Latest News | WoTL

Beyond Education: What It’s Like to Attend a WoTL Workshop

by Kim | Mar 28, 2025 | Ambassadors, Events, Latest News, Uncategorized

If you’ve ever joined a WoTL workshop, you’ll know it’s not just about learning — it’s about belonging.

In rural Australia, opportunity can sometimes feel just out of reach. Geography, seasonality, time, and the juggle of roles across home, work and community all make accessing professional development and networking a challenge. But that’s where WoTL steps in — with a network of passionate regional Ambassadors who help make these meaningful moments possible.

WoTL Workshop - Risky Business Manoora March 2025

Backed by funding from grants and generous sponsors, WoTL works hand-in-hand with local Ambassadors to bring the right topics, delivered by the right facilitators, to the right regions. You might find yourself deep in business strategy or farm finance, walking a paddock or orchard on a crop tour, exploring soil health or ewe nutrition, or building skills in HR, communication, or decision-making in family-run operations.

Some days are serious, others are energising — and many are full of laughter, insight, and those all-important lightbulb moments.

Regenerate Rural Woman - A Lasting Impact

From the moment you arrive — often greeted with a warm smile from your local Ambassador — the pace shifts. You step into a space designed for you, because WoTL stands for Women Together Learning — and that means you’re never the only woman in the room. You’re surrounded by others just like you: curious, capable women ready to connect and lift each other up.

That confidence — to speak, ask, share, and grow — is at the heart of what makes WoTL workshops so different. As Lucy Pedler, long-time WoTL Ambassador on the Eyre Peninsula, shares:

“There’s a real hum in a room when you get it going well and the conversations are flowing. It’s not about you knowing the answers — there’s such a collective knowledge in the room, and seeing that drawn out in a session is amazing.”

Workshops are scheduled at times that suit the group, often during school hours to ease the juggle, and planned carefully around peak seasonal pressures. Catering is provided — making it even easier to just show up and learn. And because a cuppa and a conversation can go a long way, every detail is considered, from where the workshop is held, to the layout of the room. Facilitators are chosen not just for what they know, but for how they make you feel — informed, encouraged, and supported.

WoTL’s regional Ambassadors are at the heart of it all — because without them, these opportunities simply wouldn’t exist. As Dili, an Ambassador from South Australia’s Mid North, shares:

“I want to continue to be more involved in our local community and give back, because I’m so lucky to be able to connect with, engage with, and learn from and alongside so many amazing individuals in our little farming corner.” (Read more of her story here).

In a landscape where traditional agricultural events are often male-dominated, WoTL ensures rural women have a space of their own — to learn, lead, and thrive.

So if you’ve been meaning to come along to a WoTL workshop, consider this your sign. You’ll leave with more than just knowledge — you’ll leave with confidence, community, and a reminder that you’re not doing this alone.

Keep up to date with all of WoTL’s Events via our Facebook Page or Event Page.

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Bridging the Gap Between Fear and Action

by Kim | Feb 10, 2025 | Ambassadors, Latest News, Stepping into Leadership, Stories of Impact

Dili Schoenberg is no stranger to change.

She swapped the hustle and bustle of city life in Sydney for a quiet, rural life when she moved to Clare, South Australia, for her first job out of university.

And, more recently, she switched from a successful research career to working as a full-time farmer in Manoora in SA’s Mid North.

But that doesn’t mean she finds each new change easy.

“In fact, I think it gets scarier with age,” she says.

A former grains researcher at SARDI for over 13 years, Dili has extensive experience in pre-breeding and data analysis. In her career, she worked with a team developing new genetic traits for plant breeders that have led to the development of new crop varieties.

But while her work has equipped her to take a scientific and analytical approach to on-farm challenges, Dili felt she needed some extra support to gain the confidence to step into her new role as a mixed-cropping and livestock producer alongside husband Daniel.

Now, Dili says it’s the network of support she’s built and the training she’s undergone – including WoTL’s Stepping into Leadership (SiL) Program – that has helped her navigate the career change.

Above: Dili at the 2023 Stepping Into Leadership Graduation.

“The Stepping into Leadership Program came at a pivotal point in my life,” she says.

“I was mid-career, juggling the demands of working off-farm, learning everything I could about agribusiness, and raising two young children.”

While she loved each aspect of her busy life, everything happening at once left Dilli feeling the need to reassess things – and the SIL program helped guide her through that next stage.

“In particular, the program pinpointed my values and what truly motivates and fulfills me. For me, that’s connecting with people, learning, and being useful,” she says.

“This is also probably why transitioning into full-time farming initially felt so terrifying. Coming from a scientific, off-farm background, I was stepping into a world where I was losing that familiar ‘work’ network and lacked some of the basic skills (like steering heavy machinery in a straight line!). WoTL’s leadership program helped me focus on what I could bring to the table instead of what I couldn’t.”

