Celebrating Excellence: Amy Kirke wins 2020 AgriFutures NT Rural Women’s Award

Left to right: Finalist Maddison Clonan, AgriFutures Australia Manager, Communications & Capacity Building Brooke Croft, Amy Kirke (2020 NT Winner) and Finalist Emily Ford.

The annual award celebrates the achievements of women from the Territory’s rural communities and industries and provides a platform to inspire and support Territorian women in the rural sector.

Moving to Darwin to study for her PhD that focuses on commercially exploited sharks in the Northern Territory, Ms Kirke is passionate about sustainable industries and education with emphasis on supporting and uplifting women in her community.

Ms Kirke plans to use her $10,000 Westpac bursary on a project that will provide rural communities with much needed STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) engagement through science workshops.

Recognising that industry and science communication and engagement rarely reach remote communities in the Northern Territory, Ms Kirke’s project will aim to bolster scientific learning.

Together with industry, the project aims to create more channels for collaboration, innovation and education to sustain our resources into the future.

This year’s other two finalists were:

• Emily Ford (Darwin) a proud Rak Mak Mak Marranunggu woman from Kurrindju, she identified an opportunity to foster development, connection, and greater knowledge transmission between young people and local industries. Emily’s project aims to facilitate the development of emerging workforces, through a communication program, sharing in-depth knowledge about industries from a range of relevant experts.

• Maddison Clonan (Darwin) recognised the lack of engagement of young people in food and farming systems. She endeavours to develop an educational school program aimed at connecting young people with food production, developing the next generation of sustainable consumers and inspiring young people to seek careers in food and farming.

Ms Kirke will now go on to represent the Territory as a finalists in the national awards.

The Territory Labor Government has highlighted agribusiness as a priority growth sector which creates ongoing local jobs, while also supporting the awards, helps the government support future leaders of the sector.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Primary Industry and Resources, Paul Kirby.

“I congratulate Amy on this wonderful achievement, as well as Emily and Maddison for being nominated.

“These women are demonstrative of the rich depth of talent and dedication we have in the Territory’s rural sector, which is such a critical contributor to the Northern Territory economy and to our Territorian identity.

“Many Territorians are doing great things in our rural communities and industries but they are often doing so quietly and humbly. They don’t always get the recognition they deserve.

“These awards give us the chance to recognise and celebrate the essential role women play in rural industries, businesses and communities and to thank them for doing so.

“The Territory Labor Government’s number one priority is jobs for Territorians and healthy agricultural and pastoral sectors are critical for our job market and to our future economic prosperity.”

For more information on the Rural Women’s Award please go to: https://agrifutures.com.au/people-leadership/rural-womens-award/