in Agriculture€¦ · I will start your inspirational journey off with two of my favourite quotes: “Sustainable development requires human ingenuity. People are the most important

conference 2017Agriculturein

australian women

SEPTEMBER 22-24inform influence innovate invest inclusive

It is with pleasure and pride that I welcome our members, guests and speakers to Brisbane, the capital of the Sunshine State for the 2017 Australian Women in Agriculture Conference. Brisbane is my home town where I was raised and ironically knew little about agriculture until I moved 12 years ago to start dairy farming in Victoria.

It was around this time that I stumbled across an organisation called Australian Women in Agriculture and I will be forever grateful to the friends, support, networks and amazing opportunities I have found from being a dairy farmer and being involved with a like-minded group of incredible women from across Australia. I know those joining us for the first time at our 2017 conference will have a similar experience.

Our conference this year focuses on Securing our Future through Sustainability of Families, Business and Land. We often forget that sustainability needs a holistic rather than

a piecemeal approach and have designed the conference program to reflect this.

Attendees will get to meet and hear a range of speakers from across Australia. This includes some local Queenslanders whom have used their creativity and entrepreneurial skills to create organisations and businesses that benefit cross – sectors of our community. We will also visit some of these enterprises on our conference tours.

Included in this remarkable array of entrepreneurs is our keynote speaker Rochelle Courtenay, Director and Founder of Share the Dignity which is also our Official Charity Partner for our 2017 Conference. Rochelle will reflect on how ‘Together we are Strong’, at our Opening Cocktail Party and provide us all with inspiration on how we can “Do Good” and “Do Better” in our lives.

Finally, conferences do not come together without a lot of arduous work and support behind the scenes.

To our conference sponsors, partners and supporting organisations, your belief in Australian Women in Agriculture and support of our 2017 Conference is greatly appreciated – we would not be here without you.

Thank you to our conference committee – Charlie, Aileen, Maureen, Maria, Donna and Caitlin. Caitlin, our Conference Coordinator, who recently joined the board your efforts, enthusiasm and organisational ability have been wonderful! Also to the mums and family members, our ‘silent army’ whom are helping behind the scenes your efforts are greatly appreciated – Ruby Luder, Irene Aves and Katie Peters your support is valued and cherished.

As we all gather together in the Sunshine State, I encourage you all to open yourselves to new experiences, new networks and new ways of thinking. I encourage you to invest in yourselves and invest in others. How you do this is unique to each individual, however we hope our conference program provides you with some inspiration.

I will start your inspirational journey off with two of my favourite quotes:

“Sustainable development requires human ingenuity. People are the most important resource,” - Dan Shechtman

“Investing in women’s lives is an investment in sustainable development, in human rights, in future generations - and consequently in our own long-term national interests,” - Liya Kebede

Kind regards,

Sarah ParkerAWiA President

Vision: To ensure that women influence the agricultural agendaFounded in 1998, AWiA is Australia’s peak organisation for women across all areas of agriculture. AWiA does not employ staff. A board of professional highly skilled and qualified directors volunteer their time and passion to deliver a broad range of strong national initiatives that build individual and community capacity and resilience through various mediums.

Our members are part of a recognised and dedicated national network involved in the development of Australian primary production, rural industries and communities. They are from diverse backgrounds including primary production, industry, research, education, service industries and small businesses and come from all states and territories of Australia and overseas. Our voice reaches audiences in excess of 280,000 – 657,000 per year and growing. Our Viral reach of over 1815 people per day does NOT include our 3,094 twitter followers, visitors to our web page, our national and international members and industry partnerships/stakeholders.

Our GoalsINFORM: To ensure that our members and wider network are aware, engaged and well-Informed

INFLUENCE: To ensure that women are consulted, considered and influence decision-making

INNOVATE: To ensure that we are a dynamic, sustainable, creative, progressive and innovative organisation

INVEST: To invest in women in agriculture, facilitating pathways for learning and leadership

INCLUSIVE: To promote inclusivity and collaboration in community, business, industry, politics and culture, within Australia and internationally.

Australian Women in Agriculture is committed to promoting the advancement of women in agriculture by:

• Uniting and raising the profile of women in agriculture,

• Addressing rural and agricultural inequities,• Working to ensure the survival of agriculture

for future generations, • Securing local, regional and international

recognition,• Achieving the status of a political and

economic force.

AWiA core values are:

• Caring for people, the environment, rural families and communities,

• Ensuring the viability of future agricultural production,

• Respecting the culture, beliefs and philosophies of other people,

• Communicating to enable women to share their experience and develop effective networks,

• Providing leadership to facilitate change in the community

Agricultureaustralian women in conference 20172 3

On behalf of the people of Queensland, I am delighted to welcome delegates to the Australian Women in Agriculture Conference in Brisbane. We are pleased to host this Conference in Queensland.

The Queensland Government recognises the economic significance of the agriculture sector, and the crucial role that women play in the development and prosperity of the sector in our regions and communities.

While the past few years have seen significant moves towards gender equality, there is still much work that needs to be done. The Queensland Women’s Strategy 2016-21 is a five year plan to set out the work the Government, the private sector and the community can do together to progress gender equality in terms of work, safety and creating greater opportunities for women and girls in our State.

My Government seeks to support, connect and empower females across the State to start and grow their businesses through the Advancing Women in Business Initiative. Part of the Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy 2016-20, this initiative is assisting women to build new skills and networks enabling them to stait and grow their businesses. It offers a range of activities and projects to support the needs of business women across all industry sectors, in rural and remote areas and cities.

Additionally, my Government has expanded its focus on creating jobs and economic oppo1tunities in rural Queensland with a dedicated Ministerial p01tfolio for Rural Economic Development and a $5.2 million Rural Economic Development package.

The Queensland Government is proud to support the Australian Women in Agriculture Conference and to support the women whose passion and commitment to agriculture makes a significant contribution to our State, and across Australia.

I wish all the delegates to the Australian Women in Agriculture Conference a productive and enjoyable stay in Brisbane.

ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK MPPREMIER OF QUEENSLANDMINISTER OF THE ARTS

MESSAGEFROM THE PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND


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Rural and regional Queensland women are making an increasingly important contribution to their local economies and communities, and more broadly to the success of Queensland and our agricultural sector.

Inspiring women, through their strength and resilience, are making their mark throughout the state. The Queensland Government encourages and supports their entrepreneurial spirit and are proud to deliver a number of initiatives and services that support women across Queensland.

Celebrating the achievements of rural and regional women

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Queensland Women’s Strategy A strategy that addresses the important issues of gender inequality, leadership, economic security, safety and well‑being.communities.qld.gov.au/gateway/womens-strategy

Advancing Women in Business Advancing Small Business Queensland StrategyA strategy that encourages and supports women to start and grow their own businesses.dtesb.qld.gov.au/small-business

Women on Boards initiative An initiative that aims to increase the number of women on boards in the public, private and not‑for‑profit sectors. qld.gov.au/womenonboards

Women’s Infolink Infolink provides resources, information and links to local support, services and organisations across the state.Phone: 1800 177 577 (free statewide service)[email protected]/community/women

Office for Women Sign up for the Office for Women email broadcast list at communities.qld.gov.au/communityservices/women/about-office-women

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According to Share the Dignity Founder, Rochelle Courtenay, “Access to sanitary items has been declared a human right by the United Nations. Yet, we know that in Australia there are thousands of women who don’t have access to pads, tampons, menstrual cups or period-proof underwear.”

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Supports

Department of Agricultureand Water Resources

Farm Business Concessional Loans Scheme OpenConcessional loans are now available to eligible farm businesses in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

For more information about which loans are available in your region and who to contact, visit agriculture.gov.au/loans.

Opening Cocktail EventCity Skyline Cocktails - Sponsored by Ruralco

Enjoy Drinks & Nibbles, overlooking the beautiful Brisbane River with spectacular views of the Story Bridge and City Skyline.

Elizabeth Hardaker, Executive General Manager People and Culture will present on Development and Diversity within the Ruralco Group.

