Trans-Tasman scholarship encourages students into fresh produce careers
The PMA A-NZ Career Pathways Program scholarships allowed students to attend the produce industry’s premier conference and trade show, PMA Fresh Connections 2014 on 24-26 June in Auckland. There, they received an industry orientation and were assigned a mentor who works in the industry. During the conference students were able to network with industry leaders from across the fresh fruit, vegetable and floral supply chain, and participate in the conference’s educational sessions. Throughout the event, mentors shared their experiences with their students, facilitated networking and highlighted career opportunities – both immediately and as their career progresses.
"The Career Pathways Program provides an excellent platform for University students to discover the diverse range of career opportunities within the growing, exciting and fast-paced horticultural industry, and to establish connections to open doors within the fruit, vegetable and floral sectors," said Elizabeth Wunsch, a Career Pathways participant from the University of Queensland.
"PMA Fresh Connections strengthened my interest in fruit and vegetable production, marketing and export/import trade, and enabled personal and professional development.
"I enjoyed meeting other University students from various backgrounds, and I made connections with several agribusinesses regarding future work experience, internships, employment positions and attendance at University events, which I hope to pursue further," she finished.
Fellow participant Arjune Dhaya from Massey University found the mentoring aspect to be particularly valuable.
"The mentor to student relationship component of the Career Pathways Program was very beneficial, and has led to potential job opportunities. My mentor introduced me to many delegates within our industry that I haven’t met before. I made new contacts and got to see what the produce industry is currently going through, and was also excited to see the new innovations that are up and coming."
Participating students came from universities across Australia and New Zealand, including University of Auckland, Lincoln University, Massey University, University of Queensland, University of Sydney and University of Tasmania.
The PMA A-NZ Career Pathways 2014 scholarship recipients were New Zealand students Arjune Dhaya and Yaqin Yao from Massey University, Kevin Winder and Ellen O'Connell from Lincoln University, and Akarin Opassathavorn from Auckland University; and Australian students Bianca Ventimiglia and Courtney Dillon from University of Sydney, Elizabeth Wunsch and Georgina Pegg from University of Queensland, and Sarah Hammond from University of Tasmania.
Since the program began in 2007, 50 university students have participated in the industry immersion programs. Of those participants, approximately 65 percent began careers in the industry. The Career Pathways Program, offered in conjunction with the PMA Foundation for Industry Talent, is one component of PMA A-NZ’s Industry Talent Initiative, designed to attract, develop and retain key staff.
“We recognise that talented people are vital to the future, health and success of the fresh produce and floral value chain," said Michael Worthington, CEO of PMA A-NZ.
"The Career Pathways Program is one way we fulfil the Industry Talent Initiative’s mission to attract the best and brightest students to begin careers in the fresh produce industry.“
PMA A-NZ's Erin Hart, who co-ordinates the program, says that the program is designed to benefit students, universities, and the industry alike.
"There are so many opportunities available right across the fresh produce supply chain for students with a wide range of backgrounds, from food science, to accounting, to marketing," said Ms. Hart.
"For students and universities, participating in the Career Pathways Program widens their understanding of those opportunities. It also helps to position the industry as an 'industry of choice,' not only to the students who participate, but to the wider community as the students who participate then act as industry ambassadors to their peers," she said.
Ms. Hart said it also enabled industry members to connect with bright new talent.
"For industry members it's a valuable opportunity to meet new talent face-to-face, and many use it to fill internships and entry-level positions. On top of that, those mentors and industry members who are involved with the program and interact with the students often report that they learn as much from the students as the students do from them," she added.
Tim Altham of PickMee! Fruit Company volunteered as an industry mentor, and was impressed by the level and standard of the students.
"The industry is struggling to get a younger generation interested but after PMA Fresh Connections I can see that there are some that see a future in produce" said Mr. Altham.
"The level and standard of the students this year was outstanding, the enthusiasm was high and the students were keen to learn about the industry. I would certainly be happy to participate in the mentor program again" he said.
Recruiting high-level talent is critically important to the fresh-produce industry. In Australia alone, one in six jobs depend on agricultural production, yet the industry has the lowest number of workers with post-secondary qualifications. In 2009, only 7.8 percent of agricultural workers had tertiary qualifications, in contrast to 25 percent for the wider communities; but 62 percent of the agribusiness workforce is classified as managers or professionals.
PMA Fresh Connections 2014 was the result of a first-ever Trans-Tasman collaboration among PMA A-NZ, the Australian Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers, Horticulture New Zealand, and United Fresh New Zealand. The event was widely lauded by attendees, and set attendance records with over 1100 delegates attending from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Norway, People’s Republic of China, the United States and Vietnam. PMA Fresh Connections will return to Melbourne in 2015, on 12-14 May at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
More information about the PMA A-NZ Career Pathways Program, and the Industry Talent Initiative can be found at www.pma-anz.com/industry-talent. For further information about PMA Fresh Connections, visit www.pmafreshconnections.com.au.
For more information:
Erin Hart
PMA Australia-New Zealand Ltd
Tel: +61 3 8844 5536
Email: e.hart@pma-anz.com