Colette Newton is the Geraldton Zone General Manager for CBH and has worked for the co-operative for more than 12 years. Awarded an Australian Rural Leadership Foundation Scholarship through CBH in 2023, Collette has been instrumental in strengthening the Geraldton zone’s safety culture – not only for employees, but also for growers and transport workers.
It would be easy to assume that her successful career was inspired by growing up in the country and witnessing firsthand the production of wheat – but not even close! Hailing from York in the UK, Colette worked on the railways as a junior and then later as a project manager for Network Rail before receiving an exciting opportunity to move to Australia in 2011.
At the time, Collette’s Australian visa limited her to working in specific industries; one of which was agriculture. Even though she had no experience in the industry, she was up for the challenge and applied for a role with CBH and got it! Becoming the Zone Administration Coordinator for the Geraldton zone, she stayed in this role for seven years.
“Being the Zone Admin was a vital step in my career. I was exposed to all essential functions, growers, their families, and the front lines,” Colette said.
She recalls having some great mentors specifically the Geraldton Zone General Manager at the time Duncan Gray. By the seven-year point, Colette knew she was ready for a change and applied for the Manger – Area 2 role in the Geraldton Zone, and again was successful. Colette was now in the thick of operations and was one of the first female Area Managers at the time.
“Women bring a whole different feel to the job. Men have said to me over the years that having more women in the industry has made the working environment that much better for them too,” Colette said.
Colette recalls in her time that there was once a clear gender split of roles. Women were more likely to do the sampling and men worked on the grids. These days there are a new generation of workers, and they’re open to trying various roles and are not influenced by traditional gender stereotypes.
“We are seeing men sampling and women on the grids and vice versa. Agriculture is open to everyone, and it is so great to see a return in our casuals every year and a lot more women operators.
A highlight of Colette’s career has been forming relationships with growers and their families. Whilst it can be very emotional at times, with the ups and downs in the seasons, Colette said she has made lifelong friends and feels incredibly fortunate to be working in such a rich and diverse industry. From the growers to the science, shipping, rail and more.
“Agriculture is like a giant jigsaw. It took me a long time to be comfortable, but I think that’s why I stay in each role for quite some time”.
Another highlight for Colette has been witnessing the shift in the safety culture of the railway industry, including the introduction of protection officers and trained staff that can lock out the lines. Colette never thought that one day she would impart her UK rail experience to the Western Australian grains industry.
Colette’s story masterfully demonstrates that the agriculture industry is open to everyone, regardless of their background, and that you don’t need to have grown up on a farm or have studied agriculture to get a foot in the door. It’s a case that if you’re willing to give things a go and you’re committed to learning that anything is possible, and gender is no barrier