Our keynote speaker for the evening is Rochelle Courtenay, Founder and Director of “Share the Dignity”. Rochelle is the 2016 Cosmopolitan Humanitarian of the Year and Share the Dignity was a finalist in the 2017 Telstra Charity of the Year Awards.

Rochelle will present on how “Together we are Strong”. When it comes to making a positive difference, it’s so easy to be discouraged by thinking, but what can I do? A small act of kindness, when repeated by others can make a huge difference!

We will also be joined by Deb Frecklington MP , Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Infrastructure, State Development and Trade and Investment Minister.

FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

Conference Tour1:00PM-3:30PM

Tour and Afternoon Tea at Food Connect Food Hub, Salisbury

See how this amazing enterprise continues to grow, whilst connecting consumers with producers and ensuring that farmers are paid a fairer price in a fairer food system. Local farmers supply ecological food that is in season and super fresh - they are paid around four times the amount of the big food chains. At Food Connect, local means local: fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products and bakery items travel no more than 400 kilometres before getting to the consumer’s door.

See www.foodconnect.com.au

9:00AM Registrations open

PLEASE WEAR ENCLOSED SHOES ON THIS TOUR

6.30PM-8.30PM


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Welcome

SATURDAY 23 SEPTEMBER

7:00AM

6:00AM

Breakfast is available in Alto Restaurant or if you feel like walking there are various cafes and restaurants nearby.

Registrations open.

City Skyline Workout

Join Joy McClymont from Off the Track Training for a Country Girl’s Work Out in the City overlooking the Brisbane River. Meet in the Hotel Foyer.

Address by Tim Nicholls MP Leader of the Opposition and Member for Clayfield

8:00AM-8:15AM

Welcome to Country, Songwoman Maroochy

Songwoman Maroochy, of the Turrbul/ Dippil ancestry was born on Cherbourg Aboriginal Reserve in Queensland. She is the Song-woman and Law-woman of the Turrbal People – the Traditional Owners of Brisbane.

Sustainable andStronger You

8:45AM-10:30AM

Official Welcome & House Keeping

8:15AM-8:30AM

8:30AM-8:45AM

Stronger, sustainable you - stronger, sustainable community

As Corporate Communications Manager for Rural Bank, Claire Nicholas uses her passion for writing to bring the Bank’s vision to life by stimulating

conversation about agriculture’s bright future, diverse talent and sustainable farming communities.

Stronger, sustainable regional and rural communities begin with stronger, sustainable individuals. Fit, healthy individuals make sound decisions, and create a foundation for robust farm businesses, and sustainable communities.

The future for agriculture is bright, but that future is underpinned by passionate and resilient farm families, diverse talent in agriculture, and a firm focus on what’s required of 21st century farmers.

8:45AM-9:00AM

Sustainable and Stronger You Panel9:00AM-10:30AM

Following the screening of the Film - Grace Under Fire (Courtesy of Victorian Rural Women’s Trust), join our panel of industry leaders led by renowned public speaker and facilitator of conversations, Alana Johnson as they discuss overcoming barriers and issues in the workplace so there is a sustainable and stronger you!

Each panellist brings their unique perspective to the discussion. Our expert panel includes:

• Researcher & Author, Dr Skye Saunders, • Senior Advisor, Australian Sex Discrimination

Commissioner, Amanda Bartlett,• 2017 RIRDC VIC Rural Woman of the Year, Social

Research & Program Manager Seafood Victoria, Kirsten Abernethy.

• Agricultural Communicator; Agvocate; Agricultural Teacher Janine Milne

• Grace Under Fire, a documentary short from the Victorian Women’s Trust, is based on the book ‘Whispers from the Bush.

Scholarships Getting on boards Farm Safety SystemsJoin Tess Camm from Signature Beef, and Lauren Peterson from Grattons Gate Dairy as they discuss their journey of self and professional development, improving skills, knowledge and networks through scholarships.

Tess is General Manager at Signature Beef. She will discuss how to take the opportunities from scholarships and program involvement from networking through to career progression and returning value to your industry

Lauren is a dairy farmer and Emergency Dispatch and Call Taker. She L uses scholarships and awards to develop her farming knowledge and networks. Lauren will discuss “Just hit send! What happens when you apply yourself?”

Our panel includes Barbara Shaw, Executive Director of the Office for Women and Domestic Violence Reform, Department of Communities Child Safety and Disability Services, Queensland Government, Alex Ramsay, Future Farming Network Board Member and Company Secretary and Georgie Somerset, Deputy Chair, AgForce Queensland.

They will discuss their pathway to board directorship and provide insight into getting on boards.

LIMIT 20 PEOPLENothing is more important than your loved ones and your livelihood.

Caroline Graham and Jody Scaife will put safety risks into perspective and help you take steps to implement a practical safety system for your farm.

Attend this session and become eligible to win one 12 month subscription for Safe Ag Systems™ with Client Services support.

Break Out SessionsGROUP ONE

11:50AM-12:20PMEach panel runs for 30 minutes

Keeping you on track when you live and work "off the track"

11:00AM-11:30AM

10:30AM-11:00AMMorning tea Proudly sponsored by Maggnum Engineering.

11:45AM-11:50AMShort break. Directions for Break Out Sessions

Joy McClymont is the owner of Off The Track Training and creator of Joy’s Fitness Hub, a virtual health and fitness program and community, supporting people living in any location or lifestyle. Seeing the possibilities beyond the impossible is critical to achieving your goals and tackling the challenges.

Staying motivated and seeing the opportunities in any situation can be tough however with support, encouragement and inspiration, anything is possible. Being resourceful is what Australian women are known for.

Making the most of your location and encouraging resourcefulness is what Joy McClymont has established as the new norm within her health and fitness community.

Know your workplace health and safety risks and obligations

11:30AM-11:45AM

Caroline Graham, CEO of Regional Skills Training, will provide an overview of workplace health and safety risks and obligations for farmers and discuss solutions to assist you in implementing a safe system of work.

Join Caroline and Jody Scaife, General Manager of Safe Ag Systems in a Farm Safety Systems workshop to learn more and take steps toward safety compliance and risk management for your farm.

One attendee will win a yearlong subscription and support package for their business from Safe Ag Systems.

Sponsored by Rural Bank


Break Out SessionsGROUP TWO

12:20AM-12:50PMEach panel runs for 30 minutes

1:20PM-2:00PMLunch

Superannuation

1:30PMInternational Youth Delegate Meeting (optional) during lunch.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

2:00PM-2:30PMWorkplace Wellness

Accessing Grants for Community Projects Farm Safety Systems

Join our Sustainable & Stronger You panel as they explore ways to improve workplace wellness. What strategies and programs are needed to improve your workplace? What could be delivered to make the transition from educa-tion to employment or return to the workforce easier?

Local leaders know what they need to build strong, vibrant and sustainable communities. However, finding the funds to make the vision reality is often a challenge, particularly for small rural, regional and remote communities. There are a lot of grant programs available, but there are also a lot of groups looking for funding.

In this interactive workshop, Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, will share practical tips on how community groups can access funding to help address important community issues, ranging from aged care to education, and all things in between. She will also provide a list of what not to do!




Break Out SessionsGROUP THREE

12:50AM-1:20PMEach panel runs for 30 minutesSupply contracts:

Getting the best deal! Farm Safety SystemsThynne + Macartney

All operators, whether it is the family run operations or large scale commercial businesses will deal with contracts on a daily basis.

Focusing on contracts for the supply of goods and services, this presentation will deal with negotiating the terms of a contract through to the specific rights and obligations which normally would or should be included -- what goods or services are being provided, what are the payment terms, are there warranties being given, who bears the ultimate risk, from both a customer and a supplier perspective.

Powers Financial Group

We want to tackle the questions you have surrounding superannuation. Why do women often have less superannuation? What can you do for your future? How much superannuation should you have? What happens if you get divorced?

This discussion, led by Nicole Richter, Business Services Manager at Powers Financial Group will provide effective strategies for women from all walks of life to take control of their superannuation.





