“An overwhelming sense of community, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing” – Scholar Reflections from Victoria
September 19, 2024
The Crawford Fund’s Annual Conference was held last month in Parliament House, Canberra. As well as bringing together the world’s leading experts in agricultural science, research, policy, development and industry to address the conference topic, the Crawford Fund is committed to encouraging the next generation in international agriculture for development to the event via scholarships awarded through our State and Territory committees and scholar supporters.
Laura Steel, Luke Molinaro Rathsmann, Russell Woodford, Dylan Male, Emily de Haan and Tessa Consedine (left to right) were our 2024 scholars from Victoria. They are pictured here with Tony Gregson our Victorian Committee Chair and Bill Lewis our VIC Committee Coordinator.
Our conference scholarship program started in 2010 in the hope that by experiencing the Crawford Fund conference and network, our special program of activities around the conference and being mentored by inspirational experienced researchers, young researchers would be inspired and energised to be more involved. The results have been fantastic, with a great mix of youth and experience at our flagship event each August and a growing and enthusiastic conference scholar alumni approaching 450.
Our competitive Conference Scholarships are offered to young people with a genuine interest in international agricultural research and development to attend the conference and a special set of activities that we have developed since the program commenced in 2010.
Our other activities to encourage university students and early career researcher include highlighting opportunities in volunteering for projects overseas through the Australian Volunteers Program; our work with Researchers in Agriculture for International Development (RAID), and our special international student awards to enable students to be involved in overseas projects as part of their university study.
One of the requirements of the scholarship is that each scholar provides us with a reflection on their experience. We will be providing these reflections over the coming weeks, grouped by State.
Once again, we would like to thank our wonderful mentors, mentioned alongside the scholar they supported, who volunteer their time and offer valuable guidance, support and insights to the scholars throughout the conference.
Four scholars supported by our Victorian Committee and two scholars supported by the Gardiner Foundation attended the 2024 Crawford Fund conference from Victoria. Highlights of their experiences have been captured below:
Tessa Consedine, RMIT
“There was an overwhelming sense of community, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing, underscoring the relevance of collective action in tackling global challenges.”
Dylan Male, University of Melbourne
“As I reflect on the 2024 Crawford Fund Scholars program, the key highlight for me was the deep invigorating sense of ‘hope’ I felt…the conference was able to inspire all those who attended.”
Laura Steel, La Trobe University
“My key takeaway is that meaningful relationships are formed when passionate and openminded people can come together and say, ‘This is me. How can I help?’. When we combine our unique skillsets to work together, we can overcome greater challenges and this gives me hope for the future.”
Russell Woodford, Monash University
“I was particularly inspired by the keynote address from Dr Ismahane Elouafi, the Executive Managing Director of CGIAR. Her talk was optimistic and forward-focussed while equally highlighting the significant effort that will be required to achieve sustainable food security in the decades ahead.”
Emily de Haan, University of Melbourne
“Being surrounded by so many people making huge contributions to the industry has inspired and motivated me to enter into a career where I can add value and assist with overcoming the lack of resources, we need to make a more sustainable food future for all.”
Luke Molinaro Rathsmann, University of Melbourne
“The conference has improved my ability to network, expand my knowledge and ability to engage with the world in agriculture.”
Read on for the full reflections of each scholar:
VICTORIAN COMMITTEE SUPPORTED SCHOLARS:
Tessa Consedine, RMIT
Mentor: Wendy Craik
Standing outside as the sun set, casting a warm pink and orange glow over the Parliament House pillars and reflecting off the water, was a moment of quiet reflection after two intense days at the Crawford Fund Annual conference. It was the perfect end to a rewarding and exhausting experience that left me both motivated and inspired.
We participated in various scholar activities and welcome dinner on the first evening of our arrival in Canberra. These provided an excellent opportunity to meet the conference organisers and learn directly from RAID and other key organisations in the field of food and nutrition security. It was incredible to be surrounded by individuals from diverse backgrounds brought together a shared passion for equitable food access. There was an overwhelming sense of community, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing, underscoring the relevance of collective action in tackling global challenges.
The conference itself was exceptionally well-organised with a broad range of speakers who each brought their own valuable perspectives. I particularly enjoyed the mentor-mentee activities which was an invaluable opportunity to network with fellow scholars and seasoned professionals. These interactions were both professionally enriching and personally fulfilling.
