Imagine if for just a day, all of the women working in agriculture and around rural communities in paid and unpaid work, decided it was ‘tools down’.

Or perhaps even just for a couple of days – they all jumped on a flight to Bali – on their own, and left everyone else to fend for themselves at home, at work, in clubs, in business, on farms, in education centres… everywhere.

What would happen?

Here’s our guess: rural communities would break down completely. Because unless you’ve been living under a rock for your entire life, you’d know that women are the relentless backbone of our regional towns and all that keeps them humming.

But how often do they really get to spend time focusing on their own development and celebrating their value in the industry? For most… it’s approximately 0 hours per year. A strange equation when you think about just how monumentally important this part of our population is to a successful and functioning agricultural community.

But how often do they really get to spend time focusing on their own development and celebrating their value in the industry? For most… it’s approximately 0 hours per year. A strange equation when you think about just how monumentally important this part of our population is to a successful and functioning agricultural community.

Rural women do it all. From assisting with managing or advising agricultural businesses, working on crop or livestock science, through to sitting on committees, coaching kids and running community events – all the way through to the day-to-day labour of farm life. And even with that skerrick of free time they have each year – it’s quite often spent advocating for rural prosperity and sustainability, something that benefits all of us.

Women have a big load to carry, and it’s no wonder our neck and shoulders are always sore, because we do it bloody well too.

“I think historically we have tended to think of agriculture as hands-on farming, and that certainly is still a really important component of our Ag sector. However there are so many other ways to be connected to the industry, and the sector,” a comment from Jeanette Gellard on the ABC Country Hour, at the 2023 Thriving Women conference.

For women connected to agriculture, their skills are wide ranging, their passions are enormous, and their contributions are as diverse as they are invaluable.

The Thriving Women Conference was established in 2018 to show women like you the value that you bring, and to advocate that the industry recognises women’s contribution. Not only this, but it provides the opportunity to expand our collective skills and networks so we can continue to positively impact our businesses and community – and perhaps even help reignite the fire in our belly that can tend to fade after endless months of praying for rain on top of every other role we take on.

But why choose Thriving Women over the multitude of other conferences available online? Well, after talking to hundreds of participants from previous years – your peers, women just like you, here’s what we know you’ll love:

1. Find Your People:

“Funnily enough I came because of the great line up of guest speakers, but the greatest takeaway has been the connections I have made with the other women,” said Carly Marriott after the 2023 Thriving Women Conference.

Rural living can be isolating. But magic happens when you bring a room full of like-minded women together, and nothing does this, quite like Thriving Women.

For some, it is an energy of discovery, enthusiasm, and encouragement. For others, it’s seeing your face, your challenges or your capability in other women, and building meaningful connections that hadn’t seemed possible to you before. For many women – they meet and hear from amazing peers who contribute so much to the industry and their community, but it’s not long before they realise that they too, provide the same value to their own community.

“For a long time, I didn’t really know where I should fit in the ag industry,” said Toni Duka, the first conference ticket holder in 2018, and now the 2024 Conference Convenor.

2. Practical tools for immediate impact:

Across the two days there are 15 (FIFTEEN!) Toolbox Talk Workshops. The conference is renowned for its rich program, and it keeps getting stronger every year.

From August 12-13 , these sessions cover essential topics such as financial resilience, confident leadership, business succession, personal resilience, rural health, workplace safety and primary industries and emissions. Each session is designed to equip you with actionable skills and knowledge so you have tangible takeaways to create positive momentum in your community, business, farm or organisation.

As WoTL Director Susie Green emphasises: “So often we go to a conference and go away full of great ideas, and never put them into action. One of the things we will be asking in the last session, is for people to really identify what are one or two things that they can actually take away and implement immediately.”

The conference has the perfect balance of inspiring action, celebrating value and forging long-lasting connections.

3. Remarkable keynote speakers:

Every year we look for women who will inspire us to take centre stage as keynote speakers. And this year ticket holders can prepare to be inspired by trailblazers and changemakers. In 2024, we could not be more excited to announce the line-up, which includes returning keynote speaker Olympia Yarger – who had one of the most impactful and talked about sessions from the 2023 conference in Wagga Wagga.

She will be alongside Wendy McCarthy OAM, a trailblazing influential business leader, advocate, author, founding member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby, and recently named as the winner of the NSW Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership. In 2005 she was nominated by the Sydney Morning Herald as one of Australia’s Top 100 Public Intellectuals. Currently she is Chair of Circus Oz, McGrath Estate Agents, Headspace – Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation and Pacific Friends of the Global Foundation. In 2010 Wendy became a Non-Executive Director to GoodStart Childcare Limited. In 2009 after 13 years of service to Plan International, she retired from her most recent role as Global Vice Chair, and she is now Patron of the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance. [*Insert gasps for breath*].

Led by energetic MC Tanya Lehmann, these phenomenal women will share their stories of challenges and successes, give you invaluable insights and inspiration, and renew your sense of purpose and direction.

