AgriFutures Rural Women's Award

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (14:39): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber about the four South Australian women who were recently selected as finalists for the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:40): I thank the honourable member for her question. I am very pleased to inform the chamber about the four inspiring South Australian women who were selected as finalists for the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award: Marie Ellul from Adelaide, Emma Gilbert from Clarendon, Annabelle Homer from the Clare Valley and Kelly Johnson from the Murraylands.

These four women are now in the running to win a $15,000 Westpac grant to support either an existing project, business or program, with professional development opportunities and access to alumni networks. Marie Ellul is a leader in livestock reproduction technologies, who combined her love of agriculture with her expertise as a reproductive scientist to create ART Lab Solutions, which offers word-leading reproductive technologies for cattle breeding. I am advised that IVF for cattle can accelerate the improvement of livestock quality for breeders.

Emma Gilbert is an entrepreneur who developed the app IncubatePro, which enables egg farmers to track and monitor poultry hatches. This allows farmers to analyse egg fertility and to monitor the performance of various bloodlines' fertility and productivity. I am advised that the app also enables someone to monitor variables, including temperature, for example, and its effect on hatch rates. Interestingly, the app is also used in kindergartens and schools to help students learn in a hands-on way about farming and sustainability.

Annabelle Homer is a former broadcast journalist turned professional voice coach, who started her business Voice It to help support regional young people and adults to be effective communicators in interview opportunities for podcasts and radio and in public speaking roles at industry events. Finally, Kelly Johnson is the owner and founder of SPhiker, which produces high-quality plant-based food to create lightweight shelf-stable meals for hiking, cycling and sailing. They use surplus and second-grade produce, purchased directly from farms, reducing food waste and supporting responsible use of resources.

The South Australian winner will be announced on 8 April this year and will go on to represent the state at the national AgriFutures Rural Women's Award gala dinner, held in Canberra later this year. The winner of the national award receives an additional $20,000 Westpac grant and the runner-up receives a $15,000 grant. The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award is the country's leading accolade in acknowledging and celebrating the fundamental role that women play in rural South Australia, in industry, businesses and communities. The state government, through PIRSA, is proud to sponsor this great initiative.

All four women are incredible finalists, and I congratulate each of them on their innovation and dedication to bringing about positive change in South Australia's regional and rural communities. I wish Marie, Emma, Annabelle and Kelly the best of luck.