Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hi, my name is Renée, I am a food and fibre producer we own and manage two family farms on the Fairbairn Irrigation Scheme in the Central Highlands, Central Queensland. We grow a range of winter pulse and cereal crops in rotation with cotton. I have previously worked in the Australian cotton industry for 26 years in farming systems research, agronomy, environmental systems management and for the previous 12 years as the Regional Manager, providing support to growers alongside advocacy and education for Cotton Australia.
Can you tell us a bit about your role as Rural Jobs and Skills Alliance Project Manager?
The role of Rural Jobs and Skills Alliance (RJSA) is to effectively collaborate with industry through consultation to develop policies that can be reported back to the government and the private sector that support member aspirations in attracting, developing, and retaining workers in Queensland’s agricultural sector.
This is done through:
- increased investments for workforce-related projects
- improved coordination and facilitating a collective approach for advising the Queensland Government on workforce issues and identifying areas needing increased funding or improved service levels
- enhanced data collection and market intelligence to support evidence-based policies.
These purposes drive the RJSA’s efforts to further a resilient and sustainable agricultural workforce for Queensland.
What do you love about working in the agriculture sector and rural communities?
I am passionate about strong rural communities and the wonderful people in them who make them thrive. I think it is incredibly important that we connect with consumers through the advocacy of agriculture in authentic, optimistic, and solutions-driven ways.
I believe in empowering farmers through research and policies to continually improve their practices and work towards sustainability goals and that as a collaborative and united voice we can work together for a brighter future for Queensland agriculture.