Go For It ! A Lookback on AfMA and Swinburne University ’ s Diploma Program with Terry-John Dower
WORDS BY ANTONINA JOSON
“ If you ’ re on the fence about it , don ’ t overthink — just take the first step . You won ’ t regret it !”
After over 10 years of working in the fleet industry , TJ proves that it ’ s never too late to learn , improve , and take new opportunities by the hand . Terry-John Dower , or TJ for short , recently graduated from AfMA and Swinburne University ’ s Diploma of Leadership and Management programme . He joins dozens of fleet professionals who have furthered their careers by embarking on a new educational journey .
While maintaining his full-time job as National Fleet Lead for the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and being a dad to four young kids , TJ took a leap out and enrolled in the program last year . With a full schedule on his hands , he remarked that it wasn ’ t an easy decision to make , but it would be well worth the investment of his time .
LEVELLING UP
It would have been easier for TJ to stay in his comfort zone , yet his drive told him otherwise . “ I wanted to take my leadership skills to the next level and back up my skills with formal training ,” wrote TJ . “ I knew there were structured leadership frameworks that could help me be more effective .”
It ’ s a common experience for people to learn leadership as they go and apply what they ’ ve learned from those experiences . But there ’ s no wrong in fine-tuning what you may already know or discovering new concepts that could take your skills further . AfMA presented an opportunity where TJ could experience just that .
“ I also saw it as an investment ,” he said . But the decision to take the opportunity wasn ’ t purely for him . The motivation to become a better leader for his team also pushed TJ to give the diploma programme a surefire go . “ Not just in my career
32 ISSUE 51 FEBRUARY 2025 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU