This year’s Women in Agribusiness (WIA) Summit aims to have attendees walk away being the most competent, knowledgeable experts in their field. More than 600 women from across the ag value chain are expected to attend this year’s summit at the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency, Sept. 26- 28.
Now in it’s sixth year, the event themed “Know Their Business Better” will include cutting-edge professional development breakout sessions and a focus on key forward-thinking topics presented by well-known experts in the sector such as:
- Jack Bobo, senior vice president and chief communication officer of Intrexon, who will address, “Can Ag Feed the Planet Before It Destroys It?”
- Julie Borlaug, associate director for external relations at the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, who will present on how companies can partner for innovation.
- Carol Kitchen, president and CEO of United Farmers of Alberta, who will speak to the challenges that producers are facing.
“With the opportunity in this forum for attendees to express their opinions, learn from others, and share best practices, we seek to support women’s advancement by demonstrating that they are knowledgeable experts in their industry,” said Event Director Joy O’Shaughnessy. “That does not need to focus on the fact that they are women, just the fact that success is attainable the more one ‘Knows Their Business Better.’ This Summit will be the conduit to knowledge, networking, and know-how.”
Guiding this entrepreneurial spirit is an accomplished National Advisory Board that this year welcomes Heather Anfang, vice president of marketing for U.S. Dairy Foods, at Land O’Lakes; Kristine Thompson, enterprise brand strategy director and CHS Women in Leadership, at CHS; and Jennifer Braasch, vice president and senior relationship manager for Commercial Banking National Food and Agribusiness Specialty Group, at Wells Fargo. Other members of the board hail from Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, Dow AgroSciences, Bunge Ltd, Cargill, and more.
Last year’s event drew women from 39 U.S. states and more than 200 agricultural companies.
