Womens Network On Target

Womens Network On Target

More than 160 women will be attending the Network for Women in Dairying conference in Invercargill tomorrow , with late registrations boosting numbers.

Network Chair Hilary Webber says registrations closed late yesterday for the Invercargill conference, which has the theme Dairy Women Adding Value and is being opened by Fonterra Chairman Henry van der Heyden.

Town Crier Paddy-Ann Pemberton will also help create a unique atmosphere at the Invercargill conference.

A second conference is being held in New Plymouth on May 19. Registrations are still open for this conference, with about 230 women currently registered to attend.

"We had targeted to have 400 women attend the two conferences and I am confident we will reach that target," Mrs Webber says.

"This is the first time we have held conferences in these regions. We are finding that as dairy women hear more about the Network and what it offers they realise the conferences provide a great opportunity for them personally."

Fonterra Chief Executive Andrew Ferrier will open the New Plymouth conference. The two conferences have three workshops covering the topics adding value to the vat, valuing yourself and valuing employer/employee relationships. The conferences are being closed by guest speaker Cindy Gibbons, who is best known for her appearances on the television show 'How's Life?'.

The conferences are sponsored by The National Bank, Telecom, RD1, Ballance, Ambreed and Gallagher Group.

Mrs Webber says the Network for Women in Dairying was formed in 1998 to inform, educate, support and mentor women in dairying. It also aims to promote leadership and recognition for women in dairying.

Much of the Network's information is shared via the internet, where it has up to 400 women participating in an email group. The annual conferences and regional groups provide 'face-to-face' opportunities for women to meet.

"These different forums provide dairy women with greater access to knowledge so they are better able to add value to their dairy business," she says.

Further information on the conferences is available on the Network for Women in Dairying website, http://www.womenindairying.co.nz/.

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