Renewable energy, succession planning, sustainable farming and empowering women are the reasons why they have become finalists.
But the 2019 NSW-ACT AgriFutures Rural Women's Award finalists also have one thing in common - they want to drive positive change in rural communities and primary industries.
This year's finalists are Ellen Downes from Canowindra, Lisa McFadyen from Condobolin, Jo Palmer from The Rock and Karin Stark from Narromine.
Agriculture and Western NSW Minister Adam Marshall said the four finalists were fantastic role models and a strong reminder that rural NSW was in "great hands".
Westpac Agribusiness, regional general manager for southern NSW, Sam Gaston said this year's finalists were opening doors to new possibilities and empowering other women along the way.
Ellen Downes
Ellen is using her own experience of forced succession to ensure farming families have the appropriate planning in place to ensure a thriving agriculture sector for generations to come. Her project is to empower women to become more actively involved in farm businesses through involvement in AgEDGE, a not-for-profit company in which peer businesses share their experiences to support others.
Lisa McFadyen
Lisa is the founder and CEO of Secure Impact, a Rural Property and Agri Asset Marketplace for Australian farmers. Committed to changing the perception around farm transition, Lisa's award project will provide farming families and businesses with resources, education and assistance to help them shift from a 'reactive' approach, to a proactive approach.
Jo Palmer
Jo is the founder and managing director of Pointer Remote Roles, an online business that facilitates remote work opportunities by connecting employers with suitable candidates, regardless of where they live. Her award project is an online portal that supports women to work remotely and provides access to online resources and training.
Karin Stark
Karin is harnessing her passion for conserving the natural environment to raise awareness of the opportunities and benefits of renewable energy for sustainable agriculture with her project, the inaugural 'Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Expo'. It will build and networks to drive this emerging industry forward.
- The winner will receive a $10,000 Westpac bursary to implement their ideas while the three finalists will receive a $1,000 Department of Primary Industries Leadership Bursary.