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.
Wife, mother, agfluencer – jill of all trades. Trying to make a life not a living in remote outback South Australia. Sequin loving bush badass. I’m dedicated to the elevation and promotion of agriculture through social media. I’m passionate about advocating, engaging and communicating – telling the stories of the land, the families and the people that thrive across outback Australia. I believe that by sharing our stories, being open to difficult conversations and challenging ingrained bias we can make agriculture more accessible to consumers and policy makers.I’m dedicated to the elevation and promotion of agriculture through social media. I’m passionate about advocating, engaging and communicating – telling the stories of the land, the families and the people that thrive across outback Australia. I believe that by sharing our stories, being open to difficult conversations and challenging ingrained bias we can make agriculture more accessible to consumers and policy makers.
// Favourite inspirational quote
If you choose not to participate you forfeit your right to complain.
// Let’s get to know you
Agfluencer. Wife, mother, industry board member, beef cattle producer – jill of all trades – I’m trying to make a life not a living in remote outback South Australia. I’ve lived and worked on a million-acre cattle station for over 20 years and have an active role in livestock industry representation at state and national levels. I use my platform for good – not evil – highlighting the positives of the agricultural community and smashing a few stereotypes along the way. I’m a passionate farmer with a delightfully quirky interest in fashion and sparkly boots who loves a good laugh. I communicate openly and honestly with everyone I encounter and offer an authentic view of my life as a beef producer and industry representative. I lead meaningful conversations to highlight the good work that farmers do and to provoke discussion and reflection amongst the agricultural community which hopefully leads to positive change.
// What makes you a Woman to Watch for 2024?
I’m a recipient of the Agrifutures Acceleration Grant for 2024 and I’m using that to help me develop my podcasting & storytelling skills to produce a podcast ‘Suck-cession: What happens when planning for the future doesn’t go to plan’. It will be a six-part series that explores the challenges, barriers and real human cost of poor succession planning in the agricultural industry. I want to talk publicly about the dirty little secret that is succession planning (or lack thereof) in Australian agriculture.
This series will feature experts, thought leaders, and individuals with relevant experiences to share their insights. Sharing personal experiences, success stories, horror stories or anecdotes related to succession planning will build a sense of community among the smart, passionate people of agriculture who want to live on the family farm, work in the industry they love and for have the audacity for wanting to have a say in their future.
// What is your goal or intention for the year ahead? And how are you going to achieve it?
Continue to be fearless
Take every opportunity to promote Australian agriculture and the people in it.
Continue making meaningful change in the Australian ag industry to make it an excellent place to live and work.
Do more public speaking appearances & amp up my agfluencer work (paid would be nice!)
Build partnerships & relationships from all different industries & walks of life to learn, share and educate.
Be awesome.
// What would being a Woman to Watch mean to you?
It would help raise the profile of the role of women in agriculture in South Australia. It will also expand my network so I can bring the work of awesome SA women to the attention of the Australian agricultural community and expand everyone’s horizons.
// What would you like to see for the future of South Australian women and girls?
Access to affordable childcare for everyone – no matter where they live or work.
Get in touch with Gillian:
LinkedIn: Gillian Fennell
Website: Station Life
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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