Palmerston North to host new recruitment programme
A new programme designed to attract young talent into New Zealand’s food and fibre sector, accelerate career paths and sector change is rolling out for young women in tertiary study or training.
The trust aims to develop leadership, governance and business skills for women in all New Zealand primary industries.
Since it was formed in 2010, the Agri-Women's Development Trust (AWDT) has delivered leadership, governance and business training and support to more than 1,200 people throughout New Zealand, in partnership with industry.
Despite the name 'agri', the trust's programmes are open to women involved in all primary industries. Graduates come from the honey, horticulture, deer and goat industries along with many more from sheep, beef and dairy.
"Women have a thirst for new skills and a will to contribute to their industries and that is driving demand for personal and professional development," AWDT founder and executive director Lindy Nelson said.
"In our first five years of working with women in primary industries we have validated the needs established in our initial research. Women want to step up – but need the skills, development and support to do so. When they get these, they make an instant impact."
More than 60 of AWDT's graduates are from Escalator, the trust's 10-month programme that develops the leadership, governance and business skills of 14 women nationally each year. The programme equips women with the skills and support they need to successfully lead and govern in their sectors.
"We have not yet had any women from the wine industry on Escalator and would very much welcome their participation whether they are growers, winemakers or involved in governance or management," Nelson said.
Escalator was created as a result of AWDT's extensive research into the role of women in primary industries, and low participation rates at leadership and governance levels. The programme attracts women from grassroots farmers heavily involved in their businesses and communities to women in corporate roles. "This kind of mix has high value through knowledge exchange and widening of very diverse networks, then later on through involvement with a strong alumni group."
Escalator includes five Wellington-based modules, individualised distance learning, coaching and mentoring supported by the trust and industry organisations. Graduates leave the programme with the skill, passion and confidence required to take on new roles and with a clear vision of where to engage, their goals and an action plan. They join the AWDT's active and significant support network that often includes a mentor.
Central to the success of AWDT programmes is the overriding principle of supported growth – a concept that Nelson says is the key to women's increased participation in the primary sector.
The trust delivers three other core programmes throughout New Zealand and works with industry organisations to meet the specific needs of their members and staff through tailored workshops and programmes. These have involved both women and men for organisations such as the Beef + Lamb Farmer Council, the Deer Industry Association, Dairy Women's Network and Rural Women NZ.
"While the sectors are different we have found that needs of their women are much the same, which is consistent with our research and experience."
The trust has recently made its first formal connection with the wine industry with Yealands Family Wines supplying the wine for AWDT's fifth birthday celebrations last month in Wellington.
"This generous support is exciting and we would like to build on it to connect with the wine industry and its women as we have done with other sectors," Nelson said.
The next intake for the Escalator programme will be in the middle of next year, for the 2017 calendar year.
For more about AWDT and its programmes visit www.awdt.org.nz or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
