I grew up on a small sheep farming property in the rolling hills of central Victoria, half an hour into the bush from the local town of Castlemaine. Whether it was working on the property or venturing through the local bush, I’ve spent much of my life outdoors and that has instilled a strong connection to the natural environment. It’s this love of the natural environment, and the evolving momentum of sustainable agriculture in Australia, that compelled me to study a Bachelor of Agriculture in Melbourne. Through study and beyond I hope to continue expanding my perspective and philosophy of farming in Australia and learn from professionals in the industry who are working to fortify the sustainability of agriculture and support the health and wellbeing of farming communities.
Being awarded the Horizon Scholarship is an incredible opportunity to create industry connections and learn from and work with innovative organisations that are making strides in the areas I hope to one day work in. I am particularly excited to work with the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) as the advancements they are making in regional development, and their broad levels of industry collaboration, is integral to the empowerment and centralisation of First Nations voices in Australian agriculture, something I am very passionate about upholding throughout my career.