The Agri-Women’s Development Trust Next Level course was held in Christchurch in two blocks, in May and November, and included an online component and coaching in between.
Hart and O’Malley, who both dairy farm in Kokatahi-Kowhitirangi, hold community roles in Westland, including Hart as a Westland District councillor representing the Northern Ward and Chair of the Kokatahi and Kowhitirangi Community Committee Inc and O’Malley on the Kokatahi-Kowhitirangi School board and Gymnastics Hokitika committee, and associate director for 12 months at Westroads. They take their new skills into their roles in Westland.
O’Malley is currently employed fulltime as a teacher at Westland High School and said she had already used some of the goal setting structures she learned on the course with her students prior to their exams.
“It was great to use the things I’d been learning in the classroom as well as in my board roles.”
Hart commented, “An amazing course, great facilitators, useful tools and resources to add value to the community and the primary sectors.”
She is looking forward to applying her skills in her ongoing work as councillor at the Westland District council especially with some of the regulation challenges coming up.
The training included mentoring from female board directors as well as strengths assessments and career goal planning.
Hart and O’Malley were both grateful for Regional Business Partner (RBP) capability co-funding facilitated through Development West Coast which enabled them to attend the training.
“Thanks to both DWC and AWDT for providing this opportunity.”
Siobhan O’Malley with Sara Heard AWDT Next Level facilitator and Lynda Coppersmith, Guest Speaker and CEO, NZ Young Farmers.
Anna Hart