WHEN
Thursday, 16 February 2023 at 12pm (AEDT)
WHERE
Zoom link will be provided upon registration
CONTACT
Emily Jones • [email protected]
This event is supported by a grant from OXO
Join us for a dynamic and inspiring webinar on the power of young people in agriculture!
This session will shine a light on the stories of young people who have become leaders in the agricultural sector and used their voices to take on the issues that matter to them. From tackling the impacts of climate change on-farm to advocating for their sectors and communities, these young leaders will share their personal journeys and the various ways they have made a difference. The webinar will also explore the role organisations and movements play in empowering young people in ag, and showcase the opportunities available for those who want to get involved.
Whether you’re a young or emerging farmer, an aspiring leader, or simply passionate about agriculture, this webinar is not to be missed!
Speakers
Kate McBride
Kate is a fifth-generation farmer from Western NSW. She was born and brought up on a 500,000-acre sheep property located on the Lower Darling-Barka River.
After watching the collapse of the Darling-Barka system firsthand, Kate became a healthy river ambassador working towards better water management in the Murray-Darling. As a result, Kate became a voice for regional Australia and has become an advocate for other issues facing country Australians such as mental health, lack of services and climate change. Kate has completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Adelaide University and has begun a Masters in Global Food and Agricultural Business. In 2017 at just 19 Kate was elected by fellow landholders onto the Western Local Land Services board, becoming the youngest board member in the organisation’s history. In 2021 Kate joined the independent thinktank The Australia Institute researching water and rural issues and has recently become their Parliamentary Liaison Officer based in Canberra.
Oli Le Lievre
Oli is the Founder of Humans of Agriculture, a storytelling platform that looks to connect, engage and inspire those within and towards agriculture. Since 2019, Oli has shared hundreds of stories through his weekly podcast, videos and written content.
Oli loves that he was a city kid that fell in love with farming, as a kid on his uncle’s farm it was probably the romanticised view but he still loves rolling his sleeves up when the opportunity arises.
With professional experience in a variety of roles in Australia and Canada, working up and down the supply chain. Including roles in Fresh Produce Export, Business Development Manager in an AgTech Start-up, Corporate Food & Agribusiness Advisory, and Brand and Marketing roles in a leading Agribusiness.
In mid-2022, Oli decided the time was right to pursue Humans of Agriculture full-time. Humans of Agriculture is dedicated to understanding more about agriculture today, and through true collaboration how we can ensure a world that’s happier, healthier and more prosperous for our children’s children.
Caitlin McConnel
Caitlin is a Senior Associate at Clayton Utz, specialising in agricultural legislation and policy, focusing on food and water law, and climate change litigation. In March 2020, Caitlin was recognised as one of the top 50 early-career lawyers in Australia as an Australasian Lawyer 2020 Rising Star. In March 2022, she was also recognised as one of the top 16 agribusiness professionals under 40 in Australia as a Young Gun of Agribusiness by The Australian Ag Journal. She has a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne specialising in issues pertaining to agriculture, and is an inaugural recipient of the 2022 Farmers for Climate Action Climate-Smart Farming Scholarship which focuses on carbon neutral agriculture.
Caitlin is also a sixth-generation grazier whose passion for agriculture stems from her work on her family’s historical property, which produces beef cattle in Toogoolawah, Queensland. Her family is the oldest family business in Queensland and one of the oldest in Australia. Caitlin works closely with her parents in respect of their operations at “Cressbrook”, and she represents the family as a historical spokesperson.
Alongside her professional pursuits, Caitlin is an advocate for youth in agriculture and agribusiness, and mental health& wellness in the legal and agricultural sectors. She is currently a Non-Executive Director & Chair of the Future Farmers Network, a Board Member of RRR Women (formerly Queensland Rural, Remote & Regional Women’s Network), and a member of the National Farmers’ Federation Young Farmers’ Council. She has contributed to a great number of forums on topics pertaining to climate risk, food security, and water law, as well as mental health and wellness.
Nicholas Blandford
Nicholas Blandford is farmer from Meerlieu in East Gippsland where he currently operates a merino sheep grazing enterprise with his parents. He returned to the family business in 2016 after having spent time working in Agricultural Research and Rural Sales. He is a strong advocate for young farmers to develop the skills needed to deal with the challenges and opportunities within agriculture, including those presented by climate change. Nicholas has developed his leadership skills by participating in the Farmers for Climate Action Fellowship and the Gippsland Community Leadership Program. He currently sits on several advisory boards including the Victorian State Government Young Farmers Advisory council and the National Centre for Farmer Health Advisory board.
