Lois Kowald is a Senior Account Manager at CSBP Fertilisers. She grew up on a mixed family farm in Katanning, where her connection to agriculture began at a young age. Lois completed most of her schooling in Katanning before attending Denmark Ag College for years 11 and 12. After that, she took a gap year to work before heading to university to explore her career options.
Lois’ path into agriculture wasn’t always straightforward. During her high school and university years, she did a lot of work experience to explore different career options. While she didn’t necessarily figure out exactly what she wanted to do, Lois gained valuable insights into which aspects of various roles she enjoyed and which ones she didn’t. Agriculture was always a familiar field, but she also got exposure to other industries. It wasn’t until she started an Agribusiness degree that she realised how much she loved the variety and challenges agriculture offers.
“Every experience you have in the industry adds to your knowledge and helps you build relationships with so many amazing people. It’s a never-ending learning process,” says Lois.
As a Senior Account Manager at CSBP Fertilisers, Lois manages a large sales area across multiple shires. Her role involves supporting growers to make informed decisions about fertiliser products, application rates, and management strategies to maximise productivity and profitability. Lois also helps implement field research trials, soil and plant testing, and monitors the effectiveness of fertiliser use over time. Additionally, she keeps growers informed about market trends, helping them manage price and supply risks, and ensures they have the products they need when they need them.
But Lois’ job isn’t just about sales and logistics. It’s about relationships. “It’s about being there for growers, understanding their needs, and helping them make the best decisions for their farm,” she explains. “The more I learn, the more I can offer them.”
Before joining CSBP, Lois completed a Bachelor of Agribusiness at Curtin University. The education she received provided her with the fundamental skills and network needed to get started in the industry. Lois started as a Trainee Account Manager and has worked her way up to Senior Account Manager, learning more and more along the way.
The most rewarding part of Lois’ job is seeing growers succeed. “Seasons can be unpredictable, with so many factors beyond the grower’s control,” she says. “So when a grower has a successful year, it’s something to celebrate. Watching them implement my recommendations and seeing tangible improvements in their productivity is extremely satisfying.”
In recent years, market volatility and supply concerns have added pressure to growers. Lois finds it fulfilling to help them navigate these challenges, offering guidance to reduce stress and make the best of tough situations. “Helping growers manage uncertainty and ease some of the burden gives me a great sense of accomplishment,” she adds.
When Lois isn’t working in the regions, she stays active and spends time at home. During the winter, she’s involved in netball, which allows her to be part of a social club and enjoy sport in a small-town setting. Lois and her partner are also in the process of renovating an old house, and they’ve recently started working on their garden and yard.
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance in an industry like agriculture can be challenging, especially with the travel demands and seasonal work. Lois admits it takes a conscious effort, and she makes sure to seek support when needed. “Sometimes, the work-life balance is skewed one way or the other depending on the time of year,” she explains. “But for me, it’s more important to do things well rather than trying to do too much. I always try to build balance into my work week.”
When asked about something most people don’t know about her, Lois chuckles and says, “That’s a hard one!” But for Lois, authenticity and connection are what matter most – whether she’s helping growers succeed, spending time with family and friends, or working on her next home project.
Her journey through agriculture has taught her the power of building relationships, continuing to learn, and finding joy in helping others. Lois is proud to be part of CSBP and contribute to the success of Australian agriculture.