The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is recognised as Australia’s leading accolade acknowledging and supporting the essential role women play in rural industries, businesses and communities.

Three finalists for the 2024 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award in South Australia have been announced, with Wilmington’s Nikki Atkinson, Mantung’s Suzi Evans and Willunga’s Susie Williams now vying for the title of state winner.

The state winner will be announced at an event on Tuesday 26 March 2024. The winner will receive a $15,000 Westpac grant to support their respective project, professional development opportunities and access to the esteemed Rural Women’s Award alumni network.

The state winner will then go on to represent South Australia at the national AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Gala Dinner in Canberra later in the year. The national winner will be awarded an additional $20,000 Westpac grant and the national runner up will receive a $15,000 grant.

In this segment, we hear from Nikki Atkinson from Wilmington, who has a business called Horrocks Vale Collections, which combines her 25 years of experience as a wedding dress designer and her desire to champion Australian Merino wool as a new environmentally sustainable alternative to polyester.

Suzi Evans from Mantung who is a trusted mental health first aid trainer and the founder of resilience building program ‘Workbench for the Mind’, which aims to help participants understand how the brain works and develop tools to manage their emotions in positive ways.

Susie Williams from Willunga, who has combined her passion for fostering connections in rural communities with her technical prowess to develop the Fleurieu App – an online platform that provides local news for free, while also celebrates achievements, businesses, events and places that define the region.