Working towards a Sustainable and Innovative Future for Australia’s Meat

and Livestock Industry

KalFresh Carrot Vodka

Adapting to Climate Variability through Research and Best

Practice

Introducing Sedex

Labor Mobility Assistance Program in PNG

Sustainable Business and Land2:30PM-2:40PM

Sugar Research Australia (SRA) invests in and manages a portfolio of research, development and adoption projects that drive productivity, profitability and sustainability for the Australian sugarcane industry. Andrea Evers, Marketing Manager at Sugar Research Australia will present on adapting to Climate Variability through Research and Best Practice.

2:40PM-3:05PM

PNG Women are the backbone of agriculture providing more than 60% of work that is associated with food production. Despite this there are limited economic opportunities for women to improve their livelihoods.

The Labour Mobility Assistance Program (LMAP) supported by DFAT is planning to assist PNG women involved in agriculture to gain experience in Australia through the Seasonal Worker Program, linking them with temperate and subtropical fruit and vegetable production with mentoring and support provided.

Robert and Maxie will provide an overview on the pilot program in PNG which evolved from a New Zealand government funded program to enhance the supply chain for temperate vegetable production from the PNG Highlands.

3:05PM-3:35PM

Sedex is the world’s largest collaborative platform for sharing responsible sourcing data on supply chains, used by more than 40,000 members in over 150 countries. It is used to manage labour, health and safety, the environment and business ethics.

Aaron Hill, Membership Manager, Australasia for Sedex Global will provide an overview of Sedex and the role it plays within the supply chain in Australia. Sedex is the world’s largest collaborative platform for sharing ethical supply chain data. It aims to ease the burden on suppliers facing multiple audits, questionnaires and certifications and to drive improvements in the ethical performance of global supply chains.

3:35PM-3:50PMJoin members of the NAB Agribusiness team for Afternoon Tea.

A Sustainable &Innovative Future3:50PM-4:05PM

This is an exciting time for the Australian red meat industry with a variety of new innovations and technologies coming online across the entire value chain. In an industry with increasingly tighter profit margins, many of these innovations are designed to help drive a sustainable future with better use of time and capital whilst striving to truly understand and meet our consumer’s expectations. Are you up for the challenge?

Sponsored by Meat and Livestock AustraliaSponsored by Sugar Research Australia

Just Veg is a healthy food business that’s powered by farmers’ wives and when their husbands needed a solution to their ugly vegetable problem they sensibly asked for help from their wives.

The result is Just Veg, a range of fresh carrot sticks and carrot shred made from perfectly imperfect carrots.

One more boutique solutions to the wonky carrot situation has been the creation of Carrot Vodka launched to coincide with Scenic Rim Eat Local Week.

Gen Windley, carrot vodka co-creator, farmer’s wife and festival organizer will share some ideas and insights on finding sustainability through innovation and story-telling.

4:05PM-4:20PM

Concluding comments5:10PM

The Food Connect Story

Farming Together - FarmingCooperatives & Collaboration

4:20PM-4:45PM

Over the past decade, Robert Pekin, the founder of Food Connect, has successfully worked with communities to initiate, support and inspire many ethical food distribution enterprises across Australia.

Robert will discuss ‘Why’ Food Connect exists and its connections to his personal journey whilst Emma-Kate Rose will present on ‘How’ it does what it does and the future innovative plans.

Project Director, Lorraine Gordon heads up the Farming Together Project team based at Southern Cross University. Lorraine will provide an overview of the 14-million-dollar Federal Government initiative that aims to provide farmers with knowledge, skills and materials on collaborative ideas, co-operative structures and collective strategies. An insight into the successful projects funded and their outcomes will also be delivered.

4:45PM-5:10PM


Gala DinnerAUSTRLIAN WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE

CONFERENCERURAL BANK

2017

6:30PM-10:30PM

Celebrate with dinner aboard the Kookaburra River Queen Paddle Wheeler.

Fleur McDonald: Starting a new chapter – from farmer’s wife to bestselling author, championing women from page to paddock

Our Guest Speaker is Fleur McDonald a bestselling Australian author, farmer and women’s rights advocate, living in Esperance, Western Australia.

With nine of her ten novels set in regional Australia, Fleur’s often referred to as ‘the Voice of the Outback’.

A champion for the voice of rural people, particularly women, Fleur has always strived to positively promote and celebrate women in Agriculture.

Fleur will present on how she became published to where she is now.

Sponsored by Rural Bank

DRESS CODE: SMART CASUAL WITH SENSIBLE SHOES

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, The Bendigo Centre, Bendigo, VIC 3550. ABN 11 068 049 178 AFSL 237879. Product issued by Rural Bank Limited, ABN 74 083 938 416 AFSL 238042 and distributed by Bendigo Bank. Before making any investment decision you should consider your situation and read the relevant Terms and Conditions available at www.bendigobank.com.au or from any Bendigo Bank branch.

We understand that farmers face a unique set of challenges, which often present opportunities. You need to adapt to rapidly changing weather conditions, crop and livestock development, emerging technologies, commodity price fluctuations and varying global economic conditions.

Partner with a Rural Bank Farm Finance Specialist to make the most of every opportunity.

To find out more about Rural Bank’s range of specialist farm finance products and services, call our Customer Service Team on 1300 660 115 or go online www.ruralbank.com.au.

ConferenceWrap Up

Tasty Food Starts and Finishes with the Community

From Seed to Security —Harvesting Bush Foods on Country,an

Northern Territory Perspective

Farmers and Foodbank: Paddock to Plate Collaboration

inAction

QCWA Country Kitchens Program

Sustainable FoodSupply andHealthy

Communities

Despite its reputation as the ‘lucky country’, Australia has a hunger problem. In fact, not just a problem, but a crisis.

The 2016 Foodbank Hunger Report revealed that a staggering one in six Australians has experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months. The report also confirmed that the face of hunger is diverse – mums and dads, children, the elderly, students, the under-employed, the unemployed and retirees (to name a few).

And whilst it might be thought of as a city problem, rural and regional Australia is not immune. In fact, they are 11% more at risk and more than a third of the food donations delivered via the Foodbank network now go to country Australia.

Despite this, farming communities are some of the most generous contributors to Foodbank, donating fresh produce, eggs, milk, meat, grains and rice in large volumes to support vulnerable Australians.

Foodbank Australia CEO Brianna Casey will provide an overview of the latest statistics on food insecurity in Australia, discuss how farmers work with Foodbank to both tackle food insecurity and reduce food waste, and explain how rural communities helps Foodbank deliver an extraordinary social return on investment as we work together to fight hunger in Australia.

SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

8:30AM-9:00AM

8:30AM-9:00AM

Jade Miles is the Founder of the Beechworth Food Co-operative, Owner of Black Barn Farm and a Local Food Advocate. With a foundation stemming from an intentionally simple childhood of self-sufficiency,

Jade will highlight the value of our agricultural heritage and how we need to call on those skills to realise a more resilient and connected community in the here and now.

Growing food is a noble act and eating it is the magnificent reward but the journey between is where the greatest opportunity lies for us all.

9:45AM-10:15AM

10:15AM-10:30AM

AWiA NT Director, Donna Digby together with NT Bush Foods Industry Leader Rayleen Brown from Kungkas Can Cook and Public Health Nutritionist Ingrid Phyland will lead a joint panel with Aboriginal Women whom are traditional harvesters from Utopia and Eastern Arrente Country.

This expert panel from the Northern Territory will discuss “From Seed to Security: Harvesting bush foods on country—an NT Industry Perspective.”

10:30AM-11:25AM

11:25AM-11:30AM

Collect packed lunch, ready for tour11:45AM

Morning Tea

6:00AMCity Skyline Workout

Join Joy McClymont from Off the Track Training for a Country Girl’s Work Out in the City overlooking the Brisbane River. Meet in the Hotel Foyer.

