My name is Jenna Wright and I was born and raised in Sydney, and so I found my interest in agriculture purely by chance whilst at high school. I have a passion for genetics and biotechnology, with a focus on improving Australian crops to keep up with environmental changes and increasing consumer demands.
After I have completed my degree, I would love to be involved in plant research projects that aim to create better pest and disease resistance or environmental tolerance in broadacre or horticultural crops. I am keen to be involved in innovation that is making tangible improvements to the efficiency, quality, and resilience of Australian cropping.
I am so grateful to have been awarded a Horizon scholarship as it will greatly aid in gaining the experiences I need to make valuable contributions to Australian agriculture in the future. I’m most looking forward to becoming a more active and connected participant within the industry by developing relationships with my peers and industry leaders, so that I can broaden my perspectives beyond my own experiences.
Getting to work with GRDC excites me as they are involved with industry leading plant research that aligns with my passions and goals. Their relationships and connections with current crop innovation will open up career opportunities for me that I would not have been able to access otherwise. Coming from a non-agricultural upbringing, I am hoping that my involvement in this scholarship will give me a more well-rounded set of skills, knowledge, and perspectives so that I can contribute to more meaningful change in my future career.