In terms of key takeaways, I appreciated Hampus Eriksson’s point about the disproportionate impact of agricultural research. He highlighted that only 2% of research in agriculture for development produces high-quality outcomes for small-scale farmers, providing a stark reminder that while everyone has the capacity to contribute, not everyone has the necessary resources. This observation aligns with a broader theme of the conference: the importance of empowering local communities through genuine participation and collaborative program design. As a Global Studies student in development, I resonated deeply with methodologies such as participatory rural appraisal (PRA) which allow communities to analyse their own realities and prioritise their needs. More broadly I relished the opportunity to relate my classroom learnings to a tangible context.
I found Madonna Thomson’s presentation especially enriching and pertinent, particularly her insights on the potential of native foods like Kakadu plum, finger lime, and wattle seed to support nutrition and preserve cultural identity. She critiqued the food supply chain’s dependence on a few grains and advocated for greater diversification. Thomson cautioned against the privatisation of indigenous plants which risks exploiting indigenous knowledge and exacerbating marginalisation, providing a critical reminder of the true meaning of genuine partnerships. Thomson’s presentation encapsulated the conference’s key themes: genuine participation, collaboration, and amplifying local voices to set priorities and benefit from outcomes. We are called to reflect on power and how knowledge-sharing in agriculture can shift power dynamics to support broader social and political goals. For example, the ongoing fight for recognition of sovereignty in Australia which is particularly pertinent. I’m left with the enduring message: If we can’t do it at home, what relevance do our partnerships have elsewhere?
The conference reinforced the critical importance of listening and engaging in a co-exchange of knowledge rather than perpetuating didactic communication that risks reinforcing imperialistic and colonial dynamics. I come away with new knowledge, new ideas, and new connections who will all be part of my ongoing journey in this space. Thank you Crawford Fund for the incredible and enriching opportunity.
Dylan Male, University of Melbourne
Mentor: Tony Gregson
Past participants of the Crawford Fund Conference Scholars program had raved to me about how the event was a career highlight for them, emphasising the value it provided in their early career development. Rest assured; this too was my experience after I was fortunate enough to participate as a 2024 Crawford Fund Conference Scholar.
The Day 1 program kicked off with a gathering of Scholars eager to not only meet each other, but also their designated ‘mentor’ – someone with a wealth of experience and knowledge in the agriculture sector, who aligned with the Scholars interests and were from the same home states/territories. Through a ‘speed dating’ exercise, we connected with our mentors in what was no doubt the birthing of many enduring relationships. This was followed by a series of presentations, notably from Dr. Line Gordon of the Stockholm Resilience Centre who delivered a presentation on ‘Advancing Science for a liveable planet’, speaking to the vision of a ‘thriving and resilient biosphere that enables well-being for all’ and exploring how people and nature can live and develop on a planet under pressure. We also heard from ACIAR and RAID about careers in international agricultural research for development. The day concluded with the fabulous Sir John Crawford Memorial Address and Networking Dinner, where Dr. Gordon again took the stage and conveyed a deeply thought-provoking keynote talk that had us all captivated and inspired. It was magnificent to look around the room and see fellow scholars networking with their mentors and professionals from a range of disciplines.
On Day 2 the excitement was building as we ventured to Parliament House for Conference Day! Centred around the theme ‘Food Nutrition and Security: Transformative Partnerships, Local Leadership and Co-Design’, the conference was an incredible opportunity to hear from a range of experts and learn from their perspectives on the value of collaboration and local leadership.
I was particularly taken by the presentation delivered by Madonna Thomson, Aboriginal Biocultural Knowledge Holder and Practitioner. Madonna shared invaluable learnings from her experience working on Australian Indigenous projects. A key takeaway from this is that now, more than ever, it is important that our First Nations people play a leading role in food security efforts – and that they receive their fair share of benefits from the agricultural sector which has not been the case in this country post-colonisation. The conference culminated in an incredibly insightful panel discussion from Professor Wendy Umberger (ACIAR), Karen Mapusua (SPC), Dr Line Gordon and Dr Ismahane Elouafi (CGIAR). The day concluded with a Trivia night hosted by RAID, in what was a fun night for all.
