Wagga Wagga is set to host a premier conference for farmers and other agricultural professionals under 35 years of age.
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The 2018 Innovation Generation (IG) Conference on July 9–11 at the Civic Theatre will be an opportunity for industry stakeholders to engage with each other to benefit the industry’s future.
Among those presenting will be Rebecca Milliken, president of the Riverina Ag Network, an organisation that brings together people in agriculture from across the Riverina.
Ms Milliken – who is passionate about people, building strategic partnerships and creating environments for growth – is also manager of people and culture at Harmony Agriculture and Food Company.
“I’m looking forward to challenging the status quo about how we manage and develop people into the future in ag,” she said.
The 30-year-old said one major topic would be the workforce’s future.
“This includes what it takes to ensure effective leadership and management of employees.
“We’ll be looking at why people leave bosses, not jobs and the strategies that may be used to better engage with agricultural staff,” Ms Milliken said.
We’ll be looking at why people leave bosses, not jobs and the strategies that may be used to better engage with agricultural staff.
- Rebecca Milliken, president of the Riverina Ag Network
She said adapting the workforce to future changes was an important agenda item right now.
“It employs almost three per cent of the national workforce and so we need to continue having the right skills available,” she said.
Ms Milliken is no stranger to leadership positions within the agricultural sector, being involved with farm safety, mental-health initiatives, and improving gender diversity in agricultural boardrooms.
She was also recently appointed to the Agricultural Industry Advisory Council (AIAC).
The IG conference is an initiative by GrainGrowers, a grain-farmer representative organisation with 17,000 members across Australia.
Ms Milliken encourages residents and those in the industry to attend the conference.
“It’s a big opportunity for Wagga to showcase what we‘ve got.
“The location is central to the future of agriculture, so get along to support the conference and the issues that matter nationwide,” she said.
Other topics include financial matters, risk management and business management.
Conference registrations are open close Sunday, July 1.
- More: innovationgeneration.com.au.
