| 3 RURAL PEOPLE » Women in Pamu Women forging ahead with Pamu Regional Business Manager Kathryn Broomfield. Kim Newth New Zealand’s oldest and largest farming company is also proving to be one of its most progressive, with considerable progress being made on closing the gender pay gap and growing opportunities for women to succeed as farm leaders. In 2022, the national gender pay gap was 9.2 per cent but Pamu is getting much closer to eliminating that difference altogether with a gender pay gap in 2022 of only 2.91 per cent. Other industries lag much further behind, with a 25 per cent gender pay gap for workers in Financial and Insurance Services. Pamu has recognised that farming needs the best people available at the farm leadership level and that many women are well-equipped for leadership with their extensive knowledge of land, animals and production systems and plenty of on-farm experience. Within Pamu, 15 per cent of dairy farm managers are women, and that percentage is rising each year. “If they see that you have potential, then they really support you to grow and develop,” says Napier-based Kim Douglas, who has a split role as a Pamu business analyst for North Island livestock farms as well as serving as a business manager for two farms. After finishing school, Kim pursued her interest in farming by completing an agricultural science degree at Massey University, picking up practical experience along the way in sheep and beef and dairy goats. At the end of her degree, she successfully applied for a dairy business analyst role with Pamu on the South Island’s West Coast and started with the Weka Complex in 2018. Only six weeks into the job, a change in personnel saw her also covering the Westport Cape Foulwind Complex. Essentially, her portfolio doubled in the first year to that of business analyst for all of the West Coast, but Kim says she was wellsupported to meet the challenge. “The manager there, Cameron Walker, was an important person for me – I learned a phenomenal amount from him.” Last January, Kim moved back to her home stamping ground in Hawke’s Bay to take up the North Island livestock business analyst role, also supporting two farms as their business manager, and is relishing the opportunity Pamu has given her to gain sheep and beef experience. “With Pamu, there is plenty of mentorship and leadership training. I have spent a lot of time shoulder-to-shoulder with other business managers in the North Island doing farm visits with them and learning from them. I’ve only been in livestock for a year so there is still heaps to get my head around. Full credit to Ross Shepherd, [Head of Farming - North Island Livestock] who has mentored me a lot over the past year. My goal is to be a confident and proficient business manager in both dairy and livestock farming systems.” Based in Taupo, Kathryn Broomfield is another highflier with Pamu, working as a business manager supporting seven livestock farms. Kathryn grew up in Hawke’s Bay and, for 15 years, sharemilked with her husband on a family dairy farm in Reporoa. The couple left the farm 18 months ago, with Kathryn’s husband making a career change. Kathryn remains fully engaged with agriculture as she continues her career with Pamu that began eight years ago. “I started as the office girl on the dairy side of the business at Reporoa and then went across and helped with ex-forestry conversions before taking over the operations manager role. When I put my hand up for that role, the response was ‘absolutely’. Pamu has always been so supportive.” Three years ago, Kathryn moved to a business analyst role on the livestock side. Coming from a dairy background, switching to livestock has been a whole new learning curve but she has grabbed it with both hands and since stepped up to her current role as business manager with a full farm portfolio. This year, Kathryn is taking part in the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme to further extend her knowledge and networks and is in the throes of writing a report on how technology can be harnessed to achieve sustainable agriculture in New Zealand. Summarising her career with Pamu, Kathryn says she has been encouraged every step of the way to achieve her ultimate goal of being a thought leader who can support farmers to adapt and succeed through change. “It has been a great experience.” WELL DRILLING EXPERTS FOR OVER 70 YEARS • Domestic and irrigation water wells • Bore services and development • Bore security • Camera inspections • Ground water surveying - SES • Full consultancy services available 06 844 2167 | admin@baylisbros.co.nz | www.baylisbroswelldrillers.co.nz 0274 835 027 m.webster@xtra.co.nz We can help you from hanging up a picture frame to building your dream home! Do not hesitate to contact us today for any rural work too. 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