Flora Zhang is a regional agricultural trade leader whose journey from Nanning to Kuala Lumpur to Brisbane has given her a unique commercial vantage.
After working in the macadamia and almond industries, Flora is now the General Manager of Export at Avocados Australia.
In this crucial role, Flora draws on her commercial expertise and cultural fluency to position Australia as a leading avocado exporter across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Home away from home Down Under
Flora's international journey began when she left Nanning, China to study at Monash University in Malaysia. She found herself on a campus where Malay, Indian, Malaysian Chinese, and global students collaborated on various projects.
'That multicultural environment laid a solid foundation for what I do today,' she says. 'Engaging with international stakeholders goes beyond just language skills.'
After graduation, Flora moved to Melbourne to pursue a Master of Business Economics. When she completed her Masters, she was offered 2 roles. One was with Disneyland Shanghai in a corporate position, and the other with a family-owned macadamia farm in Bundaberg, Central Queensland.
She chose 'the curious path' and landed in Bundaberg with little knowledge of the city other than it was known as 'a sugar town.'
To her surprise, she discovered that Bundaberg is the official sister city of her hometown Nanning. Energised by her new role, she lived with a host family and inherited a "Bundy mum" whom she still visits every Christmas.
'It was my taste of true Australia,' she says.
A smashing success at Avocados Australia
After working as export manager for almond and macadamia commercial operations, Flora's admiration for the depth and industry-wide impact that peak industry bodies can generate inspired her to join Avocados Australia in 2021.
When she began, 4% of Australia's crop reached overseas markets. Her goal was to instil an export mindset across the avocado sector.
