THE National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has chosen International Women’s Day to launch its Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program to increase opportunities for women in the industry’s senior levels.

Fiona Simson

“Women have been the backbone of farming since agriculture began in our nation,” NFF president, Fiona Simson, said.

“However, female representation on-farm is not matched in the senior ranks and around the board tables of our farm representative organisations and agribusinesses.”

To work towards correcting this, the Federal Government and leading agribusinesses have teamed up with the NFF to effect change through the program.

“Today we are calling on women over 25 years of age who have already begun their leadership journey to apply be a part of a one-on-one mentoring program.”

Graduates of the Diversity in Ag Leadership Program will go on to be a part of an alumni of skilled female leaders with aspirations to apply their leadership skills across Australia’s agricultural sector.

A key component of the program is a pledge by the program’s partners to achieve meaningful change towards increased gender diversity.

“As the first female president of the NFF, I am passionate about ensuring the many, many women that make up our sector have equal opportunity to realise their ag leadership goals.”

Source: NFF