Pretty Produce,Lamb Island

Sirromet Winery,Mt Cotton

Travel by coach, then ferry across Moreton Bay to Lamb Island where you will tour and enjoy high tea ‘tasting’ at Pretty Produce.

Simone Jelley delivers interesting produce presented with interesting ideas and wholesome grow-ing practices.

Considerately grown leaf mix and edible flowers are freshly picked and add an abundance of flavour, colour and texture making any salad or dish extraordinary!

Travel by coach to Sirromet, a family owned and run winery situated at picturesque Mount Cotton.

Tour Sirromet’s state of the art facilities and enjoy wine tasting amidst the natural structure and unique architecture of the winery’s buildings and the breathtaking scenery surrounding Moreton Bay.

TOUR 1 TOUR 2

The Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) Country Kitchens program supports people living in rural and remote Queensland to improve their health by adopting healthier eating practices.

Fiona McKenzie, Program Coordinator will share the amazing journey that the QCWA Country Kitchens Team have taken working towards developing and delivering a sustainable program aimed at increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables Queenslanders eat.

She will be joined by Mrs Judy Stubbs and Mrs Janelle Reeves who are Country Kitchen Facilitators within their own CWA Regions. They will share their stories of supporting people living in regional, rural and remote Queensland to improve their health by adopting healthier eating practices. 12 NOON-5:00PM


Elizabeth Hardaker is the Executive General Manager People and Culture for the Ruralco Group. Liz is responsible for overseeing Human Resources, Recruitment, Workplace Health and Safety, Learning and Development, Remuneration and Benefits and Payroll as well as being a Director on Ruralco joint venture business boards.

Liz and her team of 10 look after a workforce of 2,400 employees spanning 52 locations spread throughout rural and regional Australia. Liz has been with Ruralco for three years and also is a Director of the Academic Board of the Australian Institute of Management Business School. Liz has been in the human resources field for 20 years, starting off in workplace safety and workers compensation and has progressed through her career to now hold an Executive General Manager position.

Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Infrastructure, State Development and Trade and Investment Minister Deb Frecklington was born in south-west Queensland.

Deb graduated from the University of Southern Queensland with a Business degree and, together with her husband Jason, co-managed broad acre cropping properties while completing a Bachelor of Law at Queensland University of Technology.

As a Partner of Kelly & Frecklington Solicitors, Deb concentrated on Family and Property Law also working with multi-generational farming businesses undertaking Rural Succession planning.

Deb was elected to State Parliament in 2012 as the Member for Nanango.

Deb lives in Kingaroy in the South Burnett with her husband, Jason, and three daughters. She believes strongly that regional communities offer endless diversity and opportunities and are the growth centre of Queensland.

Rochelle is Share the Dignity’s founder and Managing Director. She is the 2016 Cosmopolitan Humanitarian of the Year and Share the Dignity was a finalist in the 2017 Telstra Charity of the Year Awards.

Though the title she is most proud of though is ‘Pad Lady’ a title that has stuck following the collection of over 420,000 packets of pads and tampons across Australia in an 18 month period.

After learning of homeless women going without basic sanitary items during their menstrual cycle, Rochelle decided the question was not “Why is no one doing anything” but rather “ What’s stopping me from doing something?”.

In March 2015 Rochelle took matters in to her own hands collecting sanitary items within her local community and distributing to local shelters. From a simple idea of giving dignity to women, Share the Dignity has grown into a national charity, with over 1,1000 volunteers Australia wide, and multiple initiatives aimed at giving dignity to women.

Songwoman Maroochy, of the Turrbul/ Dippil ancestry was born on Cherbourg Aboriginal Reserve in Queensland. She is the Song-woman and Law-woman of the Turrbal People – the Traditional Owners of Brisbane.

Songwoman Maroochy is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. She is an internationally-renowned opera singer and was the first Australian to perform at the United Nations in New York in 1993 in honor of the International Year for the World’s Indigenous People.

SPEAKER PROFILES

Deb Frecklington MP, MeMber For nanango &

DePuity oPPosition leaDers

elizabeth harDaker, ruralco

rochelle courtenay,share the Dignity

songwoMan Maroochy


Mike Krause

Farming

the Business

Module 1

Mike Krause

Module 2

Mike Krause

Module 3

Mike Krause

GRDC_A4_FB_Manual_Comp.indd 1 15/06/2017 2:23 PM

Janine Milneh

Joy McclyMont,oFF the track training

caroline grahaM,regional skills training

With three years as Queensland Treasurer following six years as a Brisbane City Councillor and business experience in the law, Tim is ready and equipped to lead a Liberal-National Government that will Build a Better Queensland.

Tim spent 10 years as a successful Brisbane commercial lawyer, risking it all to contest the Hamilton ward for the Liberal Party in the March 2000 Brisbane City Council elections.

On May 6, 2016, he was elected LNP Queensland Leader.

In Government and as LNP leader, he has travelled widely and developed a deep understanding and appreciation of everyday Queenslanders, their issues and needs.

Claire Nicholas has almost 20 years’ experience in telling stories through public relations and communications. As Corporate Communications Manager for Rural Bank, Claire uses her passion for writing to bring the Bank’s vision to life by stimulating conversation about agriculture’s bright future, diverse talent and sustainable farming communities. Claire is a strong advocate for recognising the role of women both within the Rural Bank business and the broader sector, and is committed to sharing and gathering knowledge to help address the unique challenges faced by women in agribusiness.

claire nicholas,rural bank

Alana Johnson is a renowned public speaker and facilitator of conversations. She is recognized nationally and internationally for her work in rural development, women’s advancement, leadership training and community activism. In 2014 she was named in the inaugural 100 Women of Agribusiness in Australia and in 2013 the inaugural 100 Women of Influence in Australia by the Australian Financial Review.

Alana Johnson has worked across Australia, in Ireland, the UK, India, Sweden, Italy and the USA, speaking at conferences, delivering lectures at universities, facilitating seminars and workshops, advising governments and NGOs and providing governance consultancy.

Dr. Skye Saunders is a leading expert in gender and the law, with a special interest in sexual harassment in rural Australia. She is the author of the recently released book entitled Whispers from the Bush – The Workplace Sexual Harassment of Australian Rural Women (Federation Press).

This work is the first in Australia to focus on the nature and reporting of sexual harassment in rural workplaces, shining light on a largely hidden phenomenon.

Skye has since collaborated with the Victorian Women’s Trust to produce a short film called ‘Grace Under Fire.’ Inspired by Skye’s book, the film tells the story of Australian women who have confronted sexual harassment in their rural workplace.

As Senior Advisor to the Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, Amanda has produced the Commissioner’s “A conversation in gender equality” following consultations with people across Australia. Amanda supported the Commissioner’s attendance at CSW61 to highlight the achievements and challenges of women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work and is currently working with the Commissioner to finalise a roadmap to gender equality in Australia.

Amanda has over 20 years’ experience working across professional services with corporates, community and government to solve some of society’s most important problems and increase opportunities for all. She has a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Accounting and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. Outside of work Amanda loves to spend time on her small farm in the Goldfields, Victoria with her husband and three children.

Kirsten has been working in fisheries for more than ten years from Cornwall to the Pacific.

Kirsten works for Seafood Industry Victoria, the peak body for the Victorian professional fishing industry. SIV represents and advocates for 6-700 fishing families, and their small-scale fishing businesses across the state, from inshore netters to cray fishers. Kirsten is also working on the Sustainable Fishing Families project with Tanya King from Deakin University, which is looking to understand the level of health and wellbeing in the fishing industry across Australia, with a particular focus on mental health. Part of the project is developing a health literacy program with the folks from the National Centre for Farmer Health. Her favourite job is working with her partner who is an abalone diver in Western Victoria, as a deckhand!

As the 2017 Victorian Rural Women’s Award winner, Kirsten aims to showcase women in fishing and give them a voice, as well as build awareness for the industry.

alana Johnson

Dr skye saunDers,australian national

university

aManDa bartley,oFFice oF the sex

DiscriMination coMMissioner

kirsten abernethy,seaFooD inDustry victoria

Janine Milne is an Agriculture Communicator and High School teacher passionate about rural and regional students being retained in communities through high quality agricultural education. She was also a 2016 AWiA AgendHER participant.

