Partnering to grow wāhine leadership.
Aotearoa’s food and fibre industry requires specific workplace skills and capabilities. So, we work in close partnership with industry, government, and hapori to meet their evolving needs by growing the expertise and leadership of women.
By combining insight-led design with deep sector understanding, we deliver learning and development programmes that build capability, unlock potential, and deliver measurable outcomes for our farms, communities, businesses, and wider industry.
Organisations we’ve worked with include:
It all starts with insight
AWDT was founded on a simple but powerful question: What do wāhine in the primary industries need to thrive, and what’s standing in their way?
In 2010, Lindy Nelson saw the untapped potential of wāhine in food and fibre and the systemic barriers holding them back. She founded AWDT to understand the needs of rural women, remove the barriers, and create pathways for their growth.
Since then, we’ve continued our mission by partnering with government, industry, and hapori to identify the skills, structures, and support needed to unlock leadership at every level.
Underpinning our approach is research, evaluation, and lived experience. We use focus groups, stakeholder feedback, case studies, and robust programme evaluation to ensure the programmes we deliver are relevant, targeted, and effective.
With a national network of wāhine, we also support other organisations to engage with rural women and develop insight into what works, on the ground and in the long term.
Lindy Nelson’s initial research revealed that rural women:
- can be and are successful at the ‘What Now?’ stage of their lives.
- use strengths and skills developed in their earlier roles by default rather than by design.
- are able to identify their skills and the barriers to making the changes necessary to reinvent themselves.
- have insight into how they need to be supported to achieve their goals.
- want and need more support before, during and after programmes to help them succeed.
In 2015 and 2016 several studies independently validated AWDT’s own research, purpose and programmes. They included a study undertaken by UMR Research which strongly correlated the business contribution of women farming partners with the characteristics of high-performing farms.
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Solutions that meet
real needs
Every programme we offer is shaped by the needs of our partners, industry, and the voices of wāhine. We listen carefully to rural communities, industry leaders, and those on the ground to understand what matters and where the most impact is needed.
From one-day workshops to multi-month leadership journeys, we design learning and development experiences that are practical, purposeful, and shaped by the realities of the food and fibre sector.
Whether you’re building capability in your team, supporting wāhine in your community, or investing the future of the sector, we work alongside you to co-create programmes that deliver real impact and value.
Using our own research and building on our foundation programmes, AWDT has so far designed and delivered development programmes for women, and men, for:
- Beef + Lamb New Zealand Read more…
- Dairy Women’s Network Read more…
- Rural Women New Zealand Read more…
- WorkSafe NZ and ACC Read more…
- Red Meat Profit Partnership Read more…
- Farming Mums New Zealand Read more…
- Landcorp Farming
Our research tells us that women need development programmes which:
- are designed to fit their lifestyle and which understood their needs.
- are meaningful and affordable
- include pre-course preparation
- include support during and after completion
- involve mentoring support and shadowing opportunities
- involve small numbers.
Transforming people and sectors
Our learning and development programmes are multi-faceted, scalable, and transformative. Led by a mix of industry experts and passionate facilitators across leadership, finance, communications and strategy.
We work closely with our partners so that our programmes align with strategic goals and create lasting change. We measure impact along the way to ensure we’re reaching the right people and delivering outcomes that matter.
Take a look at our ongoing programmes here and examples of development initiatives we’ve co-created with industry.
AWDT’s in-house facilitator training has developed many of its own programme facilitators. Training in facilitation skills is offered to other organisations using the wide experience of our accredited facilitators.
Power Up
Alumni Development
A one-day development programme to understand your personal power, refine your communication in tricky situations and learn more about employment law.
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It’s all about YOU
Foundational leadership
A two-day development programme for women to explore values, strengths, goals and experiences. Break away from routine, reconnect with yourself and explore new possibilities for positive change in your life.
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Next Level
Governance Programme
A six-month leadership and governance programme for women. Break through barriers to find courage, develop a leaders mindset, build your ability to influence and connect with like-minded women.
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Escalator
Leadership Programme
A 10-month programme combining best-in-class leadership, governance, and personal development with practical application — featuring blended learning, executive coaching, and inspiration from established leaders.
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Wāhine o te Whenua
HEALTH, WELLBEING & LEADERSHIP
A six-month wāhine-led programme incorporating matauranga Maori principles, values and experiences to empower, equip and support wāhine Māori to lead in influential roles.
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