CONFERENCE TEAM
Behind every extraordinary event is a dedicated team, and the Thriving Women Conference is no exception.
Our committee is made up of passionate volunteers who, supported by WoTL staff, bring their expertise, enthusiasm, and commitment to delivering an unforgettable experience.
From shaping the program and securing inspiring speakers, to ensuring every detail runs seamlessly, this team works tirelessly to create a conference that empowers, connects, and celebrates women connected to agriculture and rural industries. Their collective vision and dedication transform ideas into reality, making Thriving Women a must-attend event. Get to know the incredible individuals behind the scenes
Robyn Buerckner
Robyn Buerckner is a broadacre cropping farmer at Ariah Park in the Riverina with her husband, Paul. They will celebrate the farm being in the family for 100 years in 2025!
Robyn has recently worked with Temora Shire Council as the Community Engagement Program Coordinator delivering events. Prior to this Robyn worked for Local Land Services and the Catchment Management Authority in Wagga and Temora for 12 years in information management and delivery of incentive programs to landholders to encourage the uptake and extension of precision agriculture, and ran field days and workshops in sustainable agriculture.
Robyn has a particular passion for developing the networks and professional extension of women on farms. Having expanded their business, Robyn found herself spending the majority of her time in the four walls of the farm office with little opportunity to engage professionally with female counterparts. After completing the GROW (Growing Regionally Outstanding Women) course in 2018, Robyn now takes any opportunity to attend or facilitate information exchange with rural women, which is why she joined the Thriving Women Conference committee in 2023 and is thrilled to see the conference return to Wagga in 2025.
Patrice Douglas
Patrice Douglas is excited to join the Thriving Women 2025 Conference Team. Growing up on a thoroughbred stud near Gulgong, NSW, Patrice’s country roots instilled a deep appreciation for the unique challenges and opportunities faced by women in rural and regional communities. Now based in Brisbane with her partner Ted, she combines entrepreneurial spirit and coaching expertise to inspire women to thrive.
As a highly regarded mentor and coach for female professionals and business leaders, Patrice specialises in helping women feel supported, confident, clear, and centred. With over six years of experience, she has empowered more than 500 women worldwide to reconnect with their purpose and create sustainable success. Patrice’s blend of empathy, clarity, and actionable strategies enables her clients to overcome self-doubt, unlock potential, and achieve meaningful transformation.
Patrice also hosts Into the Nothing, a podcast exploring personal growth, leadership, and success, offering conversations and insights designed to inspire women to embrace their full potential.
Together with her sister Lyndsey, Patrice co-leads Centred for Success, a course designed to help regional and rural women elevate leadership and communication skills while prioritising well-being. Passionate about supporting women to achieve their full potential, Patrice is thrilled to connect with delegates at the Thriving Women 2025 Conference.
Elissa Strong
Elissa Strong grew up on her family’s broadacre cropping farm in the Riverina, where her passion for agriculture and rural communities was first sparked. She now lives in Wagga and works for Delta Agribusiness, balancing her role as an agronomist with overseeing the company’s graduate program and several learning and development initiatives on a national scale.
Elissa has always had a strong interest in supporting and empowering women in agribusiness, believing in the importance of connection, mentorship, and professional development within the industry. She was fortunate to attend the Thriving Women 2023 Conference in Wagga as part of her work and found it to be an incredibly inspiring and rewarding experience. The conference reinforced her passion for women’s involvement in agriculture, and when she learned that Thriving Women would be returning to Wagga in 2025, she jumped at the chance to be involved.
Elissa is excited to contribute to the Thriving Women 2025 Conference team and looks forward to helping create another impactful and engaging event for women in agribusiness.
Robyn Williams
Jo Powells
Recognise this familiar face? Jo Powells is back for Thriving Women 2025!
After being part of the Thriving Women 2024 committee in South Australia, Jo is excited to bring her experience and insights back to New South Wales as the event returns in 2025. As an integral part of the 2024 team, Jo gained a deep appreciation for the conference’s impact and is looking forward to contributing again.
