For Leah Gerrard, a proud Wiradjuri and Dharug woman, NAIDOC Week is a time to reflect – not just on culture and identity, but on the importance of creating meaningful opportunities to support the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders.
Now working at GrainCorp in the Harvest Recruitment team, Leah’s journey from a student at the GO Foundation to an emerging young leader is a powerful reflection of what this year’s NAIDOC Week theme – the “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy” – is all about.
Honouring culture and building careers
Leah’s connection to culture runs deep.
She is a multipurpose artist who draws on her Wiradjuri and Dharug heritage to create paintings, woven pieces, and run youth and community workshops that honour Country.
“My art is more than creative expressions; they’re acts of storytelling and cultural preservation,” she says. “It’s how I share my ancestry and stay connected to who I am.”
Whether Leah is leading a youth workshop or creating a new piece, her work is grounded in the values of respect, community and continuity.
Today, Leah brings that same cultural pride into her role at GrainCorp, where she works as a Harvest Recruitment Coordinator.
“During harvest season, I help connect thousands of people with seasonal jobs across the network. I love seeing people come into their first role and feel supported in the process.”
The impact of the GO Foundation
Before stepping into her current role at GrainCorp, Leah was a student with the GO Foundation – an organisation founded by Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin that empowers Indigenous youth through education by providing scholarships and holistic support.
GrainCorp’s support for the GO Foundation is part of a broader, long-term commitment to reconciliation, guided by its Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Leah credits much of her development to the Go Foundation, which she says shaped not just her education but her identity.
“Being part of GO, both as a student and now an alum, has been such an incredible journey,” she says.
“Go supported me financially through my final years of school, which helped me get what I needed to succeed.
“But even more than that, it was the sense of community that made all the difference.”
Leah speaks warmly of GO’s Cultural Connect Days, where she built strong relationships with other students, alumni, and the GO team.
“GO creates this environment where everyone feels welcome. It’s a real vision of community, and I’ll carry that with me forever,” she adds.
GO and GrainCorp: A partnership that empowers future leaders
Leah’s journey reflects the best of what the GrainCorp & GO Foundation partnership stands for – opportunity, belonging and growth.
“Being a GO alum and now working with GrainCorp, it feels like everything has come full circle,” she says.
“It’s more than just a partnership. It’s action. It’s change. And it’s helping people like me take that next step in my career.”
GrainCorp’s General Manager of Organisation Development, Gary Hegarty, says Leah’s journey reflects the company’s broader goals to embed reconciliation across professional development and community partnerships.
“Leah’s story is a powerful example of what happens when opportunity meets talent and cultural pride,” he says.
“Our partnership with the GO Foundation is about creating pathways, not just jobs, but careers and leadership journeys that honour identity and community.”
As we reflect on this year’s NAIDOC theme, Strength, Vision & Legacy, we see those values brought to life in stories like Leah’s: where culture is honoured, opportunity is created, and the next generation is empowered to lead.
To find out more about GrainCorp’s Reconciliation efforts and partnership with Go Foundation, visit our Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan HERE
