Growing importance of women in sugar

Canegrowers Chairman Owen Menkens

LIKE most ag sectors, Queensland’s sugarcane industry has long been viewed as a male-dominated space. And historically, at least at the leadership level, this has been true.

Of course, those of us who work in the industry have always known the vital role women have played and continue to play in driving our success.

Thankfully, over the past few decades, female roles have moved from mainly behind the scenes to more prominent professional and leadership positions, as seen at the annual Women in Sugar Conference held in Bundaberg recently.

Women from across the industry came together to hear presentations from guest speakers and share news from their own districts ahead of the rapidly approaching harvest.

Attendees included CANEGROWERS district directors and staff, scientists and researchers, agronomists, farmers, advocacy and communication professionals, and many others – all of them women.