Melissa Duniam is the founder of Leading Rein and the 2023 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Tasmania recipient.
A dairy farmer turned facilitator, Melissa works across personal and professional development, focusing on human behaviour, pattern recognition and building emotional fitness. Her approach combines practical tools with experiential learning, partnering people with horses to help surface insights and unlock potential.
Melissa draws on her own journey—from life behind the farm gate to the realities of business and family life, including periods of burnout and challenge. Through this lived experience, she offers honest, grounded perspectives on identity, resilience and what becomes possible when women prioritise themselves.
Her signature program, Time For You in Tasmania, is a three-day immersive experience designed for women ready to take stock, explore what’s next and consider the contribution they want to make in their next stage of life.
As State Chair, Melissa is committed to supporting rural and regional women to connect, be seen and build the confidence to turn ideas into action. She is particularly passionate about reaching women who may not yet recognise the value of what they’re already doing, and about creating opportunities for alumni to stay connected, continue learning and support one another.