Four innovative and creative thinkers have been named as finalists in this year’s Western Australian AgriFuturesTM Rural Women’s Award.
The $10,000 business development award celebrates female leaders across rural and regional WA and provides a platform to support women to create an impact.
The bursary will help the winner drive their project vision, boosting the prosperity of primary industries and regional WA, and provide access to professional development opportunities.
The finalists are:
- Sophie Dwyer, of Perth, proposes to invest in hemp seed as a food. Her vision is to create a sustainable hemp industry with regional manufacturing in WA;
- Darrylin Gordon, a traditional owner of Lamboo Station in the Kimberley, aims to develop a holistic on-station community training and empowerment program for land management and cattle production;
- Paula Pownall, from the Peel region, intends to promote insect farming as a sustainable added income for farm businesses; and
- Carol Redford, of Gingin, aims to mentor Wheatbelt tourism organisations and support astro-tourism businesses that attract visitors to regional towns.
The Western Australian winner will be announced on March 28, 2018 at an event held at Government House. The national winner will be announced in September.
The Rural Women’s Award is an AgriFutures Australia initiative brought to life by the Rural Regional Remote Women’s Network of Western Australia.