Strong SA networks promote leadership

At one of the sessions on 'Women Influencing Agribusiness', at the International Rural Women's Conference in Adelaide last week, five women shared their experiences on leadership and leadership values.

Natalie Sommerville, Spalding, Carey Hannaford, Adelaide Hills, Louise McIntosh, Keith, Susie Green, Lenswood and Sharon Honner, Adelaide, believe there are many women with leadership potential waiting to step up.

Lenswood apple grower and Apple and Pear Growers Association of SA chief executive officer Susie Green said women played a substantial role in food production but held less influence than men.

"We participate in all levels but are not taking on the leadership roles," she said.

"There can be a lack of clear pathways, as well as challenges around remoteness and childcare.

"But we also face barriers because of self doubt."

Ag Consulting Co's Sharon Honner said the "imposter syndrome" was far more prevalent in women than men.

The syndrome refers to the way people are often unable to internalise their accomplishments, and consider them to be luck.

In her address, RIRDC 2014 National Rural Women's Award winner Pip Job said rural women often undervalued themselves.

"I really didn't feel I was doing anything better than anyone else. I've had to learn to accept the limelight," she said.

Ms Green, 2014 SA rural women's award runner-up, said it took participating in Ag Consulting Co's Women in Leadership - The Next Step course for her to begin to address her negative thought processes.

She said before the program, she had not followed up on many ideas she had for developing her industry.

"I'd think 'wouldn't it be great if someone went and did that?'," she said.

"I realised that someone was me. I'm still a long way from realising many of my dreams but I am stretching myself."

Ms Green said rural women were still reluctant to consider themselves in leadership roles.

"We often confuse leadership with management," she said.

"Leadership is about being change agents; getting involved and placing a value on our own contributions."

Fellow Adelaide Hills apple grower Carey Hannaford said she had held herself back with thinking.

"In the past I referred to myself as 'a farmer's wife'," she said.

"I didn't realise I was limiting myself."

Ms Hannaford said it could be a struggle balancing her career in geo-science with her family and the farm.

She had undervalued her work on the farm, and thought she could only contribute as extra labour.

"I was approaching the farm in the wrong way," she said.

"I was forced to evaluate my skills and realised I still had the ability to contribute to the farm.

"It was about seeing opportunities, not barriers."

Ms Hannaford said she realised some of her career skills, such as working out budgets and finances, were transferable on-farm, and that approach had made a big difference.

For Louise McIntosh, who lives on a broadacre cropping and livestock operation at Keith and works in the public service, an important part of leadership is working alongside people.

She said she had always considered leadership as a simple ladder, to be climbed one rung after another. But she now saw leadership as interacting with others, in a "lattice of strong support networks".

Natalie Sommerville operates a broadacre cropping and livestock operation at Spalding and has begun putting her leadership training into practice.

She said it was important to share the knowledge with others in her region and had begun mentoring other women in agribusiness.

"It provides me with the ability to practice my learning as well as help others along," she said.