She believes it is important to provide authentic and relevant learning with an emphasis on technology and innovation in agricultural production systems. If students knew the endless opportunities available to them through agriculture there simply would not be any other subject choice to be made.

Janine currently teaches primarily senior agriculture subjects and particularly enjoys teaching animal reproduction, and nutrition as well as developing units of work and projects that implement agricultural technologies. Other extracurricular projects such as Agricultural produce displays are a different avenue to develop student knowledge and skills over a board range of agricultural industries including livestock, broad acre cropping and horticulture. Students can apply their kinesthetic, artistic and problem-solving skills to produce a visual exhibition of agricultural products.

Joy McClymont is the owner of Off the Track Training and creator of Joy’s Fitness Hub a virtual health and fitness program and community supporting people living in any location or lifestyle.

Joy is a mother of 4, grazier, triathlon coach and personal fitness trainer who has established a virtual health and fitness program and community designed for people, just like her, who are aiming to go somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Joy loves living remotely on their cattle/sheep station 100km west of Longreach, QLD but is not blind to the challenges associated with keeping healthy and fit. Throughout her life Joy has undergone many physical challenges including ironman triathlons however none as tough as trying to remain healthy and fit when you live in an isolated situation with no access to gyms, sealed roads or friendly/supportive training groups.

Caroline Graham is the CEO of Regional Skills Training. She has 40 years’ experience in the agribusiness and horticulture sectors as well as over 20 years in vocational education in lecturing and management, both public and private sector.

She holds a Bachelor of Education from University of South Australia, a Bachelor of Horticulture from University of Sydney and a Certificate 4 in Training and Education Caroline has made a career in helping farmers cope with major change. She is an innovative and passionate thinker who refuses to be pigeonholed by bureaucracy and to be told “this is how it must be done.”

Her skill is to understand the complex terminology created by academics and translate it into simple actions on farm.

Spending her whole life on farm gives her understanding of and mutual respect with agribusiness that has resulted in Regional Skills Training being registered in 2002 and over the last 14 years becoming a leading private provider of agribusiness training in Australia.


JoDy scaiFe,saFe ag systeMs

tess caMMsignature beeF

lauren Peterson,grattons gate Dairy

As the General Manager of Safe Ag Systems, Jody has 20 years’ experience in agribusiness and food manufacturing, working in both Australia and USA. Over her career, she has held various key leadership positions within Cargill across the areas of plant operations, commercial and general management.

Before joining Safe Ag Systems, Jody was the Managing Director for Cargill Malt Asia Pacific and served on the Board of Directors for Barley Australia.

Jody holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) (Hons) from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Jody is a champion of safety, with practical work health and safety experience in grain storage, handling and processing environments. She is an experienced business coach and mentor and welcomes the opportunity drive improvements in safety for rural Australia.

Tess is General Manager at Signature Beef. She won the Cattle Council of Australia ‘Rising Champion in Beef Initiative’ in 2013 and the 2012 Edgar Hudgins Memorial Scholarship winner which involved touring the USA for 3 months and being an international ambassador for Australian beef producers.

She was a participant in the 2009 AWiA ‘Shaping the future in a changing environment’ program. Tess will discuss how to take the opportunities from scholarships and program involvement from networking through to career progression and returning value to your industry

Lauren is a Dairy Farmer and passionate ‘Agvocate’ for Women in Agriculture, Lauren’s journey in Agriculture began three years ago when she and her Partner bought 32 Dairy cows and started leasing a farm. Without having ever milked a cow Lauren soon realised that she needed to seek out opportunities to develop skills and knowledge in all areas of their business. She made a promise to herself to “create and take” every opportunity that presents itself; a promise that has taken her on a journey she never had imagined. Prior to farming Lauren worked in the Emergency Services and Community Services Sectors and is very passionate about issues facing Women in Agriculture and our Rural and Regional communities.

Lauren and her Partner Tony now milk 180 cows on a leased Dairy Farm in South West Victoria where they live with their 3-year-old son Paddy and 18-month-old daughter Audrey. Earlier this year Lauren was chosen as one of six young Victorian Dairy Farmers to travel to NZ on the UDV/Gardiner Foundation Study Tour and in May was awarded the Runner-up Young Dairy Leader in the South West Dairy Awards.

Barbara Shaw is the Executive Director of the Office for Women and Domestic Violence Reform, Department of Communities Child Safety and Disability Services, Queensland Government. A trained social worker, her first job was in a Domestic Violence Crisis Service. Barbara has since worked in policy, program and service delivery roles in a range of human services agencies in Tasmania and Queensland.

Barbara’s current responsibilities include leading reforms in gender equality and the domestic and family violence service system following the Queensland Government’s acceptance of the ‘Not Now, Not Ever’ report by the Special Taskforce chaired by The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO. Barbara has a strong commitment to women’s leadership and participation and is responsible for overseeing the Queensland Women’s Strategy 2016 – 2021, the Women on Boards Initiative and is an experienced board representative herself.

A beef producer and rural leader with experience in agribusiness, marketing and regional development, Georgie Somerset’s work involves identifying and advocating opportunities, resolving issues and creating linkages and networks across sectors. Actively involved in beef production in Qld’s South Burnett and mother of three children, Georgie is Deputy Chair of AgForce Qld Farmers, on the board of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Children’s Health Queensland, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Qld), while also chairing the Red Earth Community Foundation and being involved with various industry and community groups. She believes in lifelong learning and education, and is passionate about agriculture and its opportunities. She also knows that accessing information and influencing decision makers is still possible in a remote location if you can stay connected - and access sufficient data.

In his role as a director of the Future Farmers Network, Alex Ramsay is involved in the management of Australia’s largest youth agriculture organisation with over 5,000 participants aged between 18 and 35.

The Future Farmers Network provides education, advocacy and networking throughout regional Australia and is a not-for-profit organisation.

During most of the week though, Alex is a lawyer within a specialised agribusiness practice at Thynne + Macartney Lawyers in Brisbane.

Natalie Egleton is passionate about facilitating effective responses to issues facing rural communities and working collaboratively to achieve sustainable outcomes. She was appointed CEO of FRRR in 2015, having joined FRRR in 2012. As CEO, she is responsible for shaping FRRR’s strategy, designing new programs and developing and nurturing new funding partnerships. In her previous role, she led programs supporting natural disaster recovery and preparedness and social innovation. Prior to FRRR, Natalie consulted to not-for-profit organisations in program evaluation, undertaking research, analysis and developing strategic business plans. She also held in-house roles at Evolve (Typo Station) and at ANZ, implementing projects that made a tangible difference to the lives of people living in rural, regional and remote Australia. Outside work, Natalie lives in a small rural community in rural Victoria and has been actively involved in many committees, so she knows too well the challenges that small community groups face

Kasey is a lawyer working in Thynne + Macartney’s Agribusiness group. She is passionate about working with farmers, graziers and businesses across Queensland. The clients of the Agribusiness team include ASX listed companies, private companies, off-shore investors as well as large family owned enterprises and intergenerational landholders. Kasey has extensive experience dealing in commercial matters for agribusinesses including supply contracts and dealing with vertical integration.

barbara shaw,oFFice For woMen anD DoMestic violence reForM, DePartMent oF

coMMunities chilD saFety anD Disability services

georgie soMerset,agForce

alex raMsey,Future FarMers network

natalie egleton,Frrr

kasey solar,thynne anD Macartney

Gemma Lloyd is an award-winning entrepreneur passionate about empowering women and fast-tracking gender equality. Gemma co-founded DCC Jobs, Australia’s only job platform which pre-screens organisations on their commitment to supporting women. DCC has influenced organisations to improve their workplaces for women and has accredited organisations including NAB, BHP, Caltex, AustralianSuper, nbn, Boeing and Rabobank.