4. Recognising your contribution

The Thriving Women conference isn’t just about handing you knowledge to better your business, it’s about celebrating and amplifying your contribution, ensuring you value and recognise that in yourself. Afterall – we always manage to find the value in others, but rarely give ourselves even half the credit we deserve.

“It’s such a minor thing [a business card] but I always thought I didn’t need one because I ‘just work on the farm’. At that conference, my thinking was challenged. I realised there’s no reason why I shouldn’t have a business card, and I could put anything on there; finance manager, logistics manager, machinery operator, it didn’t matter. It was the permission I sought and WoTL gave me that,” said Leanne Pridham of her ‘aha’ moment at a Thriving Women Conference. And let’s be honest – this could be all and any of us!

By valuing our own contributions, embracing and investing in continuous learning, we elevate not only ourselves, but also our business, community and family.

5. A chance to renew away from routine:

Be honest. When was the last time you did anything that helped build your own professional or personal development? When was the last time you stepped away from farm, family and community to take a breath outside of routine?

Sing it louder for the people in the back: ‘we all deserve a chance to focus on ourselves!’ (because we always make space for others to have this).

It’s actually important to take a few days off from the all-encompassing day-to-day demands of managing family, farm and community. It makes us all better people. For two days, Thriving Women lets you immerse yourself in enriching workshops and engaging conversations while enjoying the gorgeous landscapes of the Adelaide Hills.

Along the way you can (and should) indulge in nourishing meals made from local produce and let us take care of the details, allowing you to focus on absorbing knowledge and rejuvenating your spirit. It’s a chance to step away from routine and responsibility, recharge your batteries, and return with renewed clarity and purpose.

For info and tickets – jump over to www.thrivingwomen.com.au

(*ticket sales end 15 July).

Organisers of the popular Thriving Women Conference (TW2024) are inviting abstract submissions to present at this year’s event to be held at the Adelaide Hills Convention Centre, Hahndorf from 12 -13 August 2024. TW2024 is proudly hosted by WoTL (Women Together Learning).

TW2024 Conference Convenor, Toni Duka, has announced the conference theme, Be the change, will take centre stage, resonating with the vibrant and dynamic community of women connected through agriculture.

“The expectation of presentations is that they are largely based around “Toolbox Talks”, the idea being that whilst the audience is presented content, they are also given something to add to their “toolbox” to take home and put into practice,” explains Ms Duka.

 “We are providing the opportunity for presenters to engage the audience showcasing some key tools and approaches to help individuals gain the necessary capabilities to navigate change effectively, which requires a versatile toolkit that encompasses both practical skills and a resilient mindset.”

“We invite presenters to engage, reflect, and contribute to a conference experience rich in knowledge, inspiration, story-telling and collaborative growth. Presenting at a Thriving Women Conference is a wonderful way to showcase your subject matter expertise, share skills and knowledge, it also provides the opportunity to more closely connect and engage with up to 200 delegates.”

Toolbox Talk presenters are not limited to female presenters. All genders are encouraged to apply. Presentations are 50 minutes in duration, including question time.

Abstract submissions close on March 18 2024. Submissions can be made at www.wotl.com.au/thriving-women/abstract-call

About Thriving Women

Thriving Women brings together 200 delegates connected through agriculture. Now an annual event, Thriving Women has been run in South Australia in 2018, 2020 and 2022 with the event being held in NSW for the first time in 2023. Thriving Women returns to South Australia in 2024.

Fostering a safe and welcoming environment, the event encourages the development of networks, knowledge, and skills through participation and contact with other delegates. Participation in TW2024 will empower delegates to be confident, capable, and influential, working towards a sustainable future for agriculture.

WoTL is pleased to announce the organising team for the Thriving Women 2024 Conference to be held in Hahndorf, South Australia, from August 12-13.

Toni Duka has been appointed as Conference Convenor. Hailing from the Limestone Coast, Ms Duka has a passion for supporting regional women. Her ability to build rapport quickly together with her high level of enthusiasm will bring great energy to the role.

“’I feel honoured to have the opportunity to convene this incredible event. The conference team is a fabulous group of women who are passionate about maintaining the well-earned reputation of Thriving Women and bringing an inspiring event together. The team bring a wonderful range of experience, knowledge and strengths to the table which is sure to set a strong foundation for creating a meaningful and impactful event.”

The full 2024 Thriving Women Conference Team is:

Toni Duka – Conference Convenor

Sally Klose – Program Manager

Claire Fuller – Operations Manager

Lucy Morphett – Delegate Manager

Jo Powells – General Committee Member

Lucy Blenkiron – General Committee Member

Kelly Will – General Committee Member

June was the month for WoTL bus trips with groups gathering on both Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas to enjoy an interactive day out in great company, discovering some of the goings-on in their own backyard.

The upper Eyre Peninsula participants tackled an early start to make the trek across to Poodra Springs, a native flower farm owned by past Stepping into Leadership graduate, Jasmin Piggot. Jasmin spoke to the group about the challenging landscape on the eastern Eyre Peninsula, where she and her family farm, and explained how she has managed to diversify their enterprise – and indulge her passions – by developing a native flower farm despite the harsh weather conditions.

