News

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.

Lucy Andrews grew up in Sydney and studied food science and human nutrition at the University of Newcastle before following her interest in the food industry into her role at Macadamias Direct. Now, she combines twin passions for food and agriculture as the Ballina-based processor’s quality assurance manager. 

A diverse role 

Macadamias Direct processes nut in shell and raw kernels for both the international and domestic markets, with facilities in Dunoon and Ballina. Lucy’s is a large role for a recent graduate, but one she thrives on. “I’m in charge of the food safety and quality procedures and standards within the Macadamias Direct facility. I work alongside industry standards to make sure that we're doing everything correctly in our processes. It’s a diverse role and no two days are the same,” she says. 

As a young woman passionate about developing a career in the food industry, Lucy sees a lot of potential in the macadamia industry. “I work alongside great men and women, and their progressive mindset regarding the roles of women in the workforce, especially in positions of leadership and management, is awesome. So I feel like I can carve my way in my career and work my way up the chain,” she says. 

That’s not to say that there aren’t challenges being a young woman in her role. “There's been a lot of times when I'm in a room full of males who have been in the industry forever. This is awesome and it's great to be working with people who have a lot of experience, but it can seem quite daunting and intimidating at times.” 

The power of a different perspective

Lucy chooses to see the differences between herself and some of her colleagues as her superpower. The key to developing this outlook is to embrace the different perspective she brings when collaborating with her colleagues, and understanding that this diversity brings about great outcomes. As more women enter the industry, this becomes easier to do. “There's a lot of women working through the whole supply chain now in a lot of diverse roles. It's really great to see how progressive the industry can be.” 

As for the advice she would give a woman entering the food industry, Lucy is clear: “Women can do anything they put their minds to, which is our power. So I think as a woman going into the industry you've just got to keep backing yourself and keep working hard.”