Day 3 concluded with a range of scholar activities, including hearing from the New Colombo Plan and Australian Volunteers about opportunities for youth interested in engaging in the Asia Pacific region. We also got to learn a few helpful tips by an experienced journalist on ‘getting our stories out there’.
As I reflect on the 2024 Crawford Fund Scholars program, the key highlight for me was the deep invigorating sense of ‘Hope’ I felt. We all are aware of the complex and ‘messy’ challenges of which we grapple with as we work towards a more food secure and healthy planet, and yes, there was much discourse on the existential threat posed by anthropogenic climate crisis, destruction of biodiversity and the exceeding of planetary boundaries. Yet, the conference was able to inspire all those who attended. The message was clear – if we work together, we are more than capable as humanity of achieving the very thing so many of us fear we cannot – a food secure and healthy planet where we, and all living things, not only survive but prosper. The conference was not merely a virtue signalling event, but a call to action inviting us to overcome our shared challenge through working together towards solutions. Now, more than ever, I feel hopeful for our future on this planet.
I look forward to staying connected to the networks I have established, and the future collaboration opportunities that arise from them. I express my deep thanks and gratitude to all those who support the Scholars Program, and congratulate you for the delivery of such a high-calibre event.
Laura Steel, La Trobe University
Mentor: John Muir
This year, the Crawford Fund Annual Conference centred on the importance of partnerships, local leadership and co-design for ensuring food and nutrition security. The highlight from the first Scholars’ Day was hearing Dr Seeseei Molimau-Samasoni speak about designing programs and partnerships for meaningful systems change. The key message was that we need self-reflection and authenticity when learning about and engaging with new cultures. We need to seek to understand the issues people face by asking, listening, and utilising local leadership to build capacity within communities for lasting impact.
The keynote address from Dr Ismahane Elouafi identified four challenges to overcoming food and nutrition insecurity; climate change, funding sustainability, policy and regulation, and equity and inclusivity. Her presentation acknowledged the importance of equitable participation and a shared vision for collaborations between government, institutions, the private sector, and local communities. Co-designing with local stakeholders leads to projects that are socially and practically appropriate, with increased adoption rates and impact. Dr Elouafi emphasised that there is a strong need to promote public and private industry collaborations for additional funding, however, this should be agenda-exempt in order to generate outcomes that result in targeted change for local communities.
The panel featuring Prof. Wendy Umberger, Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Dr. Line Gordon and Karen Mapusa was a personal highlight for me, as they provided valuable perspectives on addressing food insecurity in the face of climate change. Dr. Gordon addressed the false dichotomy that we must choose between people or the planet, recognising that alleviating poverty allows communities to adopt more sustainable solutions, the costs of which are decreasing. The discussion also emphasised the importance of reducing food waste, increasing production, processing and transport efficiency, and embracing the seasonality of food. It was encouraging to see the value of diversity, which was championed throughout the conference, reflected in the panel and across the sessions. This was further evidenced in the support and encouragement that Scholars received from their mentors.
The second Scholars’ Day impressed upon me the importance of policy in driving impactful change. Having a framework to support the implementation and adoption of new technologies is just as important as innovation. Sam Coggins reinforced that solutions should be low-cost, co-designed, championed by local leaders and easily adopted, with the practical example of a prematurely developed smart phone application that was quickly discarded in favour of a collaborative solution. He also spoke to the value of acknowledging your personal context in practicing cultural sensitivity and viewing collaborative partnerships as an exchange of knowledge, as opposed to one-way training.
The conference has given me a new appreciation for the value of building networks and nurturing collaborative partnerships. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting many people with intriguing and complimentary research interests. My key takeaway is that meaningful relationships are formed when passionate and openminded people can come together and say, ‘This is me. How can I help?’. When we combine our unique skillsets to work together, we can overcome greater challenges and this gives me hope for the future.
Russell Woodford, Monash University
Mentor: Kathy Dibley
The 2024 Crawford Fund Conference on “Food and Nutrition Security: Transformative Partnerships, Local Leadership, and Co-Design” provided me with an incredible opportunity to expand my knowledge, networks and insights within the field of sustainable international agriculture in Australia. As a research biologist, I am often isolated from the work that is conducted on the ground in developing nations to help support farmers and ensure food security. However, this year’s conference was valuable in enhancing my understanding of the challenges and importance of international agriculture research, as well as the considerations needed when working in this discipline.
