CWFS Conference Event Website

CWFS Rural and Regional Women and Youth

Conference 2023

Resilient

Resourceful

Remarkable

Thursday 12 October

SRA Pavilion Hall

Condobolin

Join us

This one-day conference will engage and empower with an all-star line up of speakers.

Learn from Leaders:

Build your networks
Find your confidence
Raise your voice

Together we can strengthen rural and regional communities for future generations

Tell a friend, be inspired and register today!

Tickets $50

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Learn from Experts

Industry-specific talks on the main stage

Jessica Rowe

Journalist, television presenter, 3 time best-selling author, mumager

Jessica Rowe is one of Australia’s best known journalists and tv personalities. She has left an indelible mark on Australian television, co-hosting shows like Studio 10 and The Today Show.

Jess is also a three-time bestselling author, known for her candid memoirs on motherhood and parenting. Her "Crap Housewife" persona has a dedicated online following, celebrating imperfect homemaking with humour.

Jess is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and supporting others who are struggling with poor mental health, in particular post natal depression. Jess is an ambassador for Beyond Blue and a patron of Mental Health Australia. In 2015 Jess was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia for her mental health advocacy work and her contribution to Australian media.

Jess is married to Nine News Sydney anchor Peter Overton, and together they have two young daughters, Allegra (14) and Giselle (12).

Claire Braund

Co-founder of Women on Boards, Churchill Fellow, advocate for diversity and inclusion

Claire Braund is the co-founder of Women on Boards in Australia (2006) and the UK (2012). She is a highly respected speaker and workshop presenter; known for her courage, conviction and confidence in inspiring and creating pathways for women to take on board and leadership roles; and for her advocacy for women in the diversity and inclusion space.

Claire’s life until her 20s was all rural - she grew up on beef cattle property near Ebor at the easternmost tip of the New England region, went to university in Bathurst and worked in her first ‘real jobs’ in Armidale, Tamworth, Singleton and Maitland, before heading to Hobart and eventually Sydney. She worked in both the cotton and beef industries, including as founding CEO of the rebel Australian Beef Association, before establishing Women on Boards.

Claire is a Churchill Fellow (2011) and a graduate of the Benevolent Society’s Sydney Social Leadership Program, both of which have led to a lifelong interest in equity and inclusion, affordable housing and related social issues, particularly those impacting women and children. Since 2021 she has served on the board of Coast Shelter Emergency Accommodation Ltd, a Tier 3 Community Housing Provider operating crisis accommodation refugees across the Central Coast region for people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or experiencing domestic and family violence.

Claire is also Chair of the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music, which is the largest regional provider of musical education in NSW with more than 800 students and serves on the WOB Group and WOB Australia boards.

She is married with two children, aged 14 and 18.

Phoebe Lane

Founder and Managing Director of award winning recruitment agency PKL

Phoebe Kate Lane (Clift) has been a hands-on Managing Director and sole owner since PKL Recruitment’s inception in 1995. After 28 years Phoebe has recently sold and merged with an executive recruiter Brown & Chase Group and she continues to work in the business.

Phoebe started her business whilst living in Sydney when she was 25 years old, employing 70 full time employees. She met her hot husband farmer Ben Clift from the Liverpool Plains the year she started her business and after 7 years of dating they married.

Not giving up her profession or independence, Phoebe continued to run her business from Spring Ridge 400kms from Sydney, 1000 kms from Melbourne and 700 kms from Brisbane where she had offices generating revenue over $20 million annually.

Phoebe is now a mother of two young adult boys, she has successfully juggled running the business, being a mum and supportive wife. It hasn’t been all smooth sailing and hindsight is a wonderful thing however she has learnt a lot and couldn’t be happier now.

Phoebe is an active member for many local volunteer committees. She enjoys cooking, playing golf and the occasional glass of champagne with her girlfriends.

Panel Session

Farm Boots to Fashion Shoots

How you can tap into innovation & entreprenurship to pave your own way in agriculture

This panel session brings together women who have made significant contributions to the agricultural industry in innovative ways. From redefining the fashion industry's perception of wool to reshaping financial strategies and thriving in the agri-tech space, these presenters have inspiring stories to share. Join us as they discuss their journeys, challenges faced, and the strategies that have driven their success. The session aims to empower women in agriculture to pursue their aspirations, adopt innovative ideas, and contribute to a brighter future for the industry.

Emily Sinderberry

Emily Sinderberry owns EJS Business Services, a rural bookkeeping business servicing clients remotely. Emily is a mum, a farmer and a passionate community volunteer in her hometown of Condobolin. Her innovative ‘profit first’ cash-flow strategy is what has driven the success of her business, transforming other cash strapped businesses into permanently profitable powerhouses.

Learn from Locals

Panel Session: From Farm Boots to Fashion Shoots

Emma Ayliffe

Emma Ayliffe is a dedicated agronomist and farmer with a mixed farming operation between Lake Cargelligo and Tullibigeal. She is also a principal and consultant at Summit Ag Agricultural Consulting, and a the co-founder of Yacker, an agri-tech social media app promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration within the agricultural community. Emma has earned prestigious awards, including the 2020-21 Australian Young Farmer of the Year and the 2021 Chris Lehmann Cotton Young Achiever award.

Gabby Neal

Born into a wool growing family based in Condobolin, NSW, Gabby Neal has been surrounded by wool her entire life. Her mission is to reintroduce this forgotten fibre of the fast fashion generation back into everyday wardrobe essentials. INTACT is therefore a thoughtful combination of Gab’s training and industry experience in fashion and design, which supports Australian wool growers and a better fashion future.

Lucy Kirk

With a background in journalism, Lucy currently lends her talents to Writers Who, a prominent copywriting company who craft compelling longform content for businesses and individuals in finance, property, and agriculture sectors. In addition to her role at Writers Who, Lucy has recently joined CWFS as the acting Communications Manager, and alongside her partner, operates Murda Lighting, a business dedicated to providing top-tier LED work lights to their rural and regional client base.