Women as Leaders in Agriculture - Still Not Seen, Still Not Heard, Still Not Recognised

Abstract

This paper reviews the outcomes and deliverables since the publication of the 'Missed Opportunities' report (Elix and Lambert 1998) which aimed to quantify the contribution made by women to the Australian agricultural sector and develop strategies to ensure that women occupied key leadership roles in the industry. The Missed Opportunities report attracted international interest for its comprehensive coverage and its audacious goals. This paper updates the quantification of women's contributions to the agricultural sector based on 2006 Census data, and explores whether such analyses can be conducted across all industry sectors. It identifies where women are located across occupations and industries in the Australian paid workforce and examines the reasons for women's continued low representation in formal leadership positions in agricultural and regional organisations. It concludes with recommendations for improving the proportion of women in formal leadership roles and enhancing women's leadership experiences.