Foundation’s internship scheme a launchpad for future female farming leaders.
The Fairlight Foundation’s unique internship programme for women is providing a launchpad for future leaders in agriculture, and has the potential to be replicated by other industries in the food and fibre sector, an independent report has found.
The report, carried out by Dr Lesley Petersen and funded by the Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence, evaluated the impact, relevance and sustainability of the Fairlight Foundation internship programme.
Now in its fifth year, and run at Fairlight Station in Southland, the programme accepts three female interns annually for its year-long course. It provides a winning blend of hands-on practical experience, leadership development and robust mentorship. Mentorship was identified as a cornerstone of the programme’s success.
The foundation works to address the underrepresentation of women in management roles in agriculture.
The report says the programme’s emphasis on leadership development and promoting female representation is a defining strength, and called it a “highly impactful” initiative.
It also found the programme has broader potential as a replicable model for other industries, advancing gender equality and professional development across the food and fibre sector.
Graduates of the programme and employers of graduates were interviewed as part of the evaluation. Graduates cited it as being instrumental in preparing them for leadership roles, highlighting confidence building, the core value of “wellness” and mentorship as other strengths.
“The programme is highly regarded by employers for producing skilled and capable graduates … able to handle responsibility and fit in well with farm teams,” the report says.
Fairlight Foundation executive director Laura Koot said the report was amazing, but the foundation would not be resting on its laurels.
“I feel we are on track. We’re excited to have independent feedback on our programme, but all it does is cement our purpose. It is encouraging that someone outside the organisation can see value in what we’re doing.”
Koot said the foundation regularly conducts its own interviews with interns and graduates and is constantly reviewing and fine-tuning its offering to ensure it meets the changing demands of the industry.
“We’re here for 100 years. It’s not set and forget, it has to be fit for purpose, every year … we’re giving them the tools they need to navigate the industry as they want to, to advance their career in any area of the sector.”
The report does identify some areas for improvement, such as more practical skills and education around financial management, some of which the foundation has already addressed.
This year it introduced a financial literacy programme in conjunction with ANZ bank, which takes interns from basic budgeting right through to building equity in a farming business, Koot said.
She was quick to pay credit to Doug and Mari Harpur (majority owners of Fairlight Station), who provide the endowment that allows the programme to run, and to the work done by Fairlight Station managers and shareholders Simon and Lou Wright, particularly the high-quality pastoral care provided under their watch.
“One of the biggest reasons the programme is a success is because it’s being run on Fairlight Station. It’s the incredibly supportive family environment, it’s a safe place to learn, combined with Simon’s skills and experience – his farming skills are of the highest quality. You could not run this programme on just any station,” she said.
“I want all farmers to look at the environment they’re providing, particularly if they’re taking on young people.”
More broadly, the foundation is now moving into the wider community and schooling space, running its first one-day workshops for secondary school girls last month, with the support of Land Based Training and its tutors. It also has plans to run two-day Pasture Camps.
Koot sees the benefits as twofold – there’s an industry good element, and the creation of a pipeline for future internship applicants.
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