PRESIDENT/ NSW DIRECTOR

Cressida Cains is President of Australian Women in Agriculture, a company director and passionate advocate for strengthening the leadership and influence of women across the agricultural sector. With a background as the co-founder of Pecora Dairy, Cressida brings practical industry experience, a collaborative leadership style and a talent for facilitating engaging conversations that connect people, ideas and opportunities.

Email Cressida

SECRETARY/GENERAL DIRECTOR

Emily is a farmer, educational leader and mother based on Wiradjuri land in Central West New South Wales. Emily is strongly committed to supporting the development of and advocating for people, education and agriculture in her rural community and wider Australia. Emily is a member of the Sheep Producers Australia Policy Council and is strongly committed to policy, advocacy and leadership that support people, education and agriculture in rural and regional Australia. Emily is founder of Ag Journey Australia and is passionate about connecting education and agriculture and advancing inclusive systems that strengthen communities and industry alike.

Email Emily

TREASURER/VIC DIRECTOR

Narelle is working in corporate agriculture. She has been a member of Country women’s association of VIC (CWA) for over 10 years, in that time she was the Chair on the Agriculture and Environment committee as well as a state council member for 5 years. She has advocated for rural women and children throughout her time as a member. She is joint owner in the family’s small property in Ballarat where they have beef cattle. She has a finance background and has worked in Agriculture for the past 20 years, in rural products (Seed), retail, grain trading for OH&S.

Email Narelle

WESTERN AUSTRALIA DIRECTOR

Debbie brings extensive leadership and governance experience across the Australian agricultural sector, with a focus on supporting rural communities and empowering women in agriculture. She is a Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Program (Course 25) and completed the AICD Not-for-Profit Directors Course (2022). Debbie has chaired the Cattle Industry Funding Scheme (2022–2024), leads the WA Committee for the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (2023–present), and represents the Southern Rangelands on the West Australian Livestock Research Council (WALRC). She has also contributed to sustainable agriculture through Meat & Livestock Australia’s Producer Adoption Reference Group, the Southern Rangelands Pastoral Alliance, and the Rangelands Fibre and Produce Association. Previously, she served as Board Member and Treasurer of the Rural, Regional, Remote (RRR) Women’s Network of WA, supporting women in agriculture. Debbie is committed to advancing AWiA’s vision, promoting diversity, innovation, and resilience across Australian agriculture.

Email Debbie

GENERAL DIRECTOR

With more than 15 years in agriculture, Catrina built a career spanning broadacre farming, livestock, precision ag, carbon and soil innovation, and agricultural policy. She began in feedlot and agronomy roles before moving into senior positions in strategy, communications, stakeholder engagement, and program delivery, experience that’s given me a deep understanding of the sector from both practical and strategic perspectives. Catrina worked across Australia, including New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia, as well as spending six years in Canada. These experiences have shaped a broad appreciation for how production systems, regulatory settings, and community priorities differ and how they connect across regions. Her background includes leading projects with grower groups, industry organisations, and corporate partners. In recent years, Catrina has driven commercial strategy for several agricultural companies, leading everything from product launches and farmer extension programs to corporate operations and board reporting. She understands how effective organisations work—end to end. Supporting others, especially women in agriculture, has always been a core part of her work.

SA Director

Bridget is a Time & Resource Optimiser, grant writer and regional strategist based on her family's wheat and sheep farm on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula. She is the founder of Be Simply Free, a business helping women reduce mental load, and Grants Simplified, a grant strategy and writing consultancy.