Agri-Women’s Development Trust

Growing leadership that strengthens our sector

At the heart of Agri Women’s Development Trust (AWDT) is a simple, powerful belief. When women lead, industries and communities thrive.

AWDT’s transformative learning programmes, connected communities and dynamic partnerships grow the leadership and influence of wāhine across Aotearoa. Through their range of personal development and leadership programmes, they are helping to shift mindsets, unlock potential and build new capability across the food and fibre sector.

For more than a decade, AWDT has supported rural women to step forward with confidence, strengthen their business contribution and lead with clarity. The impact reaches far beyond the individual. It strengthens farm performance, succession pathways, governance depth and sector resilience.

Programmes that build capability

AWDT delivers a range of development programmes that strengthen personal leadership, business confidence and sector capability. Each programme creates space for women to step back from daily pressure, build practical skills and return to their businesses with greater clarity and contribution.

Across all AWDT programmes, women connect with others navigating similar challenges, forming trusted networks that continue long after the formal learning ends. These connections strengthen resilience, create opportunity and ensure that growth is sustained well beyond the classroom.

Understanding Your Farming Business

Designed for women involved in or supporting sheep, beef or dairy farm businesses who want to grow their understanding and increase their impact. Understanding Your Farming Business builds practical financial literacy, strengthens understanding of farm systems and performance drivers, and develops confidence engaging in business conversations. Participants gain tools to interpret financial information, ask informed questions and contribute meaningfully to strategic decisions. 

The outcome is not just greater knowledge, but greater presence and influence within the farm business.

Escalator

AWDT’s flagship leadership programme supports women ready to expand their influence beyond the farm gate. Escalator develops strategic thinking, governance capability and personal leadership presence. Participants explore decision making, communication, sector context and board readiness while building deep self-awareness and confidence. 

Many alumnae go on to governance, advisory and community leadership roles, strengthening representation and capability across the food and fibre sector.

Next Level

Next Level is a focused and practical programme for women who are ready to step forward with clarity and confidence in their leadership, business and life. It challenges participants to reflect on who they are as leaders, how they show up under pressure and what they want next. 

Through facilitated learning and peer connection, women build stronger self-belief, clearer goals and practical strategies to lead more intentionally at home, on farm and in their communities.

It’s All About YOU

At the core of every AWDT programme is one simple principle. It’s all about YOU.
Your confidence. Your growth. Your next step.

AWDT recognises that no two women arrive with the same experience, ambition or starting point. It’s All About YOU is designed to meet you where you are and support you to move forward with greater capability and conviction. When you invest in yourself, the ripple effect extends to your farm business, your whānau, your community and our wider sector. Building confident, capable women is how we build a stronger future for food and fibre in Aotearoa.

Backed by sector partnership

Beef + Lamb New Zealand is a proud partner of Agri Women’s Development Trust. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to building strong, sustainable farm businesses and a thriving red meat sector.

By investing in women’s capability and leadership, we strengthen farm performance, succession planning, governance depth and long-term sector resilience.

The future of our sector depends on confident, capable people. Supporting rural women to grow is an investment in that future.