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.
