CHIEF advocate for Qld horticulture’s peak industry body Growcom, Rachel Mackenzie, has received the Women in Horticulture Award at the Hort Connections 2018 National Awards for Excellence.
As a member of Growcom’s team for more than a decade, Ms Mackenzie has been responsible for developing policy and advocating on behalf of Qld’s fruit, vegetable and nut growers.
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She has campaigned on a range of key issues affecting the horticulture industry on a state and national level, including labour hire, competition and consumer issues, biosecurity, rural development, natural resource management and more recently, promoting ethical employment practices in Australian horticulture.
The Women in Horticulture award recognises a leading female member of the Australian horticulture industry who has demonstrated outstanding ability and success in her chosen field.
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The award was sponsored by vegetable seedling producer, Boomaroo Nurseries.
Ausveg deputy chair, Belinda Adams, said Ms Mackenzie’s passion and commitment to the Australian horticulture industry was both inspiring and influential.
“She is one of the leading advocates for the industry and provides a much-needed voice to all growers of horticulture so their concerns are heard and addressed by key decision makers,” Mrs Adams said.
One of Ms Mackenzie’s recent achievements was pioneering the Fair Farms Initiative, which Growcom introduced to support ethical employment practices in the Australian horticulture industry.
Growcom chief executive officer, David Thomson, said Ms Mackenzie has been a strong leader within the horticulture industry for over 12 years.
“Rachel’s diplomatic approach to challenging and influencing policy – at a state and federal level – is a key contributor to the strong reputation Growcom holds within the horticulture industry,” Mr Thomson said.
“She is a passionate advocate and her dedication is unrivalled. This award is an acknowledgement of all of Rachel’s hard work and dedication.”
