Australian Women in Agriculture (AWiA) held its 21st annual conference last weekend in Melbourne and conveners and guest speakers used the milestone to reflect on the past achievements and continuing opportunities and challenges.
Making a submission to the Federal Government’s Agricultural Competitiveness white paper was among AWiA’s key projects this year, AWiA president Elizabeth Brennan told the almost 100 delegates, including a team of 15 women from Papua New Guinea.
“Our consultation on the white paper was open to members and non-members and we had face-to-face meetings, teleconferences and engaged with people on our Facebook page and on Twitter,” said Ms Brennan, whose family has a broad-acre cropping, citrus and pig farm in Western Australia.
“Arguably, the white paper will drive the agricultural policies of the government for the next ten years, setting the scope of where we are going.”
The AwiA’s submission on the white paper aimed at ensuring Australia’s agriculture sector remains a significant contributor to the economy and local communities, was among more than 600 the Federal Government is now considering to inform a green paper outlining government priorities and a framework, which Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said could be released in coming weeks.
Ms McKenzie and independent member for Indi Cathy McGowan addressed the conference and took part in workshops with the other delegates.
Through a workshop on the future and competitiveness of Australian agriculture AWiA members said they wanted the organisation to concentrate on attracting and retaining people on farms and in rural communities by improving education and training, farmgate prices and infrastructure, including broadband internet, Ms Brennan said.
The conference’s panel discussions and presentations on leadership and innovation aimed help women seize opportunities in agriculture.
Influential Women managing director Catherine Marriott urged those at the conference to harness the scientific and technological advances that had been made in agriculture in the past few decades. She also called on women to work together including through mentoring to help foster leadership.
“Be humble, but don’t be o humble that you miss out on the opportunity to influence someone.”
It was incumbent upon on the women at the conference to help promote agriculture, she said.
“We can shape perception by the way we talk about the industry and celebrate its achievements. Not to negate the environment we work in can be tough, but the industry is changing rapidly and there are many opportunities.”
Susan Bower, head of agribusiness for Australian financial services with the Westpac Group, encouraged women to be confident about what they could contribute to the farm and in leadership.
“Women don’t need to be like men to have influence in the board room – be true to yourself,” she said.
In Ms Bower’s 15 years in finance in agribusiness, she has seen changes.
“Women have stepped out from providing a cup of tea when I go to speak about finances to running the books and being confident that they are an equal partner in the business.”
Consultant Alana Johnson, a founding member of AWiA, said despite the progress made in the past two decades years, women were still under-represented in business and in agricultural industries’ representative bodies.