In 2017, DCC Jobs won the Victorian Innovation Minister’s Diversity Award and has won the Tech Diversity Award in Media consecutively for the last 2 years.

Gemma has provided expert commentary and sat on panels for a wide range of media including ABC’s “The Drum”, Channel 7 Today Tonight show, Sky Business News and ABC Radio.

geMMa lloyD,Dcc Jobs


anDrea evers,sugar research australia

aaron hill,seDex global

Julie Petty,Meat anD livestock

australia

robert Pekin &eMMa-kate rose,

FooD connect

nicole richter,Powers Financial grouP

With over 15 years’ experience in the field of marketing across both commercial and not-profit organisations within a range of industries, Andrea has spent the past five years working for SRA in the area of marketing and adoption.

SRA manages and invests in research designed to drive productivity, profitability and sustainability for the Australian sugarcane industry. Andrea is passionate about packaging and communicating the outcomes of research to the sugarcane industry in a way that allows growers and millers to gain positive outcomes for their farming and milling businesses.

Robert was the team leader for LMAP from the outset and this year moved to the strategic and policy advisor position for the program. With his family Robert operates a seventh-generation fine wool merino operation on the southern Monaro.

He has been involved in rural and private sector agricultural development programmes in Asia and Pacific for 35 years with the last 10 years focused on the Pacific in particular improving agricultural supply chains working with the private sector.

Robert is also involved in e-agriculture and industry representation Robert sees the Women in Agriculture pilot in PNG, as a unique opportunity to improve the value chain for supply of vegetables within PNG and the economic empowerment of PNG women, while also strengthening relationships between PNG and Australia.

Maxie Dominic is leading the implementation of the ‘Women in Agriculture Pilot Project’ in PNG. She has more than 17 years of technical and managerial experience in international development and management. Her experience ranges from working with Development Partners to Managing Contractors.

Maxie is well versed with knowledge and skills in a wide range of areas including Program Management, Evaluations and Impact Assessments, Project Design, Gender Studies and Analysis, Organisational Capacity Assessment and Strategic Planning.

Aaron Hill is the Membership Manager, Australasia for Sedex Global. Sedex is the world’s largest collaborative platform for sharing ethical supply chain data. It aims to ease the burden on suppliers facing multiple audits, questionnaires and certifications and to drive improvements in the ethical performance of global supply chains.

Prior to joining Sedex, Aaron was the National Account Director for LivingSocial, United Kingdom and Ireland and Australia.

Julie Petty has worked with MLA as the Project Manager for the Goat Industry for nearly four years. Her role is to work directly with goat producers across Australia and the Goat Industry Council of Australia specifically, to direct the investment of their levies into research, development and adoption programs. Julie originates from Charleville Qld on a sheep, cattle and goat property.

Genevieve is the co-creator of Carrot Vodka and a member of a team of Farmers’ Wives behind “Just Veg” a range of cut carrot produces using the “ugly but perfect” veg. She and her husband operate a family farming enterprise in the Scenic Rim. In addition, Gen is one of the architects of Scenic Rim Eat Local Week and its signature event the Winter Harvest Festival providing a back stage pass to the food stories of the Scenic Rim.

Robert is a former 4th generation Dairy Farmer and over the last 19 years has been one of the practical leaders driving the ‘New Enterprise Economies’ in food and agriculture.

In 2004 he founded Food Connect, a dynamic multi-farmer Food Hub with an innovative community-based distribution system. In 2009, the Food Connect Foundation was launched to increase the scope of the fair food movement internationally and across Australia. Under the Food Connect Foundation, Think Food was initiated, a consultancy specialising in food systems research. Think Food assists clients to design visionary solutions for food and agriculture that can be implemented at any scale.

Robert is a founder of the Slow Money Alliance, a member of the Federal Government’s legal advisory group for Social Enterprise, co-founder of the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance, and a founding member on the Boards of The Open Food Web, the Australian Food Hubs Network and a new innovative investment Cooperative ORICoop (Organic, Regenerative Investment Cooperative)

Emma-Kate’s early career in criminology took her into the field of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design and community development. This is where she realised the potential of creating positive solutions through a preventative and strengths based approach.

With a new focus on sustainability in 2006, Emma-Kate started Brisbane’s first professional car share enterprise and after her third child sold the business to focus on family and grassroots activism in the areas of politics, the transition town movement and local economic development.

She joined Food Connect as General Happiness Manager in 2011, coordinating a significant internal restructure. In May 2013, Emma-Kate became a Fellow of the Australian School for Social Entrepreneurs. She is passionate about working with community to bring greater awareness to the issue of food sovereignty, and is currently working to create a local Food Hub for multiple ethical enterprises. She loves her city cowboy, Rob Pekin who helps her with the kid wrangling.

Nicole joined the Powers Team in 2017 as the Business Services Manager in the Brisbane office. Nicole is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience in public practice, specialising in compliance work, financial reporting, superannuation, budget forecasting and advising and assisting clients with their business enterprises.

For the last eighteen years Nicole has taken a keen interest in the agricultural industry. Nicole is passionate about building long-lasting and meaningful relationships with her clients. These relationships ensure her clients receive the best possible service with continued support.


Judy Stubbs, was born in Cootamundra, NSW, the eldest of 6 to share farming parents. She enjoyed a country life until leaving school and training to be a teacher in Sydney. Judy worked in Canberra, watching Lake Burley Griffin fill before moving to Qld. where her family of two were born. Judy is Nan to one precious Grand daughter. Judy’s main interests are around the domestic subjects she taught in secondary schools, hence her passion for our Country Kitchens Program and its importance to young people. Judy has been involved with QCWA since the early 1980’s and more so with the Maleny Branch since 2003. She also enjoys and shares an interest in all craft, enjoys travel and our great Australian countryside from the outback to the sea.

Janelle Reeves was born in Kingaroy. After living and teaching in other parts of Queensland, she has returned home to raise her children on the family farm with her husband. Understanding the connection between soil health and our own health has become a real passion since returning to Kingaroy. She has a keen interest in combining her love of cooking and gardening with connecting to her community. The traditions of QCWA and the new energy of Country Kitchens is an inspiring way to connect with others to create a healthy mindset.

Jade Miles is the Founder of the Beechworth Food Co-operative. Owner of Black Barn Farm and a Local Food Advocate. A combination of determination, commitment and boundless energy has driven Jade Miles to engage in the local food movement; as an advocate, business owner, farmer and founder of the community owned Beechworth Food Co Op. They are all projects driven by a hard to explain desire to see reconnection to our place, to our food, to our farmers and to our people.

The commitment over the last five years can only be explained by a deep visceral driving force which at times negates rational thought and sure as hell negates balance from your life BUT has resulted in a ripper little community supported food enterprise and farm which are both beginning to make a genuine difference to the way people view their food and how they access it.

Fiona has arrived at QCWA after working with the Department of Health in Queensland for past 18 years. Graduating from Deakin University in 1984, Fiona began her dietetics career in rural Victoria, traveling to Western Australia before calling Queensland home in the early 1990’s. Since that time Fiona has enjoyed designing, developing and implementing nutrition promotion programs with newly arrived refugees, Indigenous Australians, children with obesity, adults with mental health concerns in a urban, regional and remote settings.

At home with an edible garden, two chooks and a love of cooking from scratch, Fiona is excited to be working closely with the Country Women of Queensland, to continue the great efforts of this amazing ‘grassroots’ organisation, that are definitely more than just tea and scones.

Brianna is the Chief Executive Officer of Foodbank Australia, the largest hunger relief organisation in Australia. Brianna joined Foodbank in July 2016, following her successful three-year term as CEO of Australian Childcare Alliance New South Wales, the peak body for privately owned long day care services in NSW.

Prior to that, she spent 14 years in agri-politics, as CEO of Queensland Farmers’ Federation, and in Rural Affairs and Environment Policy Director roles at NSW Farmers. Brianna has served on a number of Ministerial Advisory Councils and committees throughout her career, most recently sitting on all three of the Federal Government’s National Food Waste Advisory Groups.

