AgriFutures 2024 Horizon Scholarship cohort announced

The Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) and industry sponsors have announced the 19 scholars selected to receive a 2024 Horizon Scholarship.

The AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship program aims to cultivate the next generation of rural leaders, by providing university students who are studying agriculture or related majors with a premier opportunity to learn, grow their leadership skills, and expand their networks.

Across this two-year program, each scholar will receive a $10,000 bursary to aid with university and living expenses, attend annual four-day professional development workshops, and complete two weeks of industry work placements each year within their sponsor's industry.

AgriFutures Australia Managing Director, John Harvey congratulated each of the 19 scholars on being announced as part of the 2024 Horizon Scholarship cohort.

“Selected from across Australia, each scholar demonstrated exceptional drive, commitment, and passion for the future of Australia’s rural industries and communities,” Mr Harvey said.

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“This scholarship program seeks to build on that, giving scholars the opportunity to grow their skills and networks, and in time, open doors to a successful career.

“As we face evolving challenges and opportunities within the sector, fostering the next generation of industry leaders is critical for the ongoing growth and sustainability of Australia’s rural industries and communities.

“Industry sponsors are integral to the program and the sponsor/scholar pairing provides scholars with the opportunity to connect to an industry on a deeper level. Grains Research and Development Corporation has sponsored 55 scholars since the inception of the Horizon Scholarship. This fantastic commitment to students at a tertiary level fills the talent pipeline for the grains industry.”

2024 scholar, Cleo Noonan, sponsored by Mt Burdett Foundation and studying a Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Science at Curtin University said she’s incredibly excited to have been awarded the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship and can’t wait to partake in all the networking opportunities the program will offer.

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“I believe the upcoming five-day AgriFutures Horizon Workshop in Wagga Wagga will be an amazing opportunity to meet with like-minded students from all over Australia as well as industry professionals from all facets of agriculture,” Ms Noonan said.

The 2024 sponsors include Grains Research and Development Corporation, Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Meat and Livestock Australia, Hort Innovation, Marine Bio Products CRC, Australian Eggs, Mt Burdett Foundation, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and AgriFutures Australia.

Each scholar has been carefully paired with an industry sponsor that aligns with their career aspirations and industry experience, to help them network with industry leaders and learn skills relevant to a career in their chosen field. The program sponsors are critical to the development of the Horizon Scholars as they enter the agricultural workforce, through the mentoring and networking opportunities they provide.

The program will kick off in July 2024 with the Horizon workshop Wagga Wagga during the AgriFutures Stakeholder Summit. The workshop will feature guest speakers, and industry experts and also provide the opportunity to network, meet sponsors and discuss innovations and challenges in the agricultural sector.

Find out more about the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship at: https://agrifutures.com.au/opp....