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On International Women’s Day, we acknowledge and celebrate the enormous contribution women make to the Australian macadamia industry, and highlight the diverse roles they play.

Jennifer Hulme had never seen a macadamia tree before when she moved to Queensland to take on her role as technical officer at Hinkler Park Plantations, part of Saratoga Holdings the largest macadamia producer in the world. Not that she didn’t have the right experience. She finished her Bachelor of Agriculture at University of New England in 2020 and worked in glasshouse horticulture for several years before landing the role. Now, the 25-year-old manages 3000+ hectares of orchards, mostly in the Bundaberg-Childers region of Queensland. She communicates with four area managers and 10 farm supervisors, prescribing programs for nut nutrition, spraying and pest management, (and everything else in between) to manage overall tree and soil health.

An industry that welcomes women

She admits the role has been a steep learning curve. “You're always outnumbered, being a girl in a technical position,” she says, noting that. “But, luckily we've got really good blokes at work here. And the macadamia industry has been the easiest to be in as a young woman, which is really refreshing.” 

She’s delighted by the transparency, support and collaboration she has experienced while learning her role. “Everybody here shares their information. Everybody says how much fertiliser they're putting on and when. Everybody says when they're harvesting. It was not like that back in the vegetable industry. Those things were like secrets!” But that openness made it easier to get started in the industry and learn.

While Jennifer has embraced her technical management role, she is excited by the sheer variety of roles that women can slot into in the macadamia industry, from machinery operation and field work to technology. And the more women who join the industry the easier it gets for other women. 

‘People are willing to listen’

Jennifer says that good ideas are always welcomed by growers, no matter where they come from. “People are willing to listen. They're willing to try new things. The world's getting expensive and if you can find a cheaper option for them, they're willing to give your ideas a go.”

But you have to cultivate confidence in yourself. She’s had many times where she’s had her decisions questioned, whether because of her age, experience or gender. “But if you stand your ground and you're confident about it, and you know what you're talking about, most of the time you are right. And even if you're not, it doesn't matter. You get respect for backing yourself, even if you were wrong.”