Graduate student Anna Naim recently attended the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference (AWC) in Calgary. Described as being “created for all those passionate about agriculture and food”, the AWC helps women develop skills in communications, mentoring, financial management, health and life balance, career planning, goal setting and more. It’s very much a women-helping-women event.
Each year students are given the opportunity to apply to have their hotel and registration fees covered by sponsors. Anna, along with 37 other students from across Canada, was selected this year.
Anna, an M.Sc. by thesis student with Dr. Alexandra Harlander is studying feather pecking in laying hens, with a focus on the microbiota-gut-brain axis and synbiotic supplementation. The Harlander Lab explores the behaviour, welfare and physiology of domestic birds, with outstanding and innovative ongoing studies constantly evolving. It was due in part to a video Anna produced outlining her research and its relevance to Canada’s agricultural sector which led to her selection.
While walking into a conference alone can be intimidating, Anna said she was “welcomed with open arms, instantly introduced to some industry professionals, and shown around the venue.” It was obvious that people were looking out for, and wanting to get to know the students. We were encouraged to sit at different tables with new people every day, so that we would meet as many people as we could. My network grew immensely.”
Throughout the three days, Anna had the opportunity to listen to stories of women in the industry, to learn about job opportunities and to begin to understand entrepreneurship opportunities that can be created with the right set of skills and passion. “Presenters talked about some of the difficulties and challenges they have faced being a woman in agriculture. Everyone had a unique and inspiring story and made me realized that no matter your skillset or background, you can accomplish anything!”
In addition to the large conference, Anna attended several smaller workshops based around developing leadership skills as a woman in the workplace, personal and company branding, and the latest innovation and technology being used or developing in the Canadian foods sector, all of which she found very informative and beneficial. “I loved how it did not feel like a forced networking event, but instead, felt like a group of strong, empowering women with similar career and agricultural objectives coming together for an annual meetup! It was such a fun and organic event! As a graduate student, I feel like this conference is the perfect stepping stone for young women who are stepping into the agricultural or entrepreneurship work landscape.”
A side experience she had was being interviewed by Katelyn Duban for The Rural Woman Podcast.
One of her main takeaways was that it is very important to stick together as women in the workplace in agriculture, to empower and to lift up one another, no matter where you are education or career-wise. “I feel like I learned something from each of the presenters who showed that you can accomplish truly anything you put your mind to, as long as you have a goal in mind and put in hard-work, determination and consistency.” The AWC is held twice annually – in the spring in Alberta, and in the fall in Ontario. Students who are interested in attending should visit the website for details on how to apply.
