Women Together Learning

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:15): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the chamber on the recent Women Together Learning Stepping into Leadership graduation?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for his question. The Women Together Learning (WoTL) Stepping into Leadership graduation was held last Thursday evening. It is always an event that I thoroughly enjoy attending for many reasons but particularly because it provides me an opportunity to hear from some of the array of women from many different backgrounds, including this year's graduates and also from alumni from previous years.

The Stepping into Leadership program has been proudly supported by the Department of Primary Industries since its inception in 2012. The program is specifically designed for emerging leaders in agriculture and agribusiness and provides professional development, coaching, networking and mentoring support to 15 women across South Australia. Currently facilitated by Jeanette Long from Ag Consulting Co and Sharon Honner from Spectra Coaching, it has so far provided valuable professional development opportunities to well over 150 women, and still counting.

The program includes a two-day leadership workshop, one-on-one mentoring sessions and a one-day workshop and networking event, as well as coaching sessions and webinars. The graduation event is a chance to welcome the graduates into the fantastic alumni group, who are collectively making a significant contribution to agriculture and rural and regional communities in South Australia. It is also a fantastic networking opportunity for the graduates to meet other women working in agriculture, agribusiness and the regions.

As I have said many times in this chamber, our state's agricultural sector is incredibly important to South Australia. Women's involvement in our agricultural sector is extensive and varied, and this was clearly demonstrated by the different women we heard from on Thursday evening.

One of the speakers was Courtney Higgs, a Stepping into Leadership graduate from this year. Courtney is a sales agronomist and was also the South Australian Rural Ambassador in 2022. Her commitment to and enthusiasm for agriculture and innovation is clear. In her speech she discussed the importance of authenticity to thrive and be a leader, something which can be difficult, particularly for women in male-dominated industries. It is encouraging to have women such as Courtney, who are stepping up in agriculture and are offering their unique skills and insights to both industry and the community more broadly.

I am so pleased that we have a program in our state which is of the calibre of the Stepping into Leadership program. The program offers an important and safe forum for women to develop their leadership skills and advance their aspirations. It is clear that the high-quality skills and training provided through the program have contributed to building careers and valuable networks for graduates and alumni alike.

I am pleased to share that PIRSA has again committed to funding to assist with running the Stepping into Leadership program in 2025, which will support another cohort of 15 women to participate in the program and go on to make impactful contributions to their communities and industries.

Applications for the 2025 program are now open. I look forward to meeting the next cohort of women who take up this fantastic opportunity for development. I would like to congratulate the graduates on completing the program. I look forward to seeing their leadership journeys and the ever-expanding impact they will have on their communities, businesses and industries and on our state more broadly.