Applications are now open for the 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award and the new AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant.
AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award
The Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading Award empowering and celebrating the inclusive and courageous leadership of women involved in Australia’s rural and emerging industries, businesses, and communities.
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award has seen close to 300 exceptional women develop innovative projects that are contributing to a prosperous future for rural Australia.
The 2020 National Finalists’ projects range from empowering Indigenous communities and improving rural resilience, to food security production systems, bringing STEM to remote communities, solving issues for the cattle industry and a profitable pathway for dairy farmers.
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award has a revised and tightened criteria for 2022 which requires applicants to have an existing project, business or program which falls into a Community, Collaboration or Commercial category.
“As an organisation dedicated to the long-term prosperity of our rural and emerging industries, the Rural Women’s Award is just one of AgriFutures Australia’s initiatives ensuring those working towards the same vision are identified, celebrated and empowered.
“We know there are so many rural women doing amazing things in their industries and communities and we want to hear from them. If you know someone who is actively contributing to rural and regional Australia, tap them on the shoulder. We hear time and time again, that it is often the friendly encouragement from someone else, that gets applicants over the line to apply,” said John Harvey, Managing Director of AgriFutures Australia.
Each state and territory winner receives a $15,000 bursary provided by Platinum Sponsor Westpac, as well as access to professional development opportunities and national Alumni networks.
Felicity Duffy, Head of Women’s Market at Westpac, said Westpac was again proud to be the 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Platinum Sponsor.
“We are delighted to again sponsor the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, a platform that acknowledges women as champions of change and innovation in rural and regional Australia.
“As a long-term sponsor of the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, each year we look forward to shining a light on the achievements of women from our regional and rural communities. It is a privilege to help celebrate their leadership and support their future success.”
New AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant is a new program developed to foster growth and development in women involved in Australia’s rural and emerging industries, businesses and communities.
It will run separately to the Rural Women’s Award, however it will complement the process, aiming to provide a leadership and development opportunity to women who are not quite ready to apply for the Award.
