| International Day of the Rural Woman 2022 | The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Rural Women, held on October 15 each year, celebrates and honours the role of rural women. The day recognises rural women’s importance in enhancing agricultural and rural development worldwide.
“As early adopters of new agricultural techniques, first responders in crises and entrepreneurs of green energy, rural women are a powerful force that can drive global progress.”
(UN Secretary-General António Guterres)
This year’s theme Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All”, highlights the essential role that rural women and girls play in the food systems of the world
Why it matters: Women’s full participation in agriculture provides leadership and diverse perspectives that the industry needs for its profitability and competitiveness. |
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Meet APEN's Women's Leadership Team | The Directors |
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Dr Heather Collins (NZ)– An independent consultant in the agriculture sector, Heather excels at Connecting individuals and groups to facilitate understanding and positive change in the agri-environment space. |
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Jeanette Gellard (SA), Vice President, - An engagement specialist, evaluation strategist, facilitator, and coach who is passionate about working with established and emerging leaders and innovative organisations to create change. |
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Dr Pat Hamilton (SA)– A retired farmer, Secondary School Principal, Pat brings a wealth of education and agriculture experience, and strong strategic directions that build positive, productive relationships, wide, diverse networks and working with women as agents of change. |
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Nicole Sallur (Qld) - Principal Extension Officer with the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), is a strong planner a team player who works with and encourages her teams to do the best they can. |
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| The Regional Coordinators |
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Caroline Coppo (Qld)- the Sugar Research Australia (SRA) Regional Coordinator in the Herbert River sugarcane growing region, North Queensland. is experienced in sugar industry extension, governance and project development and has a diverse background in science, education, natural resource management and community engagement. |
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Sandy Gunter (SA)– the Team Leader Communications and Engagement SA Murray-Darling Basin Region, Dept. Env and Water, South Australia, has a small holding in Woodside managing a small herd of highland cattle for meat, with a few horses, chickens, and dogs. |
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Sarah Hain (NT)- Agronomist in the Northern Australia branch for Cotton Growers Services (CGS) who grew up on her family’s Merino and cattle grazing operation in Western QLD. Sarah is an energetic strategic planner and is revitalising our NT membership.
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Karen Smith (WA)- Full time farmer in partnership with my husband, raising two teenagers in the central Wheatbelt on a mixed enterprise farm, with previous experience as a project management professional specialising in monitoring and evaluation. Putting my hand up to volunteer at local and state levels, including Chairing the Industry Management Committee for Sheep & Goats under the WA Industry Funding Scheme to lead our industry-funded agricultural biosecurity program. |
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Sarah Thompson (Vic) has been the Lead of Extension Delivery at Dairy Australia for the past 8 years. Sarah is fiercely passionate about agriculture, people, development and leadership and wants to ensure people interested in agriculture have the networks, resources and opportunities to allow them to pursue a long and exciting career in the industry. |
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Dr Roe Currie (Vic), Honorary Life Member, has been a formidable advocate for extension and APEN for almost 27 years, having held the role of APEN Executive Secretary. Everyone who has worked with Roe can attest to her ‘can do’ attitude in driving and supporting the work of APEN through its committees, programs, and events. APEN is indebted to the contributions of Roe over her 27 years with the organisation. |
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Dr Pat Hamilton (SA), as APEN Director, Communications Editor and editor of APEN’s Newsletter, ExtensionNet, brings her experience of board positions on several state and national rural women’s and regional organisations. Pat has been responsible for the re-invigoration of the Regional Coordinator network within APEN. |
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Dr Ruth Nettle (Vic) Currently, Ruth leads the Rural Innovation Research Group (RIRG) at the University of Melbourne. Ruth has been a very significant influence on extension over many decades. Ruth, as the Co-Convenor of the very successful online APEN 2022 Conference continues to support APEN’s mission in promoting the role of extension in rural change. |
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| These eleven women have built on the incredible work of so many women who have preceded them since APEN’s inception in 1993. The impact of our women members, over 30 years, has influenced the role of extension throughout Australia, New Zealand, and the wider Pacific. We celebrate the achievements of all our women members. |
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