International Day of Rural Women: Driving Change, Innovation, and Connection

On 15 October, we came together virtually to celebrate International Day of Rural Women, a day that honours the strength, leadership and quiet determination of women in rural and remote communities.

The conversation, moderated by Megan Papadopoulos (WiBF Director), brought together two powerful voices in agribusiness, Olivia McFarlane (Head of Customer Delivery, Bendigo Bank Agribusiness) and Ella Kearsley (Agribusiness Relationship Manager, ANZ), to reflect on both the opportunities and ongoing challenges shaping life and work outside urban centres.

For Ella, who grew up on a broadacre farm on South Australia’s Lower Eyre Peninsula, this conversation was deeply personal. She shared how technology has reshaped rural life, noting, “digital connectivity is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s essential for young people like me who want to build meaningful careers in agriculture without having to leave the communities we love.”

Ella’s passion for environmental sustainability and financial literacy shone through as she spoke about empowering the next generation of rural leaders and ensuring “no one is left behind just because of their postcode.”

Olivia reflected on her 25+ years in the banking industry and the transformation she’s witnessed in regional communities. “Rural women have always been leaders, in business, in families, in communities. What’s changing now is the recognition and the tools we have to amplify their impact.”

She spoke of the power of connection, both digital and human, to drive resilience and opportunity, and highlighted the role organisations can play in backing local initiatives and removing barriers to financial access. Throughout the session, a shared theme emerged: innovation in rural communities isn’t just about new technology, it’s about connection, inclusion and recognising the lived experiences of women who are driving change from the ground up.

At WiBF, we host events like these to shine a light on important conversations, elevate diverse voices, and create opportunities for learning and connection across our community. By bringing together members from across the banking and finance sector, no matter where they live, we aim to foster meaningful dialogue that drives real change.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for this virtual celebration. It was wonderful to see WiBF members tuning in from across the globe, reflecting the strength of our community and the shared commitment to advancing equity and opportunity.

If you missed the session, you can catch up now via WiBF On Demand, simply log in to your WiBF Dashboard to watch the full recording. As the conversation drew to a close, there was a shared sense of quiet pride and momentum. Stories like Ella’s and Olivia’s remind us why these spaces matter, because when women in rural communities are heard, supported, and connected, entire regions flourish.

Their words weren’t just reflections; they were calls to keep showing up, to keep listening and to keep building pathways that make opportunity possible no matter the postcode.

This event was a celebration, but more than that, it was a reminder: real change begins when we come together to share, to innovate and to see each other clearly.