As part of International Women's Day 2026, RIC (Regional Investment Corporation) celebrates the diverse roles women undertake in agriculture and recognises the power of meaningful support and collaboration enabling women to lead, innovate and grow stronger farming businesses.
RIC Executive Director Program Delivery, Alli Gregory said this year's International Women's Day theme, Balance the Scales, is an important reminder that when women are invested in and backed, their success creates lasting benefits for families, farms and communities alike.
"From the farm to the boardroom, we're proud of the many ways women are leading and making a difference in the Australian agriculture industry," Ms Gregory said.
"At RIC, we're incredibly fortunate that 55 per cent of our team are female and 80 per cent of our Board are women. The leadership, expertise and diverse perspectives they bring strengthen our organisation every day, shaping better decisions and delivering stronger outcomes for the regional communities we support.
"We're equally excited to support women grow farm businesses. Together, we're turning ambition into opportunity, building innovation, resilience and sustainability into Australian agriculture, strengthening the sector for the long-term."
RIC is proud to be a Networking sponsor for the Australian Women in Agriculture conference to be held in Orange, NSW on 27-29 July 2026. The conference is a national gathering for rural and regional women, bringing together leaders to share knowledge, strengthen connections and shape the future of Australian agriculture.
"Strong networks are at the heart of thriving rural communities, and RIC is delighted to play a role in this forum to help ensure women across agriculture can build the relationships and opportunities that drive real change," Ms Gregory said.
Self-starter builds cattle herd with RIC loan
Victorian cattle farmer, Danna Boulton is forging her own path with the support of a RIC AgriStarter Loan. After gaining hands-on experience on her family farm in the Gippsland region, Danna was able to purchase nearby grazing land and grow her herd from 30 calves in 2023 to more than 220-head three years later.
"I struggled a bit with the stereotype of 'you're a girl, you can't do that', but now I'm confident enough in my own ability and knowledge that people do take me seriously," she said.
"They see you loading cattle and you're the one who's bought them and then they see you selling cattle at the yards and, well, the proof's in the pudding, isn't it? They say, 'wow are they yours? They're in good order'."
Retaining at least 50 per cent of her total debt with a commercial lender provided additional serviceability benefits to support Danna's entrepreneurial dreams.
"I don't think the bank would have lent me the money to buy the property without the support of a RIC loan at the same time because they would have looked at it and thought there was no way I could afford the interest on the entirety of the loan.
"By breaking it in half, they were able to say, 'well the first 5 years are interest-only so you can get on your feet'."
RIC's low-interest loans help farm businesses manage through and recover from tough financial times, start their farming journey or support succession planning. By unlocking financial pathways, RIC helps farmers like Danna not just enter agriculture but thrive in it.
For more on Danna Boulton's story visit www.ric.gov.au/loans/customer-stories
