The University of Queensland Agribusiness and Rural Management students recently attended a dinner to celebrate their upcoming graduation and thank industry for their support.
The 19th Annual Rural Management and Agribusiness Dinner was held at the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre and attended by staff, students and industry partners that contribute to the training of students.
The main business of the night was the presentation of two awards, the Queensland Cotton Award and the Balaiah & Bhumamma Chamala Memorial Prize, both won by Ms Kirby Wales.
Ms Wales grew up on a cattle property in Biloela in Central Queensland and after attending UQ Gatton Open Day and the residential camp Future Experiences in Agriculture, Science and Technology enrolled in the Agribusiness program.
"When I was announced as the winner I was both surprised and very proud as I had worked very hard over the three years," Ms Wales sad.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the agribusiness program, it's not something you can learn from a textbook, and being such a practical degree is what made it such a useful program. It has equipped me with the right tools to have a successful career in the agribusiness industry."
"Next year, I am looking to head back to the Central Queensland region and pursue a career in the animal nutrition field," she said.
Managing Director of Club Trading and Distribution Pty Ltd and UQ alumnus Mr Tim Fairbairn was the guest speaker for the dinner. He shared words of wisdom with the upcoming graduates, emphasizing the importance of this degree and how it led to him running a successful organisation.
School of Agriculture and Food Sciences Agribusiness and Rural Management students will be a part of the graduation ceremony at UQ's Gatton Campus on 12 December.
Media: Erin Pearl (07) 5460 1229 or e.pearl@uq.edu.au or Karli Kollegger (07) 5460 1279, k.kollegger@uq.edu.au
