Agri-Women Development Trust Escalator 2014 Introductory Dinner

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Thank you Lindy for your kind introduction.

I would like to acknowledge this year’s 14 Escalator participants.

I also want to acknowledge Lindy as the inspiration behind the Agri-Women’s Development Trust.

Lindy, your foresight and determination in the development of the Escalator programme enables many more women to step up and show what they can do beyond the farm.

I would like to acknowledge the Trust Patron Mavis Mullins, other Trustees, partners and sponsors who are present.

This evening is an important occasion for us all.

We need more strong women leaders in the rural sector and we also need to continually recognise the strong rural women leaders we do already have.

The Escalator programme is successfully building a powerful group of inspiring rural women who are recognised as leaders in the agri-business sector.

Your participation in this programme will develop your strengths, skills and knowledge of good leadership and governance.

You will become members of that influential group, the Escalator Alumna.

Your collective contribution and success in a complex growth sector is very important for the success of our economy. 

Your leadership will mean a more productive and competitive New Zealand.

This will benefit you, your families, your businesses, and your communities.

The 39 women who completed previous Escalator programmes have stepped up.

They are in roles that establish them as leaders in growing sustainable businesses or addressing environmental concerns in the rural sector.

The journey that you are on with the Escalator programme will ensure that you are able to build on skills you already have.

You will escalate your ability to contribute to your own future and the country’s.

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs can assist you in your leadership journey.

Through its Nominations and Appointments service the Ministry plays an active role in nominating women to state sector boards and committees.

The Nominations Service manages a database of women looking to grow their governance career on state sector boards.

The Ministry wants more capable women on the database.

I will be leaving some cards here for those of you who are interested in putting a CV forward.

Some of you may already know about my own leadership journey.

I grew up on the family farm, followed by a nursing career, significant Young Farmers Club involvement, marriage, children, contributions to my community and then into Parliament.

I was appointed a Minister following the 2011 election with the Women’s Affairs, Community and Voluntary Sector, Senior Citizens, and Associate Health portfolios.

In January last year I was given the opportunity to add Associate Primary Industries to my other portfolios.

I was very excited to accept this responsibility, the first women to hold a rural portfolio role.

Tonight is a great example of the synergy between my portfolios.

In my leadership journey, what I’ve learned along the way is:
 

• to keep my eyes open for opportunity
• to push myself out of my comfort zone, move beyond the boundary fence, nothing ventured nothing gained
• and to communicate effectively.

It hasn’t always been an easy journey.

On occasions I’ve also had to brush myself off and get back up again.

But the point is that I have brushed myself off and gotten back up – and I think that’s the most important lesson of all.

You have a wonderful opportunity ahead of you to interact and learn from inspirational speakers.

Most importantly you will learn from each other. 

I will continue to work on behalf of you all to support agribusiness initiatives.

These provide opportunities for New Zealand women to achieve at the highest level.

In return I ask that each of you continue to seize the challenges that come your way.

Use these to grow and develop as rural women.

You are leaders in our communities.

You have a vital role to play in the New Zealand economy.

I look forward to hearing about your leadership progress following your successful completion of the escalator programme.

Thank you.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.