Women on Agricultural Boards Project

Women on Agricultural Boards (WOAB) is a national program building a strong pipeline of skilled, confident and connected women ready to contribute to boards across Australian agriculture.

Through practical governance development, mentoring, networking and industry connections, WOAB supports women at different stages of their board journey from emerging leaders through to women actively seeking board roles.

It’s not just about becoming board ready. It’s about building visibility, opening doors and bringing more diverse voices and lived experience to the tables where decisions about the future of agriculture are made.

“Women are underrepresented on boards and this does not reflect the extraordinary contribution they make.”

Background

Women remain significantly underrepresented in agricultural leadership and decision-making. While women make up 31% of Australia’s agricultural workforce, they hold just 19% of board roles and only 2% of CEO or equivalent positions. Just 18% of agricultural organisations have a formal gender equity strategy or targets to increase women’s representation.

AWiA is working to change this.

WOAB is a three-year initiative designed to build a strong pipeline of skilled, confident and connected women ready to contribute at the highest levels of agricultural decision-making. Through leadership development, governance skills, mentoring and industry connections, WOAB is helping women step into board roles while addressing the systemic barriers that continue to limit representation.

Our goal is simple: more women at the table, bringing diverse perspectives and experience to the decisions shaping the future of Australian agriculture.

“Women comprise 19% of the Agriculture industry governing bodies/boards roles”

Project Objectives

The Women on Agricultural Boards project has three primary objectives –

Increased Female Representation on Boards
Empower Women Through Leadership Development: Equip women across rural and regional Australia with the skills, confidence and networks to take on leadership roles.
Foster Systemic Change: Build awareness of the importance of gender diversity and address systemic barriers that limit women’s participation in board leadership.

Program Tiers

The program offers three tailored tiers, recognising that women are at different stages of their leadership and governance journey. From those beginning to explore board opportunities, through to women building their governance experience and those ready to actively pursue board roles, each tier provides targeted development and support. Together, the three tiers create a strong pipeline of emerging, developing and board-ready women across Australian agriculture.

Tier 1: Board Ready

Women with governance experience who are ready to actively pursue significant paid board appointments.
Tier 2: Board Building

Women who have some leadership, committee or governance exposure and want to build the skills and experience needed to become board ready.
Tier 3: Board Exploration

Women who are new to governance and want to understand boards, explore opportunities and think about starting their governance journey.

Tier 1 Board Ready

For women with established leadership and governance experience who have the capability and confidence to contribute at board level and are ready to pursue paid board opportunities.

These participants already hold board, committee or advisory positions and are looking to secure their next appointment, move onto larger or more complex boards, or broaden their board portfolio.

The Tier 1 focus is on positioning and appointment, sharpening your board value proposition, strengthening your Board CV and profile, identifying and accessing opportunities, preparing for interviews and selection processes, undertaking due diligence, and building the networks and relationships that lead to board opportunities.

Tier 2 Board Building

For women who may already sit on a community board, industry committee, advisory group or school board, or have strong professional leadership experience. They know they are interested in governance but aren't necessarily ready to compete for larger agricultural board appointments.

The Tier 2 program focuses on developing as a director: governance responsibilities, strategic thinking, financial literacy, risk, boardroom dynamics, contributing effectively, building governance experience and identifying gaps in your skills and experience.

Tier 3 Board Exploration

These participants are curious about boards but aren't yet sure what sort of board they want to join or whether boards are right for them.

For Tier 3 the program focuses on understanding the board landscape: what boards do, governance versus management, director responsibilities, how meetings work, basic finance, confidence and contribution, different types of boards, networks and pathways into a first governance role.

Project Structure

Webinars

A Tailored webinar series are developed to provide practical learning across each Tier. Sessions will build participants’ governance knowledge, leadership capability and confidence, with topics targeted to the needs of each tier from understanding board fundamentals through to positioning for, securing and contributing effectively in board roles.

Mentoring

Tier 1 provides targeted mentoring for Board Ready women, connecting participants with experienced board members and industry leaders. Mentors will provide practical guidance, connections and support to help participants position themselves for opportunities and navigate board applications, interviews and appointment processes.

Support Hub

A central online hub will provide participants with ongoing access to practical resources and opportunities throughout their board journey, including board vacancies and opportunities, networking and industry connections, advisory support, and governance and leadership resources.

2026 WOAB Calendar

Tuesday 7 July

7:30pm
Performing Better on Boards
Dr Rowan O’Hagan
Tuesday 11 August

12:30pm
Turbo charging your role as a board member
Kylie Hawker
Tier 1 only
Wednesday 16 September

7:30pm
Financial Management
Dr Rowan O’Hagan
Monday 12 October

12:30pm
Due diligence - managing risk for influence
Tier 1 Only
Friday 20 November

12:30pm
Effective communication: amplify your voice on boards
Polly McGee
Monday 7 December

7:30pm
Building influence: What's next

2027 Calendar Coming Soon

Meet our 2026 Tier 1 Cohort

Anna Cochrane

Anna is a Non-Executive Director with authentic and lived experience ranging from station hand to CEO, in regional, rural and remote agricultural businesses across four states.
Bridget Johns

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.
Claire Webber

Claire is the Executive Officer of the South Australian Sardine Industry Association, with a passion for seafood industry advocacy. Claire holds a Bachelor of Administration (Marine Resources) from the Australian Maritime College and a Diploma of Aquaculture. She is a graduate of the National Seafood Industry Leadership Program and recipient of the Australian National Seafood Industry Young Achiever Award.
Davina Boyd

Davina is an applied social researcher, consultant, and experienced director with a passion for driving impact through knowledge and collaboration.
Donna Allan

Donna is a primary producer on a multigenerational family farm. Practicing regenerative and mainly organic land management grounded in respect for Country and stewardship for future generations, she brings experience from the Commonwealth public service and strong governance, advocacy, and consultation experience.
Linda Bracken

Linda is a respected board director and strategic adviser with deep connections to agriculture, horses and regional land management, alongside a distinguished background in media and digital leadership.
Pip Job

Pip (PSM, GAICD) is a senior executive and advisor with nearly three decades of experience across government, industry, not-for-profit and private sectors, specialising in agriculture, climate resilience and rural and regional communities.
Prue Jenkins

Prue is the Chief Executive Officer of the Wunan Foundation, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation in the East Kimberley. With over 40 years of experience living and working in regional Western Australia including a decade in the pastoral industry.
Prudence Barwick

Prudence is a seasoned agribusiness professional with over two decades of experience across livestock health, agricultural consultancy, and industry leadership. As founder of Prudent Agri, she supports future-focused decision-making for regional enterprises.
Rachel Davis

Rachel from Meanjin/Brisbane, is an experienced relationship management professional with a strong stakeholder focus on impact and value, with over 20+ years in the horticulture industry. Rachel has also proudly held a Director position on International Fresh Produce Association Australia-New Zealand (IFPA-ANZ), various Certified Organic committees and advisory panels and is currently Chair of Ag Institute Australia's QLD/NT Division.
Simone Cameron

Simone has a pivotal role for the peak industry body, Cotton Australia, as their Northern Australia Manager. She is responsible for developing rigorous frameworks and policies supporting the viability and economic growth of the cotton and farming system sectors across the north.
Tammy O'Malley

Tammy is a community connector, advocate and primary producer from South Australia’s Coorong District. She leads community sustainability and resilience initiatives with Coorong District Council, working closely with farmers, small businesses and volunteers to strengthen drought preparedness and regional wellbeing.