In her personal time, Brianna is the Secretary of the Outside School Hours Care centre at her sons’ school, and is an Age Manager at her local Little Athletics centre. She has a Bachelor of Science in Australian Environmental Studies and is a graduate of the iconic Australian Rural Leadership Program.

Fleur McDonald is a bestselling Australian author, farmer and women’s rights advocate, living in Esperance, Western Australia. With nine of her ten novels set in regional Australia, Fleur’s often referred to as ‘the Voice of the Outback’.

A champion for the voice of rural people, particularly women, Fleur has always strived to positively promote and celebrate women in Agriculture. Fleur herself has farmed on the south coast of Western Australia since 1996. She was a state-finalist for the prestigious RIRDC Rural Women’s Award in 2017 and is currently starting a not-for-profit organization to support women and children suffering from domestic violence in remote Australia.

She is an active member of Rotary, sits on two boards and is the secretary of the Esperance and Districts Agricultural Society. These days she loves on the outskirts of Esperance with her two children, new partner, Garry and two canine companions who are very good at editing her work

Kathryn Galea completed a Bachelor of Agriculture Science degree at the University of Queensland in 1980. She was one of the first two women to be appointed as the district agronomist by the NSW Department of Agriculture. She has since worked for a private research and development company and a farming systems group; and lectured in agronomy, horticulture and weed science at the University of Queensland, Gatton Campus. Kathryn was first chair and then CEO of Condamine Alliance Inc, a natural resource management company. Kathryn has worked for the past nine years as the Queensland sustainable agriculture facilitator with the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, providing advice on policy initiatives and liaising with agriculture stakeholders.

Dr kathryn galea, DePartMent oF agriculture

anD water resources

JaDe Miles,beechworth FooD cooPerative

anD black barn FarM

Lorraine is the Program Director for Farm Co-operatives and Collaboration Pilot Program.

She is also a beef cattle trader from Ebor in the New England Tablelands and Director of Moffat Falls Pty Ltd which operates a number of successful tourism, health and agricultural businesses in Northern NSW.

Previous positions have included CEO of Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast and Regional Agribusiness Manager with Westpac Bank. Lorraine presided on the Small Business Review Panel of the Reserve Bank of Australia and was awarded the 1994 NSW ABC Rural Woman of the Year for her contribution to Rural Australia. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program and is currently completing her PhD in Ecological Economics.


Queensland GovernmentThe Queensland Government is proud to support the Australian Women in Agriculture Conference. The Queensland Government is committed to creating jobs, strong economies and thriving communities across Queensland.

In recognition of the role that women play in the development of rural and regional communities, a number of initiatives are available to support, connect and empower female entrepreneurs. These include the Advancing Women in Business Initiative to support business women across the State; the Queensland Women’s Strategy 2016-21 to progress gender equality and our target to achieve a greater representation of women on Queensland Government boards and bodies. Additionally, the Queensland Government

has introduced a dedicated portfolio for Rural Economic Development, including a $5.2 million package of measures to maximise growth and investment in rural communities and ensure the long-term prosperity of regional Queensland.

For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au.

Share the DignityEarly in 2015, an article by Mia Freedman published on Mamamia caught the attention of who would become the Share The Dignity Founders. They were shocked to learn that in Australia many homeless women and women in domestic violence shelters had to face unthinkable indignities during their monthly period. For these vulnerable and at risk women, each month brought a shameful and traumatic experience, suffering indignities such as having to clean themselves in public toilets and use paper towels or newspaper to create makeshift sanitary pads. Reading it from the comfort of their homes, with the

knowledge that many Australian women couldn’t take hygiene for granted during menstruation, they knew they couldn’t allow it to continue. Share The Dignity and its founders believe that access to sanitary items is a RIGHT, not a privilege.

Rural BankRural Bank has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited since 2010 and is the only Australian-owned and operated dedicated agribusiness bank in the country. Our vision is to provide exceptional financial services, knowledge and leadership for Australian farmers to grow. We partner with our farming customers to help them build sustainable businesses and vibrant communities. And because we believe in agriculture’s bright future, we invest in initiatives to foster healthy farm families and diverse talent in agriculture.

PLATINUM SPONSOR

GALA DINNER SPONSOR

Rayleen Brown is the owner and co-founder of Kungkas Can Cook, a successful 100% Aboriginal owned catering business that she started in 2000 in Alice Springs. Rayleen sources wild harvest bush foods harvested on Country by highly skilled Aboriginal women on Country across Central Australia.

Kungkas Can Cook includes a bush foods cafe, catering, value added product range and high end cultural tourism experiences.

Rayleen works across the value chain in the bush foods industry and understands the importance of recognising and acknowledging the important contribution that Aboriginal women have made to the industry in harvesting and supply premium quality bush foods on Country over the last 40 years.

She is passionate about exploring the opportunities to grow economic development of bush food enterprises on Country and the benefits of working in partnership with Aboriginal people.

rayleen brown

Ingrid is a qualified nutrionist and has worked on the Merne Murde (good food) project for eight years. The project works with communities to establish community food gardens in the Utopia homelands, central Australia, Northern Territory.

Ingrid will share insights into the journey, opportunities and challenges experienced in delivering the project which aims to give people some control over their health, to have better health outcomes and reduce chronic disease, and give people more access to better foods.

ingriD PhylanD,Merne MurDe ProJect

Donna has lived and worked in Central Australia for 9 years working in a range of positions that has focused on community engagement and collaboration with a broad cross section of land managers, business owners, producers and issues including; joint management, integrated pest management (camels), indigenous employment and development, Crown Land and bush foods.

Donna is based in Alice Springs and currently working in a bush foods industry development role where she is working with regional stakeholders to investigate the feasibility of a bush foods hub in Alice Springs.

Donna Digby is the NT Director of AWiA and also a Director on the Australian Native Foods and Botanicals board.

Donna Digby,gaicD

Cr Alwyn Friedersdorff represents Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) on the Board of the National Rural Women’s Coalition (NRWC) as President. She lives in Wynyard, Tasmania where she serves as an elected member on the local council, as well as two other State Boards.

Coming from a teaching background, Alwyn possesses an extensive skill set that engages and motivates, and promotes effective team work as a priority. “I’m very much a community involved person and like being active, energetic and innovative in various projects that are happening around the country.”

Alwyn believes that finding innovative ways of connecting rural, regional and remote women to assist in their further education, business skill development and in their own vital community leadership is the major role the NRWC plays in furthering and assisting this. “We want to be the first port of call in the engagement of women who really are the backbone of our country.”

CHARITY PARTNER


CONFERENCE SPONSORS

Meat and Livestock AustraliaMLA is a research, development and marketing service provider to the Australian red meat and livestock industry. Funded by levy payers, the Australian Government and value chain partners, MLA’s mission is to increase prosperity, sustainability and global competitiveness within and across the industry’s value chain.

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Australian GovernmentThe Department of Agriculture and Water Resources helps drive a stronger Australian economy by building a more profitable, resilient and sustainable agriculture sector, and by supporting the sustainable and productive management and use of rivers and water resources.

The department’s work contributes to: building successful primary industries; expanding agricultural fisheries and forestry exports; managing biosecurity and imported food risk; and sustaining water and other natural resources.

The department has a diverse role as a policy adviser to government, researcher, program administrator, service provider, market access negotiator and regulator.

It employs people with a range of skills—policy officers, program administrators, economists, meat inspectors, survey staff, biosecurity officers, researchers, veterinary officers, communicators and project managers. Employees work in a variety of places including offices, airports, mail centres, shipping ports, laboratories and abattoirs in regional centres, rural communities and capital cities throughout Australia and overseas.

Grains Research and Development CorporationThe grains industry plays a vital role in Australia’s economy. Grains and oilseeds are Australia’s largest category of food exports, representing 24 per cent of total agricultural exports. Grain farming spans diverse landscapes, each with its own unique climatic and geographical challenges. Despite this, Australian growers are highly competitive internationally, while also supplying high-quality products for domestic consumption.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) supports the industry through investing in research, development and extension (RD&E) to create enduring profitability for Australian grain growers.

