TERRITORY women will be sharing their stories and experiences in building agribusiness in the bush at the national Australian Women in Agriculture Conference being held at Alice Springs on August 7-9.
Everything from crocs to quandongs, spinifex and barra will feature as speakers from the Centre to the Top End talk about how they have built a diverse range of businesses in the Territory’s agricultural sector.
Conference organiser and AWiA Director Donna Digby said women such as crocodile farmer Giovanna Webb, bush foods expert Rayleen Brown, NT Seafood Council CEO Katherine Winchester, pastoralists Lyndee Severin, Rebecca Cadzow and Clair O’Brien were among the local speakers at the conference.
“Territory women are at the forefront of innovation in agribusiness and we are fortunate to have many industry leaders joining us at the conference,” Ms Digby said.
“We have a great lineup of 22 local, national and international women who will be sharing their experiences and learnings over the weekend,” she said.
“Giovanna Webb, the 2013 National Rural Woman of the Year, will share her experiences working with indigenous women building her crocodile-based business in the Top End.
“Local pastoralists Rebecca Cadzow and Lyndee Severin will be sharing their perspectives on living and working on remote cattle stations.
“Rebecca has shared her story about the family business on Mount Riddock Station through national TEDx talks, while Lyndee is successfully diversifying at Curtain Springs Station through developing a paper-making venture.
”Bush foods are a growing market and Rayleen Brown from Kungas Can Cook is recognised as a leader and innovator in both sourcing and cooking with bush produce.
“Katherine Winchester will be sharing her insights into creating change through effective advocacy and leadership, a challenge she successfully tackles as head of the NT Seafood Council.
“Together with women from around the country and international speakers, the 2015 national conference will showcase the strong leadership roles women play in our agricultural industries and how we can support and inspire others to ensure a strong and vibrant sector into the future.”