One of the most powerful aspects of Agri Women’s Development Trust (AWDT) programmes is the group environment, says facilitator Jemma Brunton.
“When you get all these women in a room, they become each other’s champions. They encourage each other in a way that I don’t usually get in other programmes.”
Not only that, the participants understand the unique challenges that exist in farming and are able to support each other.
“AWDT programmes give them a chance to step off the treadmill for a few days and think about what they want to do. I love seeing them start to get excited about their future and grow their self-belief, or hear other people believing in them and encouraging them,” says Jemma, who facilitates on Next Level and Escalator courses.
“For women who don’t get off the farm very often and don’t have access to professional development, it’s a chance to pause, connect with other people, really start to see their strengths, and take some time to think about where they want to go and how they might want to contribute differently.”
Jemma started with AWDT in 2018, initially undertaking learning design and training other facilitators. She began facilitating courses in 2021.
The work is a far cry from her first job out of university, running rehab programmes for offenders in prison. “I was 22 in a men’s prison. It was the most challenging job I’ve done.” It was the start of a long career in the public sector, working across several government agencies. One of the pieces of work Jemma is most proud of is her part in designing three leadership programmes for the Public Service Commission, designed to support leaders transitioning into new roles. It was a massive project, taking three and a half years, and it’s been implemented across the agencies that sit under the Public Service Commission and provides consistency to leadership across government, Jemma says.
Now ,she runs her coaching, facilitating and learning design business, Activating Potential. She continues to work with public sector organisations and has individual coaching clients.
Home is Kaiapoi in North Canterbury; Jemma moved to Christchurch from Wellington about three years ago when her family began migrating to the region. “I love that there’s water in all directions.” The beach is close by and it’s only a 15-minute walk to either Kaiapoi Lakes or Kaiapoi River. So when she’s not planning or delivering training, you’ll find Jemma outside walking by the water.