The diverse selection of speakers provided a range of perspectives on forming transformative partnerships and collaborations to ensure that research outcomes are effective and maximise the benefit to those that need it the most. I was particularly inspired by the keynote address from Dr Ismahane Elouafi, the Executive Managing Director of CGIAR. Her discussion of the importance of strong collaborative partnerships for addressing the current challenges facing food security highlighted the necessity to use approaches consisting of broad bundles of innovation with realistic, context specific goals rather than single solution pathways performed by single entities. Her talk was optimistic and forward-focussed while equally highlighting the significant effort that will be required to achieve sustainable food security in the decades ahead.
The two half-days of scholar activities associated with the conference also provided me with a unique opportunity to learn additional practical skills needed for international agriculture research. These sessions gave useful insight into breaking into international agriculture research, potential career pathways and opportunities as well as the best practices and approaches for working on the ground in developing countries. I also greatly appreciated the speed networking session in which I got the opportunity to interact with a variety of mentors from different backgrounds, and gather their perspectives on research, food security, and agriculture. I’d particularly like to thank my mentor, Dr Kathy Dibley for her enthusiasm and interest in my work. We had a number of great discussions surrounding the role of researchers like ourselves in contributing to international agriculture and how we can reconsider our approaches to research so we can be more aware of the needs of those in developing nations and ensure that our laboratory findings can be translated to real-world benefits.
Overall, the 2024 Crawford Fund Conference and associated scholar activities has opened my eyes to the amazing variety of opportunities and support available for international agriculture research in Australia. My interactions and discussions with other scholars and attendees have left me confident that the future of international agriculture development in Australia is strong and have given me a new sense of inspiration for my work. As a PhD student early in my research career, it has given me a new insight into the world of international agriculture research and the great benefits it can bring. I look forward to continuously reflecting on my experience as a Crawford Fund Scholar as I progress with my PhD journey and would like to thank the Crawford Fund for providing me with this great opportunity.
GARDINER FOUNDATION SUPPORTED SCHOLARS:
Emily de Haan, University of Melbourne
Mentor: Bill Lewis
I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to attend this year’s Crawford Conference as a Gardiner Foundation Scholar. The conference was an enlightening experience that provided a fantastic opportunity to expand my knowledge on the state of the global agricultural sector and current research and development hotspots.
It was a big three days full of networking opportunities and I especially valued the chance to speak one on one with various industry professionals to gain a greater understanding of the various career pathways and opportunities out there. Being such a broad industry faced with global yet multidisciplinary challenges it can be overwhelming for a university graduate to understand the full extent of the career opportunities and industry needs. We ‘don’t know what we don’t know’ and having the opportunity to listen to other people’s unique career journeys is a great way to increase our confidence and discover where we can add value to the industry.
After some time to reflect on the conference speakers I have walked away with a deeper understanding on the future challenges the industry is facing, and the strategies that are needed to ensure that we can collectively mobilise the resources we need to steer the industry towards a resilient and sustainable future. This ties in nicely with the theme of this year’s conference; transformative partnerships, local leadership and co-design which all rely on enhanced communication and global alignment of goals. This will ensure that the sustainability goals can be achieved, and food security and equity can be achieved. It was surprising to hear that its not the capacity that is limiting development but the mobilisation of resources.
In addition to the conference it was great to be able to connect with the other scholars and the members of the RAID network. I am grateful for the friends and connections I have made during the scholar activities and hope to come across them in my future career.
Being surrounded by so many people making huge contributions to the industry has inspired and motivated me to enter into a career where I can add value and assist with overcoming the lack of resources, we need to make a more sustainable food future for all. I feel I am entering into my graduate program at the Commonwealth Bank with an open mind and hope to continue taking opportunities to broaden my mindset in the future.
Luke Molinaro Rathsmann, Melbourne University
Mentor: Greta Stark
The Crawford Fund was an incredible experience which I was so fortunate to attend. Being a scholar at the conference has provided me with so many interesting and eventful future opportunities. The assistance from the mentors made me fit in straight away with special guests, other scholars and mentors. The conference has improved my ability to network, expand my knowledge and ability to engage with the world in agriculture.
