Meet Amy Williams - AgriBusiness and Economic Engagement

Council’s Strategic Plan 2030 and our Economic Development Strategy 2020-2025 recognises primary production as the primary driver of our local economy and the largest provider of jobs. During public consultation for these plans, we were told there was a need for an agribusiness officer to support primary producers and the agribusiness sector.

Council has engaged Amy Williams in this role. Amy was previously the Executive Officer of Primary Producers SA and then the Horticulture Coalition of SA. Prior to that, she was the Executive Officer of the former Natural Resources Management Council.

Locally, she has been the President of the Parawa Ag Bureau and a member of the Fleurieu Farming Systems board, and chaired the Fleurieu Dairyfarmers Collective Bargaining Group. She has also chaired the statewide Agribusiness Industry Skills Council and been a member of the SA Training and Skills Commission, the former Advisory Board of Agriculture, and Premier’s Sustainability Roundtable.

She is a member of the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board. Amy has an extensive background in natural resource management as well as agriculture – and has qualifications in both science and law.

She will be working in partnership with local agribusiness and government agencies to:

• Provide information about relevant government programs and assistance
• Support and encourage local and regional networks and groups – including by linking producers and groups with funding opportunities
• Promote agribusiness career pathways and skill development (in areas such as soils and pastures, animal health, ag tech, and business management)
• Work at a strategic level on issues such as heavy vehicle access, movement of ag vehicles, processing and value or supply chain issues, weed and pest management, waste minimisation and management, emergency preparedness, and crisis management (including biosecurity)
• Assist with regulatory challenges where possible
• Assist with communications and information flow between primary producers/agribusinesses and council.

You can contact Amy via email amywilliams@yankalilla.sa.gov.au or phone 8558 0200.