That focus on her skills, strengths and future goals set Dili up for success.

“Alongside learning how to drive in straight lines, within 12 months of graduating I’d also taken on a role as a WoTL ambassador for the Mid North, running seven agribusiness workshops with incredible experts being brought into our local area,” she says.

“Farming requires wearing so many hats—mechanics, logistics, heavy machinery, agronomy, OHS, and agribusiness, to name a few. This year, we’ve experienced the worst seasonal rainfall on record. The skills and knowledge I gained through the WoTL courses helped me step back, see the bigger picture, and map out a strategic way forward.

“Having said that, there’s still a lot for me to learn, and I’m definitely learning a lot with each day on the job.”

Dili is keen to combine some of her research expertise with her growing on-farm experience and the knowledge gained through the SIL program to try new ways of working and plan for the business’ future.

“I’m keen to look into the some of the farm data on yields, soils, crop sequences and weather to see if we can uncover any patterns in our paddocks that may be helpful for future crop and soil management planning,” she says.

“The biggest lesson for me has been understanding and managing risk. On-farm, it’s crucial to identify your biggest risks—both production and business—and try and develop sustainable models and strategies that work for you. To us, that has meant doing those five to 10-year (business) forecasts, calculating those rolling averages and recalibrating as needed… and continuing to pray for rain.”

Between the confidence that Stepping into Leadership has given her to “bridge the gap between fear and action”, and building connections with others in a supportive local community, Dili feels empowered to settle into her role on the farm and as a WoTL Ambassador.

Recently selected as a member of Grains Producers SA’s new Young Grains Producers Committee, Dili is looking forward to growing her network, continuing her learning and representing her community.

“I’m particularly passionate about advocating for small family farms and how we can support them into the future amid rising uncertainty in markets, production, and costs,” she says.

“I want to continue to be more involved in our local community and give back, because I’m so lucky to be able to be able to connect with, engage with and learn from and alongside so many amazing individuals in our little farming corner.”

Regenerate Rural Woman – A Lasting Impact

by Kim | Feb 8, 2025 | Latest News, Uncategorized

As the WoTL Board and Staff reflected on and celebrated our successes over the past year, the ongoing impact of our programs was a key highlight, with the Regenerate Rural Women (RRW) program central to this.

The RRW program recognises that women are often the backbone of families and communities, providing steadfast support during times of difficulty or distress. Yet, amidst this vital role, many women find themselves without the same support for their own wellbeing. They may lose sight of their identity, values, strengths, and opportunities for growth—not just in challenging times whilst supporting families, businesses and communities, but also through the everyday demands of being primary caretakers, where their own needs are often placed last.

Knowing this, the RRW program offers a safe, nurturing space for reflection, an opportunity to reassess priorities, and the empowerment to realign with personal goals and aspirations. One participant shared, “This program has improved my mental health significantly by connecting me with peers experiencing similar challenges in farming life that I’ve struggled to find anywhere else.”

This process is not just about regeneration for the individual—it’s about reigniting the spark that fuels communities. For many, stepping into the program means stepping out of their comfort zones, as another participant reflected, “It was a great experience, got me out of my comfort zone, and I have learnt so much.”

Since its inception in 2023, the RRW program has been delivered 13 times, reaching more than 150 women across regional and rural South Australia—from the Eyre Peninsula to the Limestone Coast and everywhere in between. This wide-reaching impact speaks to the program’s relevance and the genuine need for spaces that support and uplift rural women.

The program fosters resilience, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose, equipping women with the tools to thrive both personally and within their communities. Feedback such as “highly recommend this program—so pleased with what I have learnt and gained,” has been reflected in each location.

If you’re seeking time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most to you, the Regenerate Rural Women program is your opportunity. WoTL is continuing to seek funding to allow us to continue the far reaching impact of this program, and will be announcing dates for a RRW in the Riverland in early 2025. If you are seeking out a program like this in your area, or are part of an organisation who would like to support this opportunity for regional women, please contact us at eo@wotl.com.au, and let’s regenerate—together.

Upcoming dates can be found on our Regenerate Rural Women page when registrations are open.

New Faces at WoTL for 2025

by Kim | Dec 11, 2024 | Board, Latest News, Uncategorized

It is an exciting time of growth for WoTL, and we’d love to take this opportunity to introduce you to a few new faces!

In December, we welcomed Renee Farrow to our Board of Directors, a previous Stepping Into Leadership mentor, and a passionate leader. “I was first introduced to WoTL this year, as a mentor in the Stepping into Leadership program. The experience left a strong impression on me, not only for the support and growth it offers women in agriculture, but also for the community’s sense of care, generosity and passion. Having grown up on a farm on the Yorke Peninsula and faced the challenges of being taken seriously as a woman in agriculture, I’m passionate about elevating and developing the leadership capacity of women across rural Australia. Throughout my career, there have been too many occasions where I have not had female role models in plain sight – and I want to be part of changing that for women growing up in rural Australia.”