The GRDC invests over $190 million in around 760 research, development and extension (RD&E) projects to directly benefit growers across a broad range of research areas – from molecular biology to farming systems. The GRDC’s investments deliver results and the aim is to continually break new ground for growers.

GRDC is working to ensure Australian grain growers have:

• better practices developed faster• access to superior varieties that enable them to effectively compete in global markets• new products and services (both on and off farm) to assist growers to effectively

compete in global grain markets• the awareness and capacity to optimise adoption of grains research outputs.

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

Sugar Research AustraliaSugar Research Australia (SRA) is the industry-owned corporation for research, development and adoption for the Australian sugarcane industry, investing in activities for the benefit of cane growers and millers. It is funded by a statutory levy upon tonnes of sugarcane. SRA invests in and manages a portfolio of projects that drive productivity, profitability and sustainability for the Australian sugarcane industry.

Powers Financial GroupPowers started as a small accounting firm in Biloela in 1968. We now have eleven directors and a team of more than 55 working across four offices located in Biloela, Brisbane, Rockhampton, and Monto.

Our firm’s philosophy is to put clients at the heart of everything we do. We take time to understand our clients and their business to ensure we can truly meet their needs, give a truly personalised service and provide value in all of our work.

As an all-encompassing financial firm we provide services for all your financial needs, whether you are an individual, a small business owner or a company.

Our philosophy is to help our clients manage their financial needs so you do not have to endure the stress of dealing with a different person for each aspect of your financial affairs.

We are Chartered Accountants, Registered Tax Agents, Business Advisors, Agribusiness Experts, Wealth Advisors, Loans Specialists, Auditors and Superannuation Consultants.

With almost 50 years of experience in various sections of the business and finance industries, our background will make you feel more confident when dealing with us.

Queensland Country LifeIn the dynamic Queensland agribusiness sector, Queensland Country Life is the

undisputed market leader in rural print and digital news. Serving industry with news since 1935, Queensland Country Life today informs a farm sector worth $6.38 billion represented by 30,750 businesses. Known colloquially know as the Bible of the Bush, Queensland Country Life uses a network of staff, located from Goondiwindi in the south to Cloncurry in the north, as well as a team of national agricultural writers, to keep our readers informed, entertained and challenged.

MEDIA PARTNER

RuralcoRuralco is delighted to support the 2017 Australian Women in Agriculture Conference helping to highlight and advance the role that women have in ensuring a sustainable future for Australian agriculture.

Ruralco Holdings Limited is a leading Australian agribusiness that caters to the diverse needs of rural and regional Australia. With over 50 specialist businesses operating across its network and a dedicated workforce of approximately 2,000 people, our focus is on ensuring our clients achieve their goals. We provide expertise in merchandise, fertiliser, wool, livestock, real estate, rural property, integrated water solutions, soft commodity risk management, grain, finance and insurance.

Ruralco has close to 500 outlets across Australia and each of our business units operates under its own brand with its own culture, service model and unique value proposition. Our vision is to champion Australian agriculture locally and globally, be known for innovation, flexibility and service and to deliver profitable outcomes for stakeholders.

We recognise that the foundation of our business is our people. We aim to be the employer of choice in our field, developing a culture in line with our values: accountability, integrity, loyalty, aiming high, leadership, common sense; and embedding safety in everything we do.

Our Ruralco representatives look forward to meeting and networking with the delegates at the 2017 AWiA Conference in Brisbane.

COCKTAIL PARTY SPONSOR


Australian Institute of Company DirectorsThe Australian Institute of Company Directors is committed to excellence in governance. We make a positive impact on society and the economy through governance education, director development and advocacy. Our membership of more than 40,000 includes directors and senior leaders from business, government and the not-for-profit sectors.

Farming Together NowFarming Together (Farm Co-operatives and Collaboration Pilot Program) – is a $14,934,000 Federal Government initiative that aims to provide farmers with knowledge, skills and materials on collaborative ideas, co-operative structures and collective strategies.

Farming Together aims to:

• Improve knowledge of how co-operatives, collective bargaining and supply chain negotiations can improve farmers’ returns.

• Improve the knowledge of options available to farmers and farm advisors regarding such innovative business models including various forms of collaboration

• Improve the agriculture focused legal and financial expert advice available regarding the process, implementation and management of such business models

Further information: https://agworks.com.au/

Jan Powers Farmers MarketsJan Powers Farmers Markets in Brisbane are primarily a colourful bustling market selling fresh farm produce flowers breads artisan products meat fish poultry plants organics and food related objects.

It’s a feel good grass roots experience with a social and community slant and a lot of fun, supporting the local farmers and their produce.

It is a big, bustling, busy, open air food market that sells all the most interesting food and plants, kitchen goods and wine, breads, meat, fish and fowl under the sun.

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

Australia’s Legendairy Women’s NetworkAustralia’s LEGENDAIRY Women’s Network, connecting like-minded women who are involved in dairy from right around the country.

Powered by LEGENDAIRY, ALWN aims to work alongside, support and connect its members, and provide them with the opportunities to improve their skills and capabilities, to continue to grow and add value to their dairy businesses and communities.

By looking for us and becoming a member of the ALWN Facebook group, you’ll stay connected and informed on the networks progress and industry opportunities.

AgsafeAgsafe is proud to sponsor the AWiA conference and celebrate the contributions of women to the agriculture industry. Agsafe is a non-profit organisation which fosters three industry-led product stewardship programs for the agricultural industry. Formed in 1993, Agsafe’s programs ensure safe supply and use of agvet products throughout the supply chain (Accreditation and Training), plus end-of-life schemes for the recycling of agvet containers (drumMUSTER) and safe disposal of unwanted chemicals (ChemClear).

THANKS TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

Buderim GingerFrom a small ginger growers cooperative in 1941, to one of the world’s leading ginger producers of confectionery ginger, Buderim Ginger has been bringing zesty goodness to the world with our finest ginger products. Branded Buderim Ginger products can be found online and on Australian supermarket shelves from the fresh food section to marmalades, baking and beverage aisles.

2017 marks an exciting year for Buderim Ginger, we celebrate how far we have come in the last 75 years, but more importantly we celebrate keeping it real! Keeping our company proudly Australian, and sticking to what we do best!

NAB AgribusinessWe’re NAB. For more than 150 years, we’ve been helping our customers with their money.

Today, we have more than 35,000 people serving 10 million customers at more than 800 locations in Australia, New Zealand and around the world.

We have built our business on understanding our customers and supporting them. We aim to take the hard work out of banking.

As Australia’s largest business bank, we work with small, medium and large businesses to help them start, run and grow. We fund some of the most important infrastructure in our communities – including schools, hospitals and roads.

And we do it in a way that’s responsible, inclusive and innovative. More than money. We know that to be Australia and New Zealand’s most respected bank, we need to be good with money. And we need to be just as good with people, too.

Maggnum EngineeringGeorge Brown-Shepherd, owner and operator of Maggnum Engineering has over 35 years experience in servicing and repairing vacuum pumps for both the dairy and industrial industry across Australia. George also offers a wide range of services to many other industry section, including earth moving and excavation equipment, vintage engines and irrigation systems, and is well known for his precision honing and boring. For high quality and customised manufacturing solutions please visit us at maggnumengineering.com.au

Longhaven OrchardMaria Brown-Shepherd home-based business is Longhaven Orchard where she produces a sophisticate range of jams jellies and preserves all made from produce from her extensive orchard and garden. From her 40 quinces trees she won first prize for her quince jelly and her jams and best exhibit in Jelly and Jams at the Royal Melbourne Agriculture Show 2016. Gourmet hampers designed to complement any budget, small gift pack all products are from Australian Producers.


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in Agriculture€¦ · I will start your inspirational journey off with two of my favourite quotes: “Sustainable development requires human ingenuity. People are the most important