Whanganui's Anne-Marie Broughton appointed trustee of Agri-Women's Development Trust

Anne-Marie Broughton's passion is pushing and supporting more Māori women into the primary sector. Photo / Supplied

Whanganui's Anne-Marie Broughton has been appointed a trustee of the Agri-Women's Development Trust (AWDT).

Broughton, who is also on the board of economic development agency Whanganui & Partners, was appointed to serve the charitable trust in August.

Broughton is an alumni of AWDT's Escalator leadership and governance programme, created to empower purpose-driven women with the mindsets, skills and connections to create systemic change in the primary sector and rural communities, completing the nine-month course in 2013.

She threw her hat into the ring after hearing the AWDT board needed a few more members.

"Now's the time," Broughton said.

"They are doing some really interesting stuff, particularly with Māori women. That's really drawn me into the trust because that is a real interest of mine."

Broughton's focus is supporting and helping more women move into the primary sector.

"We aren't just talking about farmers, because the primary sector needs all sorts of skillsets along the whole value chain."

She would like to see more Māori women in the food technology, marketing, management and science fields of the sector.

"Those are the areas we aren't seeing women coming through.

"The trust has acknowledged it needed to broaden the type of programmes offered to meet the needs of those different sectors. That is the area I am particularly passionate about."

Broughton said next year AWDT would launch a pilot programme called Wahine o Te Whenua, the trust's contribution to help build back post Covid-19.

"The programme is very exciting for Māori women and it is going to focus a lot on traditional and modern models of Māori leadership and really explore and delve deep into those models of leadership and learning from the experiences of others.

"There is so much learning to be achieved through the experiences of others and this programme will really create a forum for this to happen."

With a passion for sustainable business development and change management, Broughton has led many new and innovative projects and start-up operations from concept to full implementation phase.

As well as her role with Whanganui & Partners, Broughton is co-chair of the Whanganui West Catchment Group, chair of Whenuakura Marae, and serves on the Ministry for Primary Industries' Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures Investment Advisory Panel.

She has extensive experience in Māori land governance, management and development.