We are all pretty chuffed at Art4AgricultureChat HQ with two of our leadership team been identified as superstar influencers
Young Farming Champion and research geneticist Jo Newton has been named in the 2018 The Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence. The awards, sponsored by Qantas, recognise women bringing about change in their spheres of influence, and this year received a record 850 entries.
The 100 Women of Influence is divided into ten categories and Jo was nominated, by fellow Young Farming Champions on the Youth Voices Leadership Team, in the local and regional section, which recognises women making a difference in the community at a local, rural or regional level. She joins women representing the arts, health, environment and community development.
“I was humbled to find out I had been nominated for the 100 Women of Influence by my peers on the Youth Voices Leadership Team,” Jo said, “and then to find out I was on the list was an overwhelming experience. I hope to use this opportunity to shine a light on the causes that I am passionate about, translating science into real benefits for farms, and advocating, supporting and mentoring young people, particularly women, in agriculture.”
Jo currently works as a research scientist in dairy genetics for Agriculture Victoria with the ImProving Herds Project and donates much of her time to ensure the next generation of scientists are aware of the opportunities in agriculture – regularly attending school-based events to share her own experiences. Jo is also Chair of the recently formed Youth Voices Leadership Team, an initiative of Art4Agriculture.
Lynne Strong, Art4Agriculture Program Director, has known and mentored Jo for many years and believes she is a highly worthy inclusion in the Women of Influence list.
“Jo displays tenacity and commitment to the causes she is passionate about,” Lynne said. “Her passion is the science, her commitment is partnering with farmers to build the trust necessary to take the science out of lab and onto the farm. She spends every minute ruminating, consulting and planning how to make this happen. In her spare time she gives every minute to agricultural advocacy and supporting youth in agriculture.”
Jo’s contributions to agriculture have also been recognised at the 2018 Victorian Young Achiever Awards where she won the Leadership category. More recently she was awarded the Royal Agriculture Society of Victoria’s Emerging Leaders in Victorian Agriculture Award.
The winners of each of the 10 categories in the 2018 The Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence and the overall winner will be announced at a gala dinner in Sydney on October 17
Joely Mitchell from The Stock and Land has covered the announcement superbly here
Also being recognised for wielding considerable influence in the wider community is Anika Molesworth who has been announced as a finalist in the NSW Government Green Globe Awards
Anika is a passionate advocate for sustainable farming, environmental conservation and climate change action. She helped found Farmers for Climate Action, and connects land managers to researchers through her platform Climate Wise Agriculture, helping build resilience into farming communities.
She is also keenly interested in the conservation of natural and cultural heritage and manages the International National Trusts Organisation’s Sustainable Farms program.
Recognition has come through awards including 2015 Young Farmer of the Year, 2017 NSW Finalist for Young Australian of the Year, and most recently the NSW Young Achiever Award for Environment and Sustainability.
Her leadership, communication skills and commitment to taking information out of lofty institutions to share where it’s needed is highly commendable.
It is so exciting to see young women in agriculture making a difference embraced and lauded at such venerable levels.
#Youthinag #YouthVoices18 #ArchieAction