Joining the WoTL Board

“Joining the WoTL board is a really exciting opportunity to combine my passion for sustainability, leadership development and empowering rural women. My purpose is to help leaders and organisations unlock systemic change for a healthier, happier planet, and I can’t wait to work with WoTL to do exactly this, through empowering women across regional and rural Australia.”

You can read more about Renee, on Our Board page.

Farewelling a Director – Neeta Bhise

Of course, the election of a new Director followed the resignation of another. At the recent WoTL AGM, we officially bid farewell to Neeta Bhise, who completed her term as a WoTL Director. Neeta has been a very supportive board member, sharing her knowledge of Not For Profit organisations, her skills in marketing and communications, a curiosity about the agricultural sector and the women amongst it, and an innate kindness. We thank her for her time on the board and wish her all the very best the future.

Kathy – Events Coordinator

WoTL is also pleased to welcome Kathy Moloney to our staff, joining our remote team as Events Coordinator. Based in NSW, Kathy will be leading key WoTL events like the Thriving Women Conference.

Kathy brings a wealth of knowledge to the team, with much experience in working with, supporting, and of course, being a rural woman. After growing up on a cattle and sheep farm in the South East of SA, different career opportunities saw Kathy live and work in Victoria and Northern Territory, before she landed on a broadacre farm in Southern NSW as a 4th generation farmer, with her husband Shaune, and 3 daughters.

‘I am very excited and proud to working within a team that is committed to connecting and supporting Women in Agriculture,’ Kathy noted.

Kathy is very active in her local community, and has a strong passion and drive to ensure the strength of community groups, which ultimately keep small rural towns not only alive, but vibrant. School P&C ✅ Oaklands Harvest Ball ✅ Melbourne Cup Luncheon ✅ Sporting Committees ✅ Local volunteering ✅ You name the pie, Kathy probably has her finger in it!

In her (probably limited!) spare time, Kathy enjoys camping with friends and family, cooking on a cracking campfire, and watching everyone getting out on the water-skis in summer. A lover of live music, Kathy’s favourite concert was Keith Urban, who she saw with her daughters under the stars at Deniliquin. She liked the performance so much, she saw him again the following week in Melbourne!

Kathy’s passion, work ethic, and integrity embody the WoTL values, and she makes an excellent addition to the WoTL team. Beej and Kim are looking forward to leaning on Kathy for HR know-how and NSW geography lessons, as well as the fresh ideas, knowledge and enthusiasm Kathy brings, that will see Thriving Women continue to be a premier event on the agricultural conference calendar, and assist the organisation to grow our NSW WoTL network.

A Focus on Progress over Perfection

by Kim | Dec 11, 2024 | Latest News, Stepping into Leadership, Stories of Impact

Stephanie March wears many hats: farm business manager, health advocate, and passionate community leader. But her journey to this point hasn’t been an easy one.

As a busy mum of two, including a young son with a rare medical condition, Steph has had to navigate the challenges of rural life and healthcare access while also managing the demands of a growing family farm.

Starting her career as an occupational therapist, then a teacher, Steph now leans into the idea that her career diversity is an asset to all spheres of her life. She’s using two decades of experience across multiple sectors to drive her passion projects and create business outcomes for the farm. But, of course, her days are never typical, as she continues to learn that personal and professional flexibility are the key to making sure she can ride out the challenges when they arise.

Above: Stephanie at the Stepping Into Leadership 2024 graduation

Realising her potential

And while Steph’s goal-driven personality has ensured her success in a range of fields, it was when she discovered WoTL’s Stepping Into Leadership program that she was able to realise her capacity as a leader – both on the farm, and as a rural health advocate.

“Working with Stepping Into Leadership has really pushed me out of my comfort zone. But in doing so, it helped me recognise and own the value I could bring not just as a farmer, but as an advocate and voice for positive change,” she says.

“I was a bit nervous attending my first WoTL event. I wasn’t sure I had the right experience to be part of an ag-based leadership program. But I’m so glad I took that first step and got involved.”

Steph has attended various WoTL events, and is also one of the most recent graduates of the successful Stepping into Leadership program.

“One of the key lessons I’ve taken away from WoTL is the importance of progress over perfection. I’ve been a goal-setter most of my life, which has at times held me back, being worried that my ideas or initiatives weren’t quite polished enough to put out into the world.”

“WoTL taught me that sometimes you just have to start, even if your idea is not 100 per cent ready. You can always refine and improve as you go. So that’s what I’m doing.”

Above: Stephanie presenting at the Thriving Women Conference in 2024.

Taking the next steps.

