Oak Magazine, Vic 2022 Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award Winner

Kimberley Furness has cultivated a community of rural and regional women in business. The Bendigo entrepreneur is passionate about celebrating female change makers and has been recognised as one herself being named 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award National Runner Up and Victorian Winner.

CEO Farmers for Climate Action

Natalie is a highly-regarded advocate for regional Australia, agriculture, renewable energy, innovation and women’s leadership. Natalie’s extraordinary cross-sectoral adventure ranges from defence and arms control, foreign affairs, telecommunications, energy, transport and – her great love – agriculture.

Founder Coolabah Turf

Suzie is a journalist, agribusiness women and innovative turf industry leader, passionate about building healthy communities and providing sustainable solutions to enhance lifestyle opportunities for all.

CEO Think Digital

Kat Bidstrup is the CEO of Think Digital Studios and South Australia's Emerging Entrepreneur 2022. Kat grew up on a farm in the Clare Valley and has worked in PR, media & crisis management and corporate affairs across both the private and public sector. She draws on this unique background to direct Think Digital to elevate agriculture by creating innovative and engaging experiences using immersive technology.

Partner, Business Services BDO Australia 

Dylan has more than 20 years’ experience advising manufacturing and associated businesses, as well as providing strategic planning, growth planning, taxation and broad-based business advisory services. Dylan also has a special interest in Environmental Sustainability issues.

Grown not Flown, AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award 2023 winner

Entrepreneur and co-founder of Grown Not Flown Nikki Davey is the 2023 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award winner. Nikki grew up on a farm and has lived and breathed farming at the Duck Duck Pig farm located just outside Bacchus Marsh (Victoria, Australia). The farm has traditionally been used for cattle farming along with an occasional crop when time, willingness and weather permitted.

Tekoa Farms

Ally with her husband James, started their farming journey in 2020 with a handful of cattle just north of Melbourne. They had a vision of restoring landscapes and producing good, healthy food through regenerative farming practices. In 2021, they leased a sheep farm in Rokewood Junction. They are now-business partners with Jono and Kara Newmarch. Tekoa Farms was birthed out of the desire to have more control of the meat production process. The company is about producing quality food and connecting consumers to the land and people that produced it. They currently deliver lamb boxes monthly to customers in Ballarat, Geelong and Melbourne.

Shine at Business

Dianna grew up on a mixed farm in southern NSW and has spent over 30 years working rural families and businesses. She now lives on her cattle property in NE Victoria, and specialises in all aspects of business strategy, coaching and accounting for rural businesses, particularly in farm succession planning. Combining a background in accounting, financial planning, small business management, and personal empowerment coaching, Dianna works with families to preserve livelihoods and legacies through workable farm succession plans and strategic plans, which streamline their financial affairs and manage their money in an empowering manner.

Co-founder of Hoedowns for Country Towns

Claire is the co-founder of Hoedowns For Country Towns – a 46,000km bootscooting road trip around Australia in 2022 which aimed to share the love of line dancing, bring rural communities together, and raise money for rural charities. In 273 days on the road with fellow co-founder Kate Strong, the pair ran 75 hoedowns across seven states, raised $38,250 for charity, danced with 3000 people from all walks of life and somehow didn’t get a single flat tyre. An ABC Backroads episode about the trip aired in August this year. When she’s not line dancing, Claire is a freelance agricultural journalist and rural comms assistant, and if she was to go on Hard Quiz, The Castle would be her expert topic.

Wander into Wildness

Nat Dowling is a facilitator and sound healing practitioner who taps into the potency of sound, story and nature to guide connection - to self, to others and to purpose. Nat ran her own copywriting business for a decade, facilitating client transformation through words and stories. She now applies brain picking and deep listening skills to her work as a natural resonance guide, journeying with people to find coherence, unique expression and wild authenticity.

National Manager Member Services

Angela Harrison is a strategic leader and partnership catalyst with a diverse career spanning government, private industry, and non-government organisations. As the National Manager of Member Services at Agsafe Pty Ltd, she demonstrates unwavering commitment to operational excellence, leading a national team of technical experts responsible for stewardship and safety for Australia’s agricultural and veterinary chemical industry. Collaborating with her peers and industry, Angela actively advances the mission of Agsafe.

Kelly is an experienced agricultural professional with a passion for rural health, safety and wellbeing, and a particular interest in improving mental wellbeing in rural communities. She is a strong advocate and ally for people experiencing invisible illness or hidden disability and has a love of animals, especially her loyal working dogs. She continues to be amazed at how the humble working dog can open the space for so many important conversations and provide a constant source of support through challenging times.