AgriFutures Rural Women's Award

About the award

The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award is a leading accolade acknowledging the essential role women play in rural industries, businesses and communities. It is open to all women across Australia involved in:

• rural industries
• rural and regional businesses
• rural and regional communities.

Applicants must be over 18 years of age, and no formal qualifications are required.

A $15,000 Westpac financial bursary is awarded in each Australian state or territory, providing the financial resources to support a project, business or program that will benefit rural industries, businesses or communities. The initiative may be commercially or non-commercially focused. It must:

• be live, and up and running.
• align with AgriFutures' values.

Award finalists will also receive professional development opportunities and access to alumni networks.

All state or territory winners will participate in a separate national selection panel interview. The overall winner and runner-up will both receive additional grant funds from Westpac. These funds may be used to further progress your winning project or assist in meeting national commitments.

Acceleration grant

The AgriFutures Rural Women's Acceleration Grant is a separate program that complements the Rural Women's Award process, aiming to provide a leadership and development opportunity to women who have a business or project idea that has not yet launched.

Seven Australian women each year will be granted a learning and development bursary (not cash) of up to $7,000 for professional development to enable them to bring their idea, cause or vision to life.

2026 SA Rural Women's Award winner

Narelle Zanker of Mannum, co-founder of Dairy Adventures, was South Australia’s winner of the 2026 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award.

Recognised for her innovative approach to agricultural education, Narelle combines her experience as a teacher with her passion for dairy farming to create meaningful on-farm learning experiences that connect consumers with food production. Through Dairy Adventures, she is strengthening understanding of Australian agriculture while supporting regional tourism, community engagement and the next generation's connection to farming.

Congratulations to the other two South Australian finalists, Kelly Kuhn also from Mannum for her dark sky tourism experiences, and Hayley Hancock from McLaren Vale for her work transforming insurance for primary industries through her startup insurable. Kelly and Hayley are making important contributions to South Australian regional development and rural communities.

National awards

South Australia winner Narelle Zanker went on to win the national 2026 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award at a ceremony in Canberra.

Narelle was presented with the prestigious award by the Hon Julie Collins MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, in front of 500 industry leaders, politicians and dignitaries from all around Australia.

As the national award winner, Ms Zanker will receive a $20,000 grant from Westpac to support her business, in addition to the $15,000 Westpac grant she received when she won the South Australian award.

Narelle will invest this $35,000 in combined grant funding to upgrade her farm facilities, as she aims to enhance the visitor experience, improve accessibility and develop new opportunities to teach people about dairy farming. She also plans to develop more educational resources and a children’s book about life on a dairy farm.

Previous winners

See all AgriFutures state and national winners since 2000.

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