Bronte Gorringe has always aspired to be a leader in the agricultural industry, and sponsorship to attend a renowned development program will bring her closer to her goal.
Ms Gorringe is being sponsored by the DemoDAIRY Foundation to attend the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program in May 2022.
Participants are encouraged to have industry support via sponsorship and DemoDAIRY Foundation would consider supporting additional applicants.
Ms Gorringe had expected to complete the five-day intensive workshop in 2021, but it was delayed due to COVID-19.
As she forges forward with her career in agriculture, Ms Gorringe is keen to undertake formal training in leadership.
“It’s a very well-respected program; I’m so thankful for DemoDAIRY Foundation’s support,” she said.
“I’ve always had that drive to lead, even at school where I was school captain.”
The program aims to provide participants with the tools to excel as an innovative, engaged and passionate industry and community leader.
Ms Gorringe is on the Career Advisory Panel for the Great South West Food and Fibre Council and hopes the leadership program will assist her with additional skills for that role and open the door to new opportunities within the agricultural industry.
“The program will help to further develop my leadership, planning and communication skills,” she said.
“I hope it will help with my Food and Fibre role where we will be given the opportunity to encourage other people to understand and consider the amount of diversity in careers available in the agricultural industry and the different pathways you can follow to get into those roles.
“To be in agriculture, you don’t have to be the farm owner or the farm manager — there are a lot of supporting service roles available.
“Agriculture is going to need more people and the right people to help the industry grow successfully.”
Ms Gorringe would also like to get more involved with school and education programs around agriculture and training, and give back to the industry she is so passionate about.
“I hope the leadership course will help me to identify my strengths and weaknesses. I’ve been in the workforce for six years so it’s a great time to reflect on where I would like to go and what I would like to achieve.”
Ms Gorringe has recently changed jobs from being a senior agribusiness consultant for a Ballarat-based firm to an assistant agribusiness manager with ANZ in Hamilton.
The location of her previous role and her new role have been outside the dairying regions, with a larger focus on broadacre cropping, sheep and beef operations.
During her school years Ms Gorringe worked on a dairy farm and in her gap year was the assistant manager for the dairy before completing her Bachelor of Business (Agriculture).
Her dairy connections remain strong, with her parents having a contracting business based out of Timboon; she assists with the business and continues to support customers in the dairy industry.
“The dairy industry and the people I worked for in the industry taught me a lot about responsibility, work ethic, animal husbandry and pasture management that are transferable to any agricultural operation.”
Ms Gorringe hopes the leadership program will help her to become an influential leader in the agricultural industry and potentially create new opportunities for herself.
“There are great things happening in agriculture at the moment, and you don’t want to miss out.
“There are a lot opportunities available if you look for them, reach out and talk to different people.”
DemoDAIRY Foundation’s 2022 scholarships are now open.
More information can be found at https://www.demodairy.com.au/scholarships-and-grants/ or from DDF board member Ian Teese on 0427 358 987 or itag@bigpond.com