2026 Conference Program
Day 1.
monday 27
Here, creativity meets opportunity. Whatever you're building, we're here to help you take the first step with confidence. Driven by curiosity and built on purpose, this is where bold thinking meets thoughtful execution. Let’s create something meaningful together.
Day 1.
Monday 27 July
8am to 9am Women on Agricultural Boards Network Breakfast
For AWiA Women on Ag boards and AgriFutures RWA Alumni
9:00 am Conference Registration and Networking
10:15am Welcome
11:00am Opening Keynote: Today’s Grounded Voices, Tomorrow’s National Direction
11:30am Speed Networking: Connect, Share, Spark New Possibilities - Cathy McGowan AO
Start the conference feeling connected, confident, and part of the room, the session helps everyone, from first-time attendees to regular speakers, feel part of the community from the very start.
12:30pm Lunch and Networking
1:25pm AgriFutures Panel
1:55pm Spark Session!
2:10pm Panel: Local Voices Stronger Together: Communities Creating Change - Maggie Jarrett, See Saw Wines and Caitlin
Herbert, Gundamain Feedlot and Mel Kiel, Farmer & educator KLR Livestock Marketing
2:55pm Power Bites
3:10pm Afternoon tea and Networking
3:20pm Rapid Fire Session: From idea to movement – how women in ag are disrupting their industries
6:00pm - 7:30pm Welcome Networking Evening
Proudly Supported by Elders
Day 2.
Tuesday 28 July
7:45am to 8:45am CSIRO and AWiA - Indigenous Breakfast
Note: Draft program subject to change
Proudly Supported by RIC
Global Models for Regenerative Impact - Ebony Greaves-Zwinggi , Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, SEAOAK Consulting
Precision fermentation and bio manufacturing - from food to fuels - Michele Stanfield, Founder & CEO, Cauldron
Bureau of Meteorology Agriculture update: App, Forecasts, Tailored Warnings, Pacific Engagement and My Climate View - Jamieson Lowe and Stephanie Dickins, Bureau of Meteorology
Grains Update - GRDC
Meat and Livestock Update - Irene Sobottam, MLA
4:10pm Closing Plenary
4:40pm Reflection Summary - Cressida Cains, AWiA President
5:00pm Close
9:00 am Welcome
9:15am The Future of Ag - Vi Nguyen, Founder & CEO Ryka Global
This keynote explores how rapid industry disruption, accelerating AI capability and the push for digital inclusion are reshaping the way regional and agricultural communities work, learn and lead.
9:45am Women on Agricultural Boards Panel - Pip Job, Tammy O’Malley and Linda Bracken
Three members of AWiA’s WOAB program to share their journeys, lessons, and the realities of stepping into governance roles. Through reflections and practical insights, this panel explores what it takes to lead with confidence, navigate challenges, and influence decision-making at every level
10:15am Morning tea and Networking
10:45am Climate and Agriculture - Dr Rebecca Darbyshire, CSIRO
11:15am Spark Session!
11:30am Backing Women in Agricultural Advocacy - Elke Cleverdon, Felicity Richards and Rebecca Wilde
Explore how grounded leadership shapes statewide and national impact across Australia’s agricultural sector. Speakers will unpack how emerging issues, such as fuel, fertiliser and supply‑chain pressures are bought into national policy conversations, and how shared industry goals like the NFF $100 billion vision help set collective direction.
12:00pm Lunch and Networking
12:55pm Learnings from PNG
1:20pm Breakout Workshops - choose 1
Agritourism, Community Identity and Regional Futures
Facilitators: Olivia Reynolds
Agritourism is more than farm visits, it’s a catalyst for regional development, local jobs, and stronger community identity. This session brings together producers, councils, and tourism leaders to explore how agritourism can drive economic resilience while protecting the integrity of working farms.
Rural Systems for Women: Childcare, Flexible Work, and Safe Participation
Facilitators: Emily Blackburn
Rural women aren’t opting out of work or leadership, they’re navigating systems that were never designed with their realities in mind. This session unpacks how rigid “always‑on” work structures, childcare shortages, cultural expectations about who leads, and biases in promotion pathways collide to limit women’s long‑term participation. Participants will examine the structural levers that matter most, from flexible work design to childcare systems and safer pathways to participate
Designing a Rural Skills, Digital, Technology and Innovation Blueprint
Facilitators: Vi Nguyen, Cressida Cains
This participatory workshop will explore how women across agriculture can be supported to confidently adopt digital tools, technology and innovation. Through shared discussion and practical insights, the session will identify priority opportunities, barriers, and actions AWiA can take forward to government, industry and education providers.
2:45pm Breakout Reflections
3:10pm Afternoon tea and Networking
3:40pm Strengthening the Voice of Modern Agriculture - Claire Taylor, Agvocacy Consulting
Across the world, communities are finding new ways to speak up, be heard, and shape the decisions that affect them. Drawing on insights from her global Nuffield Scholarship, Claire shares powerful stories of people who are standing up for what they believe in, challenging the status quo and changing the direction of conversations around agriculture. Be inspired to think bigger, communicate with confidence, and use your voice as a leader in modern agriculture.
4:10pm Reflection Summary - Cressida Cains, AWiA President
4:30pm Close
Conference Dinner “A Touch of Orange”
6:30pm to 10:00pm, Banksia Orange
Day 3.
Wednesday 29 July
9:30am to 2:30pm Regional Tours
Proudly Supported by Hort Innovation
Tour 1 - Innovation and Agtech
Visit the region’s forward‑thinking ag hubs: Hillside Harvest, the Orange Agricultural Institute, and Cauldron. Hillside Harvest is a thriving orchard and farmgate hub showcasing how diversified, value‑added enterprises are strengthening regional food systems and creating new opportunities for producers. Explore cutting‑edge research at the Orange Agricultural Institute, their work is shaping the future of crops, soils, climate resilience, and on‑farm decision‑making, with scientists sharing how their work is translating into real impact for producers. Round out the tour at Cauldron, where you’ll see how precision fermentation and advanced biomanufacturing are opening new frontiers for agriculture, from sustainable ingredients to scalable regional industries.
Tour 2 - Local Flavours Trail
Explore the flavours, stories, and ingenuity of the Orange NSW region through visits to standout local producers. At CharLou Wines, meet the makers behind a boutique label crafting elegant cool‑climate wines that reflect the character of the Central West. And at Second Mouse Cheese Co, step inside one of the region’s most celebrated artisan cheeseries, known for small‑batch craftsmanship and a deep commitment to local milk and traditional methods. Together, these stops offer an authentic taste of regional excellence and the people shaping the future of Australian agriculture.
Tour 3 - Central West Producers
Central West producers driving crop and value‑add innovation. Stops include Argyle Saffron and Nashdale Lane Wines, where participants will see cool‑climate viticulture, on‑farm diversification and glamping as part of a modern agritourism model. The tour also includes other local farm businesses showcasing practical approaches to productivity and regional growth.
Big ideas, real impact.
We look forward to seeing you in Orange!