CONFERENCE MC

Hannah Wandel

Hannah Wandel is the 2019 ACT Young Australian of the Year, a motivational speaker, and the Founder, CEO and Chair of national non-profit Country to Canberra, which empowers young rural women to reach their leadership potential. Hannah has built the organisation to run five standalone programs that educate about leadership, gender equality and self-empowerment. In 2018, she travelled 32,000km to reach over 3,500 girls in 80 bush communities to drive change. Hannah’s efforts have seen her named one of Australia’s '100 Women of Influence' by the Australian Financial Review/Westpac, win the 2017 National Emerging Leader Award from the Institute of Managers and Leaders, and represent Australia at the 2018 United Nations Commission for the Status of Women. Hannah has been a speaker at TEDxYouth and a Director on various community boards, and is currently a CEO Advisory Panel Member for the Commonwealth Bank.
 
Committed to public service and strengthening rural communities, Hannah is also the acting Director of the Drought Taskforce at the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities. She was previously as an adviser at the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet and a broadcast journalist. She is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, and is a media commentator about gender, youth, and rural affairs and presents at events around Australia. She also holds Law (Hons) and Media degrees from the University of Adelaide.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Catherine Marriott

Catherine is passionate about living and learning and sharing her knowledge and experiences with others.She has always worked in rural Australia and is inspired by the potential of our regions. Catherine uses her Rural Science degree to understand the technical aspects of agriculture, while her experience in business helps her improve stakeholder engagement, build leadership and improve communications.These skills have helped her build national and international relationships through on the ground project delivery, including developing the first ever International Rural Women’s Mentoring Program between farming women from Australia and Indonesia. Catherine has worked as a nutrition and feedlot consultant in the Live Export Industry, developed a women’s specific leadership and communication program under her company Influential Women and more recently was the founding CEO of the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association. She is now the WA Manager for the CRC for Northern Australia and a director on a number of boards.Catherine is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and was the 2012 RIRDC Rural Women’s Award Recipient and the National Runner-up.In her spare time, Catherine loves cycling, horse riding, travel and exploring the outback. She was part of the Signature Tour for “Tour De Cure” in April/May last year cycling 1100kms in 8 days to raise vital funds for cancer research and support for families currently suffering.

Fiona Simson

Fiona Simson is the President of the National Farmers’ Federation and is the first woman to hold the post.  
 
A mixed farmer and grazier with tertiary qualifications in business and education, Fiona’s passion for local food production and the growth and sustainability of rural and regional Australia has led to her current career in agricultural advocacy and as a non-Executive Director.  
 
She also sits on the Board of the NRMA (NSW), the Australian Made Campaign Ltd, AgStewardship Australia, the Australian Farmers Fighting Fund and SproutX.