Dairy women now better helped to develop skills

It has been doing that for some time but de Villiers says that has now been better defined and developed. Formerly managing director of DeLaval NZ, de Villiers took over as DWN chief in January last year.

“DWN is focused on the business of dairy, inspiring women in the industry at the grassroots level. That makes us unique and important in the industry. It is grassroots organisation - so we must never lose sight of supporting and inspiring dairy women on farm.”

Women who join the organisation learn by doing. “They learn practical skills at our courses or by being a volunteer. The leadership development is also often learning by doing.”

The network provides “career opportunities” in a wider sense, she says. “As a member you come to days, rub shoulders with the other women in similar positions, learn new skills and that provides opportunities. For our volunteers we invest in training and learning by doing opportunities to build leadership skills.

“Women who volunteer for the conference committee get significant exposure as leaders with developing workshops, liaising with keynote speakers, developing marketing plan or networking to expand and get sponsors for the conference. That provides great opportunities to develop skills in a number of important business areas.”

Regional convenors develop and facilitate innovative local events not only developing significant learning opportunities for other women, but also developing their own marketing, event management and networking skills. 

“We developed this concept called dairy modules, so women volunteer to help develop a learning module; they make sure the training is geared to what farmers need because they are farmers themselves.

“In the process they part of a cross functional team including subject matter experts led by an experienced project leader.” Commercial partners and DairyNZ often offer specific experts to the teams. DWN volunteers are also taught to be trainers or presenters on these days. 

“The leadership development in the process provides the opportunity of either ploughing those skills back into their business or starting a little business on the side off-farm.

“At times like these that can be important – to have the opportunity to earn off-farm. We have seen this happen with great success.” Or they move on to other community leadership roles.

In the last year the organisation became clearer around the “leadership by doing” concept and the opportunities it can provide for women.  With the conference, regional groups and module development, up to 140-150 volunteers are involved at any one time.

“We have been doing this for years but now we have verbalised this clearly for the first time, shared it with others and they bought into that.”

De Villiers says she quickly realised when she came into the job that financially DWN needed to expand its partnership model with commercial companies.

“Because I come from a commercial agribusiness background I knew how much skills, knowledge and goodwill there is in commercial companies and how keen they are to share their skills and knowledge for industry good. I think that we have managed to harness that in a good way. Like SealesWinslow working with us in calf rearing days, or Tru-test on automation days or Ballance on nutrient days.

“Commercial companies offer skills and expertise for relationship development and to support the industry not just to sell products or promote the brand. These partnerships have had very good outcomes, for all concerned,” she says.