Growing up in Geraldton, surrounded by the open skies and close-knit community of regional WA, laid the foundations for a deep love of rural life for one passionate advocate of Australian agriculture. Those early years instilled in her a genuine appreciation for the land, the resilience of farming communities, and a strong sense of connection to regional living.
After meeting her husband at university, the couple eventually settled on his family’s farm in York. Today, she works as Communications Manager for InterGrain – a national plant breeding company – where she channels her passion for agriculture into storytelling, strategy, and impact. “I feel so grateful to be part of the grains industry, our family farming business, and to live in such a beautiful part of the world like the WA wheatbelt.”
Agriculture wasn’t always on the cards. With a background in environmental science from Curtin University, her path into the ag world came unexpectedly. “Agriculture was never on my radar,” she admits. “But during my degree, I worked casually for a research agronomy company and discovered a genuine interest in agriculture and saw a promising career path.” This early experience led to her first role as a policy officer at WAFarmers, before moving into communications and marketing roles in the grains industry; a space she’s grown to love for its people, its purpose, and its potential.
In 2023, she applied for the prestigious Nuffield Scholarship; an opportunity she thought was a long shot. To her delight, she was awarded the scholarship and embarked on a global journey to explore the rapidly growing oat industry. “I saw Nuffield as a way to better understand the global oat landscape and how Australian oats could be positioned for future opportunities. It’s been incredible to meet so many inspiring people and gain a broader perspective on agriculture.”
With Nuffield came significant time away, over four months on the road in 2024 alone. That time away brought its challenges. “It was tough on my relationships, work, and routine. The key was support at home. I’m so lucky to have a very supportive husband, family and friends who encouraged me to embrace the opportunity.” She also credits her employer, InterGrain, and her team for supporting her absence and encouraging her professional growth.
While the ag industry is often seen as male-dominated, her experience has been largely positive. “I’ve worked in teams with balanced gender representation and have had strong female leaders who encouraged me.” She acknowledges, however, that living rurally can still pose barriers, particularly around career progression and leadership opportunities. “There’s still work to be done to ensure people living regionally can pursue their goals without having to relocate. Remote and flexible roles are key to unlocking the full potential of the regional workforce.”
Among her proudest achievements is simply saying yes to opportunities – even when they felt intimidating. “I’ve learned that growth happens outside your comfort zone. Nuffield is a great example. I had serious imposter syndrome, but I took the leap and it’s changed my life.”
And when she’s not advocating for agriculture or diving into strategic communications, you’ll likely find Shannen in her element – out in a paddock with a camera or drone in hand. “I do in fact have a hobby that I absolutely love, and that is photography! You can often find me capturing farming pics – it’s something that brings me so much joy.”