Agricultural industry specialists - and those who plan to be in the future - had the chance to touch base and network at the recent meeting of the SA Division of the Ag Institute Australia.
A full house of attendees was buzzing with conversation and an informal networking session broke the ice for new members allowing an opportunity for in depth engagement across the membership.
During the formal proceedings, participants were given an update on local and national activities by the SA working group lead Craig Davis, including progress on student engagement, membership, awards, the AIA mentoring program, the student compendium, governance issues and upcoming events.
Adelaide University Agriculture Students Association president Brianna Schaefer also shared an update on student activities, with a number of students in first, second and third year, present to make industry contacts.
Among other speakers were committee member Kimberly Pellosis, who spoke about her early career development before the guest speaker Jefferies Ag Solutions director Steve Jefferies AM rounded out the night.
Dr Jefferies shares a number of messages, including the importance of selecting a career that aligns with a personal purpose to get the most rewarding outcomes, the importance of sustainability and succession planning.
He also spoke about experiences as a mature-age PhD student, which can have its challenges but also bring additional focus and application.
Specifically for students, Dr Jefferies acknowledge that those that were in attendance at the meeting had taken a great and major step to set themselves apart from others by developing a continuous learning journey through networking, mentoring and pushing the traditional boundaries.
"Have a clear and defined purpose bringing everyone along for the journey, and ensure everyone knows they have a valued place; listen and acknowledge you do listen; be humble by sharing in the successes and own the failures together; and finally be true to you values," he said.
These photographs were supplied.
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