAD ($225-$300+GST per workshop). Scholarships are available to reduce financial barriers.
2. Grants and Foundation Funding: Funding support from government and foundation partners including the Victorian Leadership Network, Regional Leadership Collective, Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, Hugh D.T. Williamson Foundation, Menzies Leadership Foundation, Gardiner Foundation, South West Community Foundation, DemoDAIRY Foundation, Gwen & Edna Jones Foundation, Ray & Joyce Uebergang Foundation, Vedmore Foundation, A.L. Lane Foundation, William & Lindsay Brodie Foundation, Thomas O'Toole Foundation, and AGH Foundation. Funding supports co-development of leadership programs including a 3-year Citizen Leadership Project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Leadership Great South Coast Inc. delivers cohort-based and workshop-format leadership development programs across the Great South Coast region of Victoria, Australia. Offerings include the 10-month Community Leadership Program, the 10-day Stepping Up into Community Leadership, the Lead with Confidence workshop series, Project-Ready-Go! project management training, Governance Training, Dare to Lead, and Rural Women LEAD, supported by a pilot mentoring program. Programs combine workshops, immersives, field trips and community projects to build leadership capability and strengthen regional networks.

Product overview

Leadership Great South Coast Inc. is a regional leadership organization offering a portfolio of inclusive, action-based programs that empower emerging, new and established leaders to build skills, strengthen networks, and drive positive change. The core programs include the Community Leadership Program (a comprehensive 10-month offering), Lead with Confidence (practical foundations workshop series), Stepping Up into Community Leadership (ten-day immersive program), Project-Ready-Go! (project management training), Governance Training, Dare to Lead (Brené Brown-based courage-building program), Rural Women LEAD (women-focused workshop series), and a pilot Mentoring Program. Programs are delivered across south west Victoria including Glenelg, Moyne, Southern Grampians, Corangamite Shires and Warrnambool City.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Leadership Program A 10-month comprehensive leadership program equipping participants with tools such as coaching conversations, self-awareness, communication skills, and includes site visits, community projects, and alumni engagement; since 2012 LGSC has supported over 195 alumni from diverse sectors.
• Stepping Up into Community Leadership A ten-day program consisting of two immersives and six program days, including regional field trips, focusing on leadership skill building, learning about regional challenges and successes, connecting with local people from different sectors, and action learning.
• Lead with Confidence: Practical Leadership Foundations A three-part practical workshop series designed for emerging and established leaders to strengthen the way they lead in their workplace, community organisation, business, board, committee or volunteer role, blending self-leadership, practical leadership development, governance insight and reflective coaching.
• Project-Ready-Go! A short 3-day program that steps participants through project management planning phases to get projects shovel-ready, covering project plans, GANTT charts, budgets, risk registers, community engagement plans, communications plans, and funding applications.
• Governance Training Annual governance training workshops for those experienced in board and committee work and also for those considering governance roles in local communities, covering governance fundamentals and advanced topics.
• Dare to Lead A courage-building program based on Dr. Brené Brown's research, cultivating brave leaders and courageous cultures with focus on accountable, values-led, self-aware and empathic leadership skill development, including pre-work assessments, a 3-day in-person workshop, and post-workshop integration sessions.
• Rural Women LEAD A series of workshops creating opportunities for rural women across south west Victoria to learn, engage, achieve and develop (LEAD) together, focusing on building capability, supporting and empowering women's leadership, celebrating local women, and creating networking opportunities.
• Leadership Connections - Community Mentoring Pilot A pilot mentoring program connecting emerging leaders with established community leaders for mentorship and professional development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 195+ alumni supported since 2012
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Regional Leadership CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Regional Leadership Collective (collaboration of regional leadership organizations across Victoria) in collaboration with Leadership Victoria, supporting co-development of a 3-year Citizen Leadership Project aimed at building a more cohesive and impactful purpose-driven leadership ecosystem across Victoria.
• Leadership VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Regional Leadership Collective, co-developing the 3-year Citizen Leadership Project alongside regional leadership organizations across Victoria.
• Deakin University – Warrnambool CampussupportingGTM or Marketing Partner2026 in-kind partner providing venue and facilities support for program delivery. LGSC alumni associated with Deakin.
• Glenelg Hopkins CMAsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner2026 in-kind partner supporting LGSC programs and initiatives.
• Rotary Club of East WarrnamboolsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner2026 in-kind partner supporting LGSC programs and community initiatives.
• Women's Health and Wellbeing BSWsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner2026 in-kind partner collaborating on Rural Women LEAD program and broader community leadership initiatives.
• South West TAFEsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner2026 in-kind partner providing venue and facilities for Dare to Lead and other program delivery. LGSC EO sits on SW TAFE board.
• GenHealthsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner2026 in-kind partner (allied health clinic in Hamilton) involved in Rural Women LEAD and community leadership programs.
• HycelsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner2026 in-kind partner (technology/business innovation entity) providing speakers and program support.
• o2 AdvisorysupportingGTM or Marketing Partner2026 in-kind partner (advisory firm) providing facilitators and program support, including Karen Foster who delivers Lead with Confidence.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA): National independent policy organization connecting leaders across business, government, and community. Adjacent: not a direct competitor but a complementary leadership/networking platform for senior leaders, with overlapping audience of regional Victorian decision-makers relevant to LGSC alumni.
• Our Community: Australian non-profit providing capacity-building resources, training, and governance support to community organizations. Adjacent: serves a similar community-sector audience with governance and leadership training content, including board development that overlaps with LGSC's Governance Training program.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Institute of Management (AIM): Australia's longest-established management and leadership training provider, offering short courses, qualifications, and executive education across all states. Broader incumbent: overlaps with LGSC's leadership development content but serves a national corporate/professional market rather than LGSC's regional community focus.
• Dare to Lead (Brené Brown Education and Research Group): Licensor of the Dare to Lead program that LGSC delivers in partnership. Broader incumbent: provides the underlying curriculum and facilitator framework LGSC adapts locally, giving them national/international reach in courage-based leadership training that LGSC only delivers regionally.

Direct peers

• Australian Rural Leadership Foundation: National non-profit delivering rural and regional leadership development programs across Australia. Direct peer: comparable cohort-based immersive leadership model, similar target audience of rural/regional leaders, and parallel mission of building regional leadership capacity.
• Leadership Victoria: Statewide Victorian leadership development organization delivering cohort-based programs for emerging and established leaders. Direct peer: same product category (community/regional leadership programs), similar cohort-based delivery model, and named partner with LGSC through the Regional Leadership Collective co-developing the 3-year Citizen Leadership Project.
• Regional Leadership Collective: Alliance of regional leadership organizations across Victoria, co-developing the Citizen Leadership Project with Leadership Victoria. Direct peer: LGSC is a member, sharing curriculum development, funder relationships, and program delivery approaches for community-based leadership.
• Victorian Leadership Network: Victorian leadership ecosystem network referenced as a co-development partner with LGSC. Direct peer: shares the Victorian regional leadership development agenda, funder relationships, and Citizen Leadership Project collaboration that extends LGSC's reach.

Regional players

• Leadership WA: Western Australia's state-level leadership development organization delivering cohort-based programs for emerging leaders. Comparable in product category and cohort model, but operates in a different geography and does not directly compete for LGSC's southwest Victoria cohort.
• Leadership NSW: NSW state-level leadership development organization with cohort-based programs for community and sector leaders. Comparable program structure and target audience, but operates in a different state geography with no direct overlap with LGSC's Great South Coast footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LGSCfosteringleadership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leadership-great-south-coast

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Leadership Great South Coast Inc.