With over 20 years in agricultural research and extension, Jo has worked closely with landholders to help them better understand their natural resources and navigate challenges in an ever-changing industry. Based in the Snowy Mountains for most of her career, she also farms cattle and sheep with her partner, Patrick.
Jo is thrilled to be part of Thriving Women 2025 and to collaborate with an incredible team to bring this inspiring event back to NSW!
Kelly Leask
Growing up on a cropping and sheep farm near Jamestown in the Mid North of SA, Kelly Leask has been connected to rural life from an early age. Her career has taken her from the hospitality industry—where she owned her own hotel in Jamestown—to McLaren Vale, where she now lives with her husband Malcolm and their two boys, Abel (11) and Eli (9).
Together, they run a family business with Malcolm’s brother and his wife, managing vineyards, contracting, and producing their own wine brand, Hither & Yon. Like any family business, Kelly’s role is diverse, but her main focus areas are Finance and Sustainability.
A strong advocate for leadership and lifelong learning, Kelly participated in the 2022 Stepping Into Leadership program with WoTL and attended both the 2022 and 2024 Thriving Women Conferences in Hahndorf. Inspired by the impact of these experiences, she volunteered to give back and contribute to the success of the next Thriving Women’s Conference.
Fleur Muller
Fleur Muller is a rural communicator and livestock producer from southern New South Wales.
With a background in agricultural science and communications, Fleur has a passion for supporting Australian agriculture and rural communities. She strives to shine a light on the amazing people who make rural communities thrive, and the important issues that affect them.
Fleur holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Agriculture and has a practical background in broadacre agriculture. She has worked in various roles in both the public and private sectors, including positions at NSW DPI and the Kondinin Group. In these roles, she played a crucial part in converting complex technical research into engaging, easily understood, relevant and practical messages.
Fleur now divides her time between the family livestock business and offering rural communication services to agribusinesses, farmer organisations, government agencies, and community groups. She is passionate about sharing the stories of rural people and Australian agriculture. Fleur enjoys collaborating with farm businesses, community organisations, and small businesses to help them thrive.
Fleur enjoys giving back and has held a number of volunteer positions in her local community. She is excited to join the other amazing women in the Thriving Women 2025 conference team and to deliver a very special event for rural and regional women in her hometown of Wagga.
Kathy Moloney
We recently introduced our WoTL family to Kathy Moloney, a broadacre farmer from Southern NSW and the newest member of the WoTL team. As our Events Coordinator, one of Kathy’s key roles is coordination of the Thriving Women Conference alongside the volunteer committee. Now, a few months into her role, Kathy is even more excited about bringing this incredible event to life! With her background in coordinating fundraising events, deep ties to rural communities, and a passion for creating meaningful connections, she’s no stranger to rolling up her sleeves and getting involved, and is the perfect person to help deliver an unforgettable conference experience.
Her love for rural communities, agriculture, and empowering women is what makes her role in Thriving Women 2025 so important. She understands the value of creating spaces for connection, learning, and inspiration, and she can’t wait to welcome you to this year’s event.
Kim Blenkiron
A familiar face in our community, Thriving Women 2025 marks the sixth conference guided by Kim’s leadership in her role as WoTL’s Executive Officer. A passionate advocate for women connected to agriculture, Kim has played a pivotal role in shaping the conference into the premier event it is today—informing, inspiring, and connecting women across rural industries.
Kim has spent much of her career engaged in community, working with a number of farming system groups including Ag KI, SPAA, Partners in Grain and WoTL. As WoTL’s Executive Officer, and with a deep commitment to supporting women connected to agriculture and rural communities, Kim continues to foster skill-building and networking opportunities across our networks.
Beyond her professional contributions, Kim is actively involved in various groups and farms alongside her husband in the Barossa Valley, SA, where they run a grazing property.
As the conference evolves, so does Kim’s role. While she remains a driving force behind the event, she is now transitioning key responsibilities to Kathy Moloney, WoTL’s Event Coordinator. With Kim’s invaluable experience and Kathy’s fresh perspective, the Thriving Women Conference is set to continue its legacy of impact and excellence.