Lunch was served in the stunning space Jasmin has designed for events held at the farm, before the group jumped back on the bus and headed further up the road to Lucky Bay. It was here they were treated to a tour of T- Ports, discovering the inner workings of the grain storage and transport facility and spending some time on board ‘Lucky Eyre’, the vessel which transports grain from the port to be unloaded onto deep water vessels waiting out at sea.

“We were so lucky to have the opportunity to get on the boat. It was fascinating to see the inner workings of it all, especially as many families deliver their grain here. I dare say some of the men would be envious!” said organiser, Cathy Paterson.

Over on the Yorke Peninsula, WoTL Board Director and Ambassador, Leanne Pridham, hosted a day of connection and discovery, leading a local group of women on a busy and delicious day out learning about some of the amazing local businesses on the southern Yorke Peninsula. The first stop on the bus trip found them at Lower Yorke Seafood where Joanna Rowe took the group on a tour of the facilities, showing them some of the livestock and offering a tasting of the finished product.  

The group then made their way to Warooka where they toured the Ballara Art and Lifestyle Retreat and enjoyed a ‘healthful, whole food experience’ sampling the flavours of Southern Yorkes, thanks to chef Jo Minks of Nourished by Jo. A meditation and mindfulness session followed lunch, with a focus on how we can promote our everyday wellbeing through movement and connection, encouraging conversation and demonstration amongst the group.

“It was just such a great day out to connect with other women in the region. WoTL offer great opportunities to come together with like-minded people, be inspired and have the chance to talk informally about all things topical in our own lives”, said Leanne.

The final stop was the Watsacowie Brewery, where owners Brendan and Roxanne Phasey  shared their story of their business growth as the group enjoyed an afternoon tea and tour of the facilities.  

Connection in community is vital to the continued wellbeing of women in agricultural regions, and it is the pleasure of WoTL, with support from our funding partners and growing Ambassador network, to facilitate these events.

For more upcoming events held by WoTL, visit our events page.  

You can now listen to back to ABC NSW Country Hour, who broadcast from the Thriving Women Conference on Day 2.

The highly anticipated Thriving Women Conference was held from 13 -15 August in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, the first time the event has been held outside of South Australia. Hosted by WoTL, the program featured an impressive lineup of presenters including high-profile keynote speaker Leigh Sales AM (pictured).

A sell-out event, over 200 delegates gathered at Charles Sturt University for two days of insightful, thought-provoking, and inspiring presentations and networking. This year’s conference theme of Growing and Inspiring Women Connected Through Agriculture focused on the critical role women play in primary production, natural resource management and rural communities.

Leigh Sales gript the audience with her highly engaging and down to earth discussion focussed on the importance of storytelling. The award-winning author and journalist shared many insights into her personal and professional career with many stories resonating strongly with the captivated audience

Olympia Yarger, CEO of Canberra based waste management technology company Goterra, and Jane Cay, Founder of online fashion business, birdsnest, were also featured in the program.

Yarger, the 2023 ACT Australian of the Year, shared a high energy presentation about her innate love of farming and broad life experiences and how it paved the way to building infrastructure to solve the food waste crisis on a global scale.

Cay, who hails from the Monaro, shared her experiences running an online fashion store in a rural town where she now employs 150 locals. Her passion to cultivate a workplace that draws people from the city to the country has led birdsnest to feature twice in the Top 10 Places to Work in Australia.

Common themes from all three diverse presentations included the importance of kindness and authenticity.

An important component of the Thriving Women Conference Program was the five “Toolbox Talk” sessions run across the two days. Each session offered delegates a choice of three concurrent presentations to select from, most suited to their needs.

“From sharing real and raw experiences of a business start-up, to managing on-farm finances, farm safety awareness and tip and tricks to becoming a better leader, all presenters were well versed in the realities of women living and working in agricultural communities,” explains Thriving Women 2023 Conference Co-Convenor and Booligal farmer, Sandra Ireson.

“Conference delegates all have a connection to agriculture, whether they be farmers, provide an agricultural service, live on -farm or in an agricultural community or have a passion for supporting rural women and we wanted to make sure we covered topics that would be relevant, inspiring and thought-provoking.”

“This event had impact on rural women who travelled from throughout NSW to attend, and also from across Australia.”

Chairperson of WoTL, Susie Green, understands the impact of this event.

“WoTL was established in 2017 with a mission to grow and inspire women in agribusiness. After delivering three successful conferences in South Australia, where feedback from participants has been consistently and overwhelmingly positive, WoTL is thrilled to have had the opportunity to bring this event to New South Wales”, explained Green.

“Rural women play a critical role in our vision of a thriving agricultural industry. Events like Thriving Women provide a unique opportunity for rural women to invest time in themselves and their own development in a supportive environment.”

Thriving Women brings together people connected through agriculture and has been run in South Australia in 2018, 2020 and 2022. The event was held in NSW for the first time in 2023.

The Thriving Women 2024 Conference will be held at the Adelaide Hills Convention Centre, Hahndorf, South Australia from the 12 – 13 August 2024.