It’s this mindset shift which has been crucial for Steph as she pursues her off-farm passion project, Merci Co- a community-focused initiative that aims to support and connect rural families navigating challenging health circumstances.

“As my husband says, Merci Co is the itch I need to scratch. It’s my way of using my own experiences, and the connections I’ve built, to make a real difference. Plenty of people have paved the way before me and made our family’s experience in the health system much easier, and now it’s my turn to do what I can,” she explains.

Through Merci co, an online blog and soon-to-be-launched website, Steph is not only raising awareness of the unique health challenges faced by rural people, but also advocating for improved services and community support. It’s a cause that is deeply personal, given the medical journey of her young son.

“Having a child with complex medical needs has been incredibly isolating at times. But the WoTL network has been a real positive for me. The women involved understand the realities of rural life, and they’ve encouraged me to use my voice to drive positive change – as many of them continue to do so as well.”

From the outside, we can see that change is already underway thanks to Steph’s persistence and passion, leveraging her leadership skills to secure a seat on key advisory committees at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. These positions provide a crucial rural voice and perspective that would otherwise be missing from those conversations.

“It’s about showing up, being brave, and making sure rural families have a seat at the table,” she says.

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Above: Steph at home with the family.

Of course, balancing her advocacy work with the demands of the family farm business hasn’t been easy, but Steph credits the WoTL program with helping her find the confidence and strategies to juggle multiple priorities.

“Another thing WoTL taught me, was the importance of delegation and not trying to do everything myself. It’s helped me become a more effective leader, both at home and in the community. The Stepping into Leadership program has been a game-changer for me. It’s empowered me to step up, speak out, and create the change I want to see – not just for my family, but for all rural communities.”

Steph was a crowd favourite during the 2024 Thriving Women Conference held in Hahndorf in August this year, where she ran a Toolbox Talk on rural advocacy work – an area well known and passionately pursued by many rural women.

“It’s also really important to acknowledge my family, as our journey is a true team effort. We face challenges with positivity and gratitude, with each member playing their own vital role – whether that be on farm, in hospital or in the community. I’m continually both amazed and appreciative of all that my husband, daughter, and son do. We’re also deeply grateful to my mother and father in-law, who purchased and established the farm before we started here. Their ongoing support has been essential to both the farm and our growth—we wouldn’t be where we are today without them.”

Story Update: Congratulations to Steph, who was announced as a recipient of a 2025 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant to continue her advocacy work. We love to see the impact our Stepping Into Leadership participants continue to make, read more here.

Women in Almonds: WoTL and The Almond Board of Australia unite to support women in industry

by Kim | Dec 9, 2024 | Events, Latest News

Thanks to generous funding from the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board, WoTL, in collaboration with the Almond Board of Australia, recently hosted an empowering event tailored specifically for women in the almond industry. Held at the impressive Almond Centre of Excellence—a 60-hectare experimental orchard—the “Women in Almonds” event provided attendees with an exclusive look into the forefront of almond production practices and technology, inspiring connection and engagement for women from diverse roles across the industry.

According to Ella Henson, Industry Development Officer – Sustainability, at the Almond Board of Australia, the event marked an unprecedented step in supporting women within the industry. “While many women attend our regular events was the first time the Almond Board of Australia had run an event specifically targeting women in the industry, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but the response was fantastic,” Henson shared. “Attendees came from a wide range of roles, including almond marketers, agronomists, and processors, as well as women who work on orchards, in administrative roles, or are involved in family businesses.”

One of the event’s highlights was the networking among participants, who represented a breadth of expertise and backgrounds. “The group was supportive of one another and engaged in some great discussions. For me, the highlight was hearing women from different areas of the industry share their experiences,” Henson noted.

The gathering provided a unique forum for women to connect, exchange knowledge, and strengthen their support networks within the almond sector, and marked the first step of WoTL’s growth in the Riverland area.

‘WoTL’s mission is to ignite ideas and opportunities that empower women in all areas of agriculture and production, to thrive,’ noted WoTL Executive Officer, Kim Blenkiron. ‘We are only able to do so thanks to support from funding partners, and we are very excited to have the support of Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board to not only run this event, but also a bus tour, scheduled for late January 2025.’ (Keep an eye on Our Events, or the WoTL Facebook page to be in the know!).

Looking to the future, Henson expressed her enthusiasm for continued opportunities to bring women in the almond industry together. “I am looking forward to future Women in Almonds events. My ultimate hope is that these workshops help attendees build the confidence to attend industry events, engage with industry, and put themselves forward for leadership opportunities,” she said.

Through this joint venture WoTL, the Almond Board of Australia, and Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board have cracked open a new era of support and celebration for women in the almond industry—one that promises to be exciting, inclusive, and impactful. The success of this event sets a strong foundation for future gatherings in the region, and we can’t wait to see more women connecting, inspiring each other, and embracing opportunities to lead.