Courtney Wilson

Cranbrook

President

Courtney farms with her husband Jack on his family’s mixed sheep and cropping farm at Cranbrook. They have two boys born in 2016 and 2020, who love farming! Courney has a passion for sheep more than cropping but does admit to looking forward to harvest each year.

While at uni undertaking a Batchelor of Business degree, Courtney developed a great interest in the event management industry and ended up majoring in that field. Moving back to the farm however, saw Courtney use her degree in the area that was in her original plan – accounting. She now works off farm, part-time, as an accountant. This has allowed Courtney to connect and support other women involved in agriculture – not only those on the farm but those involved in the many, varied aspects of agriculture.

For the last five years, Courtney has been involved in the Cranbrook branch and is currently in her second year as president. She was the event convenor when the branch hosted the 2022 Women in Farming Annual Seminar.

When not busy working, farming or occupied with her kids, Courtney can often be found on the road, driving around the countryside to get to various towns to umpire on netball courts across the Great Southern.

Carolyn Reid

Boyup Brook

Immediate Past President

Growing up on a developing farm with the most hard-working of parents was the best education ever according to Carolyn but she continued it in Perth, graduating from UWA in industrial relations and politics majors and some journalism units at Curtin. Moving to Boyup Brook in 1990 with her husband, they built up a sheep and cropping enterprise together but found it important to maintain involvement in organisations including the Kondinin Group and Australian Open Gardens, as well as a myriad of local community groups as their family grew.

Approaching 30 years farming in the same area and with children going through university and working in agricultural careers, Carolyn has a heightened interest in the future of our rural communities and ensuring they prosper.

Davina Gossage

Lone Members

Vice President

Growing up in the country and having trained as a Naturopath with a Health Science degree, Davina is passionate about health and wellbeing, especially of those in small communities and rural Australia. She has a keen interest in sustainable agriculture.

Born and bred in Dumbleyung, Davina with husband Eric have three children with the eldest son currently farming alongside them as the 5th generation farmer on the property. Davina has been involved in a broad range of community groups and sporting organisations. This led to a diverse interest and skill set which she values as one of the many benefits those living and working in small communities gain. Other interests of Davina include yoga, meditation, golf, tennis and water sports.

Jane Kowald

Kojonup

Secretary

Along with her husband Anthony, Jane runs a mixed cropping and sheep enterprise north-east of Kojonup. They have three children, one away at boarding school and two attending local government schools in Katanning. Jane studied Applied Geology at Curtin University and has worked in various roles in state and local government agencies with duties ranging from hydrologist to local landcare officer before recently returning to the farm full time.

Jane volunteers for many community groups including landcare, sporting and scout groups. Jane’s responsibilities on the farm include book keeping, HR management, sheep work and general farm duties. Off-farm interests include playing tennis, fishing, reading, sewing and crochet. Jane looks to Women in Farming as the platform to share information to keep up to date with advances in farming, networking opportunities and professional development.

Jenny West

Wagin

Treasurer

Jenny grew up in Perth then attended agricultural college where she fell in love with the country. She moved to a broad acre farm between Wagin and Dumbleyung, after meeting partner Sam. Here they farm sheep and crop with Sam’s parents. Jenny loves helping out around the farm while also doing the bookwork.

Sam and Jenny have three young children and Jenny is very involved with the local playgroup and toy library committees. Her current passion, apart from Women in Farming Enterprises and taking on the Wagin branch president role, is being involved with the Dumbleyung netball club - both playing and being a coach.

Laura Butler

Kulin-Kondinin

General Board Member

Laura lives in Narembeen with her partner Clint and puppy Charlie on a mixed farming enterprise of sheep and cropping.

A highly experienced professional, Laura has a strong business background across a range of sectors in WA including education, not for profits and financial services. She has completed a Master of Business Management at Swinburne University of Technology and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) at Curtin University of Technology.

Laura is a professional member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Associate Fellow Member (AFAIM) of the Australian Institute of Management WA.