WESTPAC’S new Regional General Manager of Agribusiness for Queensland, Peta Ward, is returning to her roots after 11 years to work with the people and communities she started life with.
Mrs Ward, who has taken over the reins from Westpac veteran Rod Kelly, grew up on a beef property at Yuleba in south-east Queensland, and is excited to be working with the agribusiness industry in her home state for the first time since beginning her banking career with Westpac in Victoria.
“Growing up on the land has given me a great affinity with people from the land,” she said.
“I understand the emotion that goes along with being on the land, and the connection that people feel, and that’s the foundation of my banking approach.”
In her new position, she will support customers throughout regional Queensland, including farmers, agribusiness professionals and services to agribusiness at every stage of the value chain.
Prior to her latest appointment, Mrs Ward spent 11 years in Victoria most recently as Westpac’s Head of Commercial and Agribusiness in Gippsland and Sunraysia, and has devoted her working life to regional Australia, in both agribusiness and commercial banking.
Rod Kelly, who has retired after 40 years of service with Westpac and to Queensland, has no doubt that she is the right person to take on the role.
“I’m confident handing my position over to Peta, her wealth of experience and passion for agriculture will truly benefit our Queensland customers,” Mr Kelly said.
“Peta studied Agricultural Science at Queensland University majoring in Animal Science so understands what makes agribusiness unique. The challenging and changeable nature of farming is familiar to her,” he said.
Mrs Ward sees many opportunities for Westpac’s role in regional communities. Since taking up her new role, she has attended the Young Beef Producers forum, a two day conference for those under 40 with an interest in the beef industry.
Westpac also supports a number of other initiatives close to her heart, including the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Awards and the Graeme Acton Beef Connections program. These enable her to foster collaborative networks within regional communities, and understand the bigger picture behind current challenges.
“We are in a great position to be able to partner with our customers and communities, to help them grow and be successful – in good times and bad times, as we have done for nearly 200 years.
“One of the big issues for our rural communities is that the current drought comes on top of low commodity prices, making it very difficult and creating a compound effect on cash flow.
“Our Westpac QLD Agribusiness team is here to support our customers, and the broader communities they live in. With skilled and experienced bankers who understand their business and enable our customers to achieve their short term and long term goals.”
She believes supporting both her customers and her staff can strengthen communities and local businesses, and she wants to bring talented people with agribusiness skills into banking and help them create new connections with rural communities.
“I want to be somebody who makes a difference in regional Australia. Somebody who sees our regional communities and agribusiness grow and be successful, domestically and globally.”
