Tickets on sale for The Leadership Lecture and Reception with Dr. Rebecca Sutherns

GUELPH, ON,  – The Rural Ontario Institute, host of the renowned Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP), is excited to announce Dr. Rebecca Sutherns, popular author, professional facilitator and coach will be the featured speaker at The Leadership Lecture and Reception. Tickets are now on sale for this premiere event. 

“Imagination isn’t just for dreamers—it’s for leaders,” says Gabrielle Ferguson, Leadership Programs Director at ROI. “This session will inspire and equip listeners to think differently and act boldly in shaping the future. It is the capstone element of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP).” 

The event will be held on March 27, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the DoubleTree by Hilton located at 30 Fairway Rd South in Kitchener. The evening will kick off with a cocktail reception, providing an opportunity for attendees to network with community leaders, AALP alumni, current participants of AALP Class 20, program sponsors and distinguished guests. 

During her talk, Dr. Sutherns will delve into how stepping into a future we desire—whether at a societal, organizational or personal level—requires us to go beyond evidence and embrace the power of imagination. While we are more likely to create real life scenarios that we have first mentally created in vivid detail, this talk is not about idealistic dreams. It’s a call to action. Dr. Sutherns will demonstrate how imagination is an underutilized tool in our strategic leadership toolkit and how we can gain a competitive advantage by leveraging multiple ways of knowing. 

“By attending this event attendees will discover why imagination is a vital skill we must grow into, not out of, and learn how to incorporate it into their leadership toolkit,” says Dr. Sutherns. Rebecca has a PhD in Sustainable Rural Communities, and is a Certified Professional Facilitator and coach, frequent keynote speaker and has written three books on adaptable leadership. She is a skilled communicator with a gift for helping leaders and organizations reimagine their next chapter.