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Dr Pat Hamilton is highly regarded in primary production sectors, the field of education and in rural communities as a collaborative leader, mentor and advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Pat was acknowledged on the 2009 SA South Australian Women’s Honour Roll, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s 2015 Women of Impact, the Primary Industries and Regions SA for Women Influencing Agribusiness and Regions, Convenor of the inaugural Thriving Women 2018 Conference,, and in 2018, was selected as an Australian Government Civil Society delegate at the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW62) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Currently, Pat is a Director of Country to Canberra Ltd, and the Communications Editor of Australasia-Pacific Extension Network . Pat brings energy, passion, support and skills to engage, reach and motivate women to share experiences and information in a a culture that celebrates life-long learning. Passionate about working with established and emerging leaders and innovative organisations, Jeanette Gellard is an evaluation strategist, engagement specialist, facilitator, and coach. She has over twenty-five years’ experience working with people in rural and regional Australia in numerous roles that have included stakeholder engagement, strategic planning and public policy. Prior to establishing her consultancy business, Innovative Influences, Jeanette was General Manager with the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board.
Jeanette was a recipient of the Centenary Medal in 2003 for her contribution to the rural sector and was awarded the Rural Industry Research & Development Corporation’s (RIRDC) South Australian Rural Women’s Award in 2001 for her commitment and involvement in the agricultural sector. Jeanette is a Director of APEN and President of Trees for Life SA . She is a member of the Australian Evaluation Society (AES) and International Association for Public Participation (IAP2). Jeanette and her husband live on their small farming property on Kangaroo Island which provides a beautiful backdrop for her home office. Toni Duka grew up on a farming property on Kangaroo Island and always had a keen interest in nature and wildlife. This passion led her to study Natural Resource Management, and then onto various roles with National Parks in this field including time on the Eyre Peninsula. However, her heart led her back home, where she worked for ten years, diversifying into community development and sustainable tourism. At the core of this work has always been building relationships and engaging local communities.
Life with her Husband and two children is great and has given them the opportunity to live and work in the Murraylands for five years before settling in Millicent, where they currently call home. Toni says that whilst moving has been challenging, it also provides a great opportunity to meet so many people, have some great experiences, and to really get out of your comfort zone. She has run her own business since 2013, working in the fields of Natural Resources, Community Development and Tourism in Regional South Australia. Toni is passionate about talking, building relationships and having a good time!! In her spare time she loves cooking for friends and family and going on family adventures. Alexi Kentish has a strong connection with sustainable land management with an Honours degree in Agricultural Science, six years working with a large fertiliser company and 16 years farming in the south east of South Australia with her husband, Nic. Alexi’s role on the farm was to monitor the soils and crops and guide the business from conventional farming methods through to sustainable, biological and then organic broadscale farming.
Alexi has been a member of several boards and committees, including the Soil Conservation Board on a local level, the Foundation for Australian Agricultural Women and Equestrian Australia, among others, on a national level. She has also worked as a facilitator for various producer driven, industry funded projects. Alexi, Nic and their three children have moved to the Adelaide Hills, where Alexi is a community member of the AMLR Natural Resources Management Board as well as running a BnB in Hahndorf and helping in their business Greenbanks Farms . Hannah McArdle, our Marketing Coordinator. Hannah is currently working as Territory Sales Manager for Syngenta Australia-New Zealand. Previously working for AUSVEG, AgXtra, SARDI and COLES, she has had a career dedicated to agriculture.
Having grown up in Naracoorte and the balance of her teenage years spent in the Adelaide Plains, it’s not hard to imagine where the interest in the farm life and agriculture stemmed from. She completed a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences in 2015 with a view to embark on a long term career in the industry. Currently a committee member of Thriving Women 2020, she is always looking to learn from and support other women in agriculture. Stephanie Schmidt is a Clinical Psychologist and farmer in eastern areas of the Mid North of South Australia. She lives with her husband and 2 sons on their farm at Worlds End. Steph is passionate about developing a thriving rural Australia, supporting individuals and communities not only to grow but to thrive. In her role as a Psychologist at Country and Outback Health, she provides psychological interventions with children, adolescents and adults. Steph also works together with her husband on their mixed enterprise (sheep/cropping) farm. Within the business, Steph is responsible for managing the finances and continues to increase her knowledge and involvement on farm by attending workshops and other training. In 2018 Steph has actively advocated on the impact of drought in areas of South Australia. Steph has worked to support other farmers in her area, facilitating distribution of donated hay to those in need.
Rather than New Years resolutions, Steph has started a practice of setting a word for the year. Her word for 2018 is Authentic, attending Thriving Women 2018 inspired her continue to challenge herself each day to be Authentic to herself. Taking part in the Thriving Women 2020 conference is the next step in that journey. Kim Blenkiron has a desire to support women in agribusiness and rural communities, and has worked in community engaged for most of her career. During this time Kim has been engaged by a number of farming system groups including Ag KI, SPAA, Partners in Grain and currently WoTL Ltd. She has been a member of the SA Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board and was awarded the South Australian Rural Women’s Award in 2011 for her commitment and involvement in the agricultural sector.
As the Executive Officer for WoTL, Kim is able to pursue her love for agriculture and supporting women in agribusiness to build skills and networks to achieve their goals. Kim is a Living Smart facilitator and enjoys working with community groups to share knowledge and experience about reducing the impact we have on the environment. In a voluntary capacity she is a committee member and treasurer of the SA Mounted Games Association. Kim, her husband and two children live on their grazing property in the Barossa Valley where she can combine working on the farming business, being a mum and active community member with her various work roles. In her spare time also enjoys hiking. |
For general inquiries, please email eo@wotl.com.au
