Rural insurance specialist Achmea Australia and Angus Australia have teamed up to establish a new program designed to support future leaders in beef and the wider agricultural industry.
The GenAngus Future Leaders Program will mentor young entrepreneurs seeking to advance their knowledge and skills, via an initiative to help shape the industry.
The comprehensive program will provide opportunities for program members to create a business plan utilising knowledge gained in corporate governance and commercialising ideas, business resilience, obtaining funding, financial planning, farm risk management, insurance, succession planning, marketing, promotion and branding, effective business networking, industry insights and supply chain.
Achmea has committed funding for three years to help set up and sponsor the program.
It is intended to benefit to the ongoing establishment and promotion of entrepreneurial beef and cattle-related businesses.
Achmea was established in the Netherlands more than 200 years ago when 39 farmers put money into a glass jar to be compensated in the event one of them had a haystack fire.
It has a long history of supporting agriculture industry through a co-operative or “mutual” approach to farm insurance covering buildings, inventory, business interruption, vehicles, liability, and crop insurance.
Achmea will also work with Angus Australia to develop and offer a tailored beef cattle insurance solution and stud stock insurance product as part of the package.
Chief executive officer, Emma Thomas, said the program reflected the insurer’s unique focus on collaboration and community.
“Our approach offers a partnership alongside an insurance solution – and our ‘glass jar beginning’ represents the co-operative spirit that still drives us today,” she said.
“We hope this industry partnership will be first of many aimed at helping to protect and enhance our agricultural communities, and we’re delighted to be involved in this much-needed initiative.
“This initiative should be seen as a sign of Achmea Australia’s commitment to the future leadership of the agricultural industry and that we want to invest and grow our presence in rural Australia.
Angus Australia’s CEO, Peter Parnell, referred to the importance of the new program, intended to bridge the generation gap between people finishing youth programs and taking up industry leadership roles.
“While our existing youth program is already highly successful in providing opportunities via a suite of scholarships, awards and bursaries, this new initiative is part of our organisation’s aim to support the development of leadership and entrepreneurial skills amongst our young members,” Dr Parnell said.
“We find that while a lot of youth programs tend to focus on the 16 to 25 age group, there aren’t many programs for 25- to 40-year-olds.
“It means that a lot of younger people are hesitant to take on leadership roles, because they feel they don’t have enough experience.
“It’s our goal to equip our young members with the knowledge they need to run a successful beef business, and develop their knowledge and skills so they can more effectively establish, advance and promote our breed, and the beef industry as a whole.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to realise that goal, and we’re thrilled Achmea Australia has come on board to deliver a highly innovative and meaningful new program.”
- For information on the GenAngus and Future Leaders Program, contact Candice Liddle (02) 6773 4622.