New Hort Innovation position in WA

New Hort Innovation extension position in WA

Following the new Extension initiative launched by Hort Innovation, Bronwyn Walsh is the newly appointed Regional Extension Manager for Western Australia.

New to the position but not to WA, Bronwyn has been working with horticulture since finishing her studies at University of Western Australia (UWA). She has been working with the WA citrus industry for the past 10 years, after returning to WA from Queensland where she worked with the vegetable industry for 13 years. The Extension initiative aims to ensure communication and extension activities truly support our growers’ business decisions and ability to enhance their practices on farm. One of six positions in the national Hort Innovation Extension team, Bronwyn will be using a regionally tailored,

collaborative approach to enable delivery of levy investment outcomes for levy payers, their business and industry, play a linking role within industry. The team’s primary objectives are to: • Participate in industry activities so that Hort Innovation can better understand the demands growers face and identify opportunities to invest in initiatives to address significant issues that cut across industries • Develop relationships with growers,

Hort Leadership Network members, delivery partners, industry organisations and existing extension personnel to amplify levy outcomes. During COVID-19 situation, the team are connecting with growers and their staff in relation to their current needs and upcoming challenges. This information is shared with all Hort Innovation business units to ensure that we continue to deliver relevant support to levy payers. The team is also working on: • Initiating the development of

Regional Extension Plans that focus on across industry needs • Investigating ways to support existing industry development and extension delivery partners • Developing networking opportunities and gain valuable insights into how we can work together • Managing the levy-funded industry development portfolio. Once COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, Bronwyn is looking forward to participating in regional industry events and activities.

MORE INFORMATION

You can learn more on the Hort Innovation website at www.horticulture.com.au/ hort-innovation/our-work/extension or contact Bronwyn to share your experiences and ideas, so we can best understand and address your RD&E needs. Email Bronwyn at Bronwyn.walsh@horticulture.com.au or on 0427 694 863.

Masterclass in Horticultural Business

Applications are currently open for the mid-year intake for the Masterclass in Horticultural Business.

Best described as a ‘mini MBA’, the Masterclass is a nine-month course where participants develop their business skills and build their own business plans for the future. The course is delivered predominantly online, with several face-to-face sessions and field trips to some of Australia’s savviest horticulture outfits. Levies from some horticulture industries have been co-invested into the Masterclass investment to support scholarships for industry levy-payers. Scholarships are advertised in industry channels as they become available, however paid enrolment places are also available to all relevant applicants. We encourage anyone to apply who has professional aspirations in the Australian horticulture industry, and who is looking to develop a business idea, address a business need, solve a business problem, or simply strengthen their current career in an increasingly competitive landscape. For more information on the course and how to apply, head to the University of Tasmania website at www.utas.edu.

au/tia/study/masterclass

in-horticultural-business. Applications close on Sunday June 14.

update potato