Fiona Simson praised for leading national federation

Liverpool Plains farmer Fiona Simson has handed over the reins as president of the National Farmers Federation after leading the organisation since 2016.

Ms Simson, the first female president of the national body, has been an industry leader at a state and national level since 2008.

Among her achievements after completing two terms in the top role, Ms Simson will be particularly remembered for the launch of the first Diversity in Ag Leadership Programme as well as continued lobbying efforts across many issues including trade bans and biosecurity threats.

Addressing the National Press Club at the end of her tenure, Ms Simson said it was the organisation’s members who had granted her the incredible opportunity to lead the NFF.

“It’s their collective wisdom and expertise that has determined every position we have ever taken during my time at the NFF,” she said.

Ms Simson, who was joined by her husband Ed for last week’s Press Club talk, also heaped praise on her children Tom and Jemima.

“This job certainly takes its pound of flesh and there is no way I could’ve done the endless travel, the phone calls, the media interviews, the Zoom meetings and the frank feedback,
and the ability to step away from the farm and home so often, without your support,” she told the gathering.

Ms Simson said it was BHP’s attempt at exploration on the Liverpool Plains that started her time in advocacy.

“It was when BHP came knocking and wanted to dig up the Liverpool Plains that I realised the need to speak up on behalf of food and fibre production and the people who care so deeply about the land,” she said.

“Like many people going about their lives, running their businesses and caring for their families, you don’t think that something as essential as feeding and clothing ourselves would require much advocacy.

“Surely keeping voters fed and clothed would be enough to satisfy any government.

“In the 17 years that have passed since that time I learnt that hasn’t always been the case.

“The dumb luck of these bad ideas is made all the more easy in an environment where the average voter knows increasingly less about us as farmers and the work that we do,” Ms Simson
told the National Press Club gathering.

Connecting city and country is something Ms Simson had dedicated much time to over her advocacy career. Ms Simson said she has strived to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers so that both can understand the challenges and opportunities each face.

“It’s so easy to curry favour in some parts of the bush, by further wedging the city-country divide by talking about us and them. Talking about the latte sippers and how they don’t care or don’t understand.

“That sort of talk in my view is not leadership. It also ignores the fact that you can get a bloody good latte in Werris Creek or Gunnedah.

“The us and the them rhetoric pushes us farmers further from the people that we ultimately serve. The people who eat our food and use our fibre.”

Ms Simson said this builds on the damaging misconception that what farmers do isn’t valued in the community.

“I hope that I’ve been one of a growing number of rural leaders who have relegated that sort of talk to the past.”

Incoming NFF president David Jochinke thanked Ms Simson for her leadership.

“Fiona leaves an incredible legacy that will resonate for years to come,” Mr Jochinke said.

“She’s left nothing on the table, and her considered, collaborative and engaging leadership has left farmers everywhere in a far stronger position.

“I thank her for the partnership we’ve had during our time together at the NFF and wish her, Ed and their family all the best for their next chapter.”

One of Mr Jochinke’s first official duties as NFF president was to address last week’s NFF conference.

Female leadership was also in the spotlight through the Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program graduation.

Farmers, agricultural leaders and 35 program partners from across Australia saw 12 extraordinary women from a cross-section of professional and personal experience take their leadership journey to the next level. The graduation, coinciding with the NFF’s National Conference, showcased the growth in female leadership in agriculture and celebrated the partners’ commitment to equality.

It also heralded the announcement of the program’s inaugural Patron, Ms Simson, who founded the initiative in 2018 after seeing the dire lack of women around agriculture’s boardroom tables and in management positions.

Ms Simson will advise the program on future and strategic direction and also be an advocate for inclusion and diversity in agriculture.

“I feel so honoured to continue this very important work,” she said. “As the program has grown, it’s important to look at ways to ensure we’re truly including and embracing not only gender diversity, but diversity in all its forms.”