INDUSTRY LAUNCHPAD! THE NEXT-GENERATION LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

Three, two, one…Launch!

Hortgro hereby invites industry stakeholders to nominate suitable and interested individuals to apply for participation in the two-year Industry Launchpad – The Next-Generation Leadership Programme.

The Industry Launchpad programme aims to give the next generation of industry leaders insight into industry structures, thereby expanding the pool of peers and networks from various disciplines and backgrounds. The goal is to prepare and develop a pool of industry leaders at all levels for leadership roles within the industry.

The 2026-27 intake will be the third cohort, building on the highly successful launch of the programme in 2022 and the subsequent intake of 2024/2025. Selected individuals and their employers are expected to contribute both time and financial resources. Hortgro Pome and Hortgro Stone support the programme on approximately a 50:50 basis, covering flights where required and accommodation costs. Local travel is at the individual’s or their employer’s expense. The programme will be overseen by a Steering Committee comprising Stephen Rabe (also acting as industry custodian), Anton Rabe, Wiehann Steyn and Astrid Arendse.

A maximum of 20 individuals will be selected from across the full range of industry activities, including production, packing, technical, and trade/marketing, to ensure a balanced group in which participants can share knowledge and learn from one another. Individuals should be under 40 years of age.

Where there is interest from prospective participants in pursuing a more formal Leadership or Management development programme at an academic institution of their choice, applications for financial support will be considered on a case-by-case basis as part of the Hortgro bursary programme. The following schedule, programme, and focused events are planned:

1. A two-day programme with at least one overnight stay, including an informal function between stays, where current industry leaders, as well as those from sister industries, will be invited to network with participants.
2. Four or five such events will take place over the two years.
3. The following programme and ±timing of sessions is envisaged:
   • May 2026: Introduction/Induction to industry structures, services, and functions; exposure to various industry service entities.
   • July/ August 2026: Personal and Leadership development.
   • Oct 2026: Hortgro Science, Climate Change, Sustainability.
   • March/April 2027: Market Access/Trade challenges, logistics and infrastructure.
   • July/August 2027: To be identified by the participants (during prior sessions), but could include international issues, political and land issues, transformation, human capacity development/training, etc.
   • We intend to invite former programme participants to an optional overseas or local tour, arranged every four years. The tour will not be subsidised and participants will need to pay for this themselves.

Industry stakeholders are therefore encouraged to nominate interested and enthusiastic individuals with the aptitude for future industry service, networking, and personal development.

Get ready for the future with Industry Launchpad. Applications and nominations, accompanied by a short CV and contact details, must be submitted by Friday, 28 November 2025, via email to Elouise van Zyl at learn@hortgro.co.za. We plan to finalise and inform the selected group by the end of January 2026 at the latest, after which planning and logistics will follow. Industry stakeholders will be kept informed of progress with the envisaged programme from time to time.

Download the nomination form here

Read inspirational stories of previous programme attendees here:

Hortgro Industry leadership programme | Dr Tara Southey 

Young Leaders Programme | Ross Heyns

Young Leaders Programme | Dibesho Serage