GirlBoss promotes primary roles

A new online course will show young women the opportunities in primary industries.

GirlBoss NZ, a social enterprise working to close the gender gap in a range of areas, is working with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to run GirlBoss Edge: Primary Industries. Data shows about a third of those working in the primary sector are women, and course founder Alexia Hilbertidou said many young women did not consider it a career option. ‘‘Young girls are telling us these stories about when someone has told them the primary industries are not really for girls; or a lot of these girls might be the only girl in their ag-class at school.’’

The course is free and Hilbertidou hopes it will help young wa¯ hine to gain the confidence to pursue their goals.

Open to women aged 15-18, the 10-day programme involves a range of experiences to develop leadership skills. It runs July 11July 20. ‘‘We select the young women from those who apply, then they join a Facebook group and we also have an online course platform where they get to be mentored and connect with industry leaders.’’

According to data from MPI, in 2016 the primary sector was 66 per cent male and 34 per cent female. In the arable sector it was more equal with 46 per cent female, while in dairy it was 32 per cent female with similar numbers for red meat and wool. In forestry it was the most stark with 17 per cent female. Seafood was 30 per cent female.

Mentors for the programme include Kono chief executive and Maori Woman Business Leader of the year Rachel Taulelei, Antarctic explorer and environmental advocate Annikka Andersen, and founder of Tu¯ hono Whenua Horticulture Stacey Mareroa.

Taulelei said many more women were needed in the primary industries. ‘‘My hope is that the young women Alexia is working with grow in their confidence, and find ways to use their voices to effect positive change in one of the country’s most important industries,’’ Taulelei said.

MPI director of human resources Erina Clayton said: ‘‘We want our future primary industries workforce to represent our diverse population, and so we are particularly keen to encourage Ma¯ori and Pasifika young women to apply.’’

There are 120 places in the programme and there still places remaining. Applications close tomorrow.

‘‘Young girls are telling us about these stories when someone has told them the primary industries are not really for girls or a lot of these girls might the only girl in their ag-class at school,’’ says GirlBoss founder Alexia Hilbertidou, above inset.