2024 Women to Watch
This year we showcase over 80 South Australian women to watch throughout the year. From business, to careers, arts to science. This year’s selected women highlight the depth and diversity of the women in our state and also the vast array of opportunities to develop a business or career in South Australia. Find our more about our inaugural Women to Watch initiative here.
I combine my passion and skills for writing with my enthusiasm for South Australia to showcase incredible people in regional areas and the amazing things our beautiful State has to offer.
In my late teens/early 20’s I completed a Cadetship in Journalism at a regional newspaper in the Mid North, and was honoured to be awarded “Best news article in regional press” at the Youth Media Awards four years running. After taking on the challenging but fulfilling role of farm-life and parenting, I returned to the media industry in 2021, creating and co-hosting a podcast based on the perils of being a middle-aged woman, and encouraging open and realistic conversations about topics which may have been labelled “taboo” in past generations.
This led me on a path back to Journalism, and after working for other South Australian media outlets, I have co-created my own media platform, which is gaining traction and connecting the people of regional SA in a way that has never been done before.
// Favourite inspirational quote
“If you don’t change what you are doing today, all of your tomorrows will look like yesterday.” — Jim Rohn
// Let’s get to know you
While I’ve always considered myself a Writer, the path to owning my own businesses and taking that leap of faith to create a something I am passionate about and believe others will benefit from, has stemmed mostly from lived experiences, personal growth and learning to be comfortable and confident in who I am.
I was fortunate enough to spend 17 years predominately raising children on a cereal cropping farm in the Mid North. This, along with growing up in a small country community, instilled me with passion for community and an understanding of just how much people-power is required to keep small communities thriving for future generations.
Greater SA’s aim is to play a key role in connecting South Australians in regional areas, celebrating their successes, promoting their charity events and being a united and relatable voice for them to continue making SA great.
// What makes you a Woman to Watch for 2024?
I strongly believe that the Greater SA platform I have created, along with my business partner and podcast co-host, Melissa Smith, is on track to becoming a valuable source of communication and information for South Australia.
Since the website was launched in September 2023, we have collectively written and published 300 articles, all free for the public to read. The platform has had rapidly rising growth in 2024 and despite being a start up business on a path less travelled, I have every faith that there are great things ahead for Greater SA, and in-turn, the people that make the state great.
Already in 2024 have been privileged to interview and share stories of inspirational rural business women, mental health advocates, charity events and businesses providing exciting opportunities for the State.
// What is your goal or intention for the year ahead? And how are you going to achieve it?
I absolutely love what I do and have full faith in the road ahead for GSA. To pave a permanent path though, and be able to continue to offer free publicity for small, not-for-profit community organisations and charities, Greater SA needs to become financial viable.
The financial strategy is to publish a minimum of three articles everyday, and if just one of those articles is a paid promotion, GSA can continue to share news, celebrate successes and promote the work of volunteers in regional communities.
To reach this goal, the hard work and commitment to GSA will continue, by engaging rural communities, gaining people’s trust in the content and standing by the businesses values of being real and relatable.
// What would being a 2024 Woman to Watch mean to you?
With my passion for SA, it would be a great honour for me to be recognised as a Woman to Watch in 2024. It would go a long way towards achieving my goal of engaging rural communities and gaining people’s trust in GSA.
// What would you like to see for the future of South Australian women and girls?
My wish would be that young girls, from primary school through to high school, could be armed with more acceptance of each other and resilience. I’m sad that it has taken 40 years for me to find strength and confidence and realise my values.
Working in schools from 2016-2022 I saw first-hand how other students, particularly girls, can treat people so poorly. Nothing had changed in the 25 years since I had been at school and it was heartbreaking to see. I particularly like Hugh van Cuylenburg’s Resilience Project, which I know is starting to make its way to schools in South Australia. I think it would be hugely beneficial to adopt this or similar programs throughout schools, and to focus and be aware on the shaming and bullying happening every day at schools all over SA.
Get in touch with Abbie:
LinkedIn: Abbie Tiller
Website: www.greatersa.com.au
Check out all of the incredible Women to Watch for 2024 here as their profiles are uploaded throughout the year.
To become an SA Woman Member, check out our Membership Options here.
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