Wales Women in Agriculture Forum 2016: Inspiring, motivating, empowering…
Farming Connect invites women from across Wales to attend a Women in Agriculture forum entitled ‘Inspiring, motiving, empowering..’ which will be held on Thursday, 29 September from 10.30am to 4pm at the Members’ Centre, Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells.
The event, which will be attended by Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, is designed to encourage women to take a more active role in farm businesses by giving them information, knowledge and guidance which will enable them to contribute to strategic business discussions. The day will be chaired by author and television personality Bethan Gwanas.
In addition to an address from the Minister, there will be presentations from inspirational female speakers including Alwen Williams, Director of BT Cymru Wales, a specialist in employee engagement and culture change who has in her most recent role been responsible for developing and leading the engagement, communication and business adoption strategy and plan for BT’s Human ResourcesTransformation programme in the UK and across 71 countries globally.
This popular annual forum, which moves to a different area of Wales each year, will again provide a platform which brings together women working in many areas of farming and forestry, introducing them to new support networks. Delegates will be invited to attend each of three facilitated workshops:
Developing an agricultural policy for Wales post Brexit – women’s perspective
Facilitated by Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones, Agri Advisor - a solicitor and accredited mediator who combines running a growing, niche rural legal practice in Pumsaint and Welshpool with her role as a farming wife and mother.
Connecting with others
Facilitated by Manon Edwards Ahir, a former senior BBC journalist and television producer, winner of a BAFTA Cymru award and director of ‘mela’ a bilingual communications and marketing company which has offices in Cardiff and Caernarfon.
Starting difficult conversations
Facilitated by Elaine Rees Jones, an independent agricultural mentor, specialising in diversification enterprises including renewable energy, free range poultry and tourism ventures. Elaine is also a Farming Connect Agrisgôp leader, who combines a busy working life with her role as a farming wife and mother.
Eirwen Williams, director of rural programmes with Menter a Busnes, which delivers Farming Connect which is funded by Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, said that the purpose of the forum is to inspire, motivate and empower women to make the most of the choices and opportunities available to them within our farm and forestry related businesses.
“Farming Connect recognises the key role women play in the development of agricultural businesses. Work or family commitments sometimes prevent them from attending Farming Connect events or meetings but they are very often the driving force behind business planning, implementing change and safeguarding the future of family farms,” said Mrs. Williams
Booking is essential for this event. Please contact Carys Thomas at Farming Connect on 01970 631402 or email carys.thomas@menterabusnes.co.uk or use our online booking form.