Danica Leys has been selected as this year's NSW/ACT Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women's Award winner for her vision and commitment to a vibrant primary industries sector. 

She was announced the 2012 NSW/ACT winner at a gala dinner held at NSW Parliament House on Tuesday evening 21 February.

Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson congratulated Danica for her work in social media to help farmers overcome the challenges of isolation by providing them with a means to connect and gain relevant information to improve productivity in their rural industries.

'For many people the frontline of rural industries is no longer about being in the paddock - it's now in front of the computer - especially when more than half of our 1.6 million jobs in farming and related industries are located in Australia's six capital cities.

'Danica, a former agronomist, co-created AgChatOz, an online forum, and for the past 18 months has voluntarily helped run a weekly interactive Twitter dialogue each Tuesday evening to discuss rural issues across Australia.'

Danica has won a $10,000 bursary which she will use to expand AgChatOz and increase participation and understanding of social media amongst farmers by holding workshops and networking events.

Minister Hodgkinson also congratulated runner-up Corinne Annetts, who has established a boutique goat stud enterprise at Uralla which produces skin care products and is moving into commercial cheese-making.

'Corinne has successfully established markets for her products locally and internationally and has plans to establish a speciality goat cheese business to provide product to restaurants, cafes, events and functions,' Ms Hodgkinson said.

Pru Goward praised Danica and Corinne on their achievements and contribution to the primary industries sector.

'These Awards highlight the incredible array of skills and talents of rural women and the significant roles that they play in rural communities, but they also highlight our need to continue challenging perceptions,' Ms Goward said.

'The agricultural industry needs to draw on the diverse talents and perspectives of women like Danica and Corinne. Their unique approaches to connecting with people, establishing new markets, and their creativity show that increasingly, women are important players in rural economies.' 

Danica Leys, Pymble

Danica Leys has been involved in agriculture for the last 15 years. In her early career she worked as an agronomist in Narrabri and Dubbo before studying law. She now specialises in agribusiness, social media and employment law while maintaining a strong passion for rural and regional Australia.

In 2010 Danica saw the potential for social media to be a tool for farmers to have a stronger voice in metropolitan areas and bridge the rural-urban divide. She co-founded the online community forum AgChatOz* which is connecting country and city communities by providing a 'meeting place' for dialogue on important rural issues.

Danica will use her $10,000 winner's bursary to expand AgChatOz as a key instrument to further engage and educate the agricultural community in social media and raise the profile of primary industries across Australia. She will look at streamlining AgChatOz's social media platform and be involved in seminars, field days and workshops across Australia.

*AgChatOz is a social media advocacy group set up to engage the agricultural community in social media and to raise the profile of Australian agriculture to the wider community. Each Tuesday evening from 8-10pm, farmers, industry workers, agribusiness employees, government and other interested people come together to discuss a range of agricultural and rural issues on Twitter using the #agchatoz tag.

• NSW Rural Women's Award - interview with Award recipients and Primary Industries Minister: ABC Rural, 22 February 2012

Corinne Annetts, Uralla

Corinne Annetts and her family moved to the New England area in 2004 and started a boutique dairy goat stud enterprise. She established Sunhill Skin Essentials which makes and sells quality skin care products and moisturisers made from goat milk to clients in Australia and overseas. These products have proved successful in helping people who suffer from eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and scarring.

Corinne plans to expand the operation to make and supply specialty goat cheese products and further develop niche markets. In this fast growing industry she strives for excellence and wants to be recognised as a quality Australian supplier of a range of premium goat products.

Corinne proposed to use her bursary to travel to New Zealand on a study tour to increase her understanding and knowledge of the dairy goat industry.

• Rural women recognised: ABC New England North West, 22 February 2012
• Milking her way to success: Prime News, 28 December 2011
• Uralla producer makes the cut: NBN, 28 December 2011
• A passion for goats: ABC New England North West, 22 December 2011