Belinda's life as a trailblazer

IN A field historically dominated by men, Belinda Hazell has carved out a prominent role, becoming a leading advocate for women in agriculture in Tasmania. 

Through her leadership, hard work and dedication, Belinda has worked to empower women, improve industry standards, and foster a more inclusive environment. 

Her career in agriculture began in her family’s apple farming business. 

An identical triplet, Belinda and her sisters were often surrounded by the world of farming, but it was during her teenage years that her involvement in the industry truly took off. 

At 15 she began working for an apple exporting company in the Huon Valley.

“That was where I really started to get involved in the horticultural industry and also get involved with Rural Youth Tas,” she said.

“My sisters got involved with Rural Youth first and then they dragged me along and the rest is history.” 

Belinda said Rural Youth gave her the foundation and confidence to not only pursue a career in agriculture but also develop personal growth skills. 

“I was quite introverted, but Rural Youth gave me the confidence to do an overseas exchange,” she said. 

Working with growers and exporters helped build her agribusiness knowledge and laid the foundation for her future advocacy in the sector. 

As she transitioned into the professional world, Belinda quickly found herself as one of the few women in a male-dominated industry. “It was a challenging time for me,” she said. 

“I was the only female working in the office and certainly in the sector more broadly as a young female working in horticulture, there wasn’t a lot of us at the time.” 

However, her involvement with Rural Youth – and joining Tasmanian Women in Agriculture (TWiA) when it was first launched– helped create a supportive community for women like her. 

“For me, that organisation really started to highlight and make visible women in the primary industry sector and the different roles they were working,” she said. 

TWiA, which Belinda was a part of from its inception in 1990, provided much-needed visibility and support for women in agriculture. 

“Until that point you were sort of chugging away in the background, not really being seen and not necessarily being valued for what you were doing, even though you were side by side with your partner doing the same things,” she said. 

As chair of TWiA from 2016-2020, Belinda helped raise the voice of women in agriculture. 

Today, she is Emeritus Chair of TWiA, continuing to support in an advisory role. Her career has spanned various leadership roles and industries, but agriculture remains her passion. 

“I am really passionate about that because there’s a lot of women that are coming into agriculture for the first time."

“It’s great to have an organisation like Tasmanian Women in Agriculture or a local community so people know they’re not alone.” 

Her advocacy extends beyond just increasing the number of women in the industry. Belinda has worked tirelessly to tackle issues such as sexual harassment and bullying in rural workplaces. 

“Back when we were doing that work, 92 per cent of women working in the rural sector had been sexually harassed in some shape or form, which is appalling,” Belinda said. 

She has since seen positive changes in workplace culture, with more conversations around acceptable behaviour and a stronger focus on respect. 

Belinda’s efforts in the agricultural industry also include her consultancy work through Optimum Standard, where she currently works with businesses in various sectors, including food production, transport, warehousing, and health. 

As part of her current work, she is rolling out the Resilient Farming Tas program, helping farmers manage risks associated with climate change and other unforeseen challenges. 

She also works with different producers and growers and delivering training through FreshCare and helps businesses put in management systems surrounding food manufacturing, environmental health and safety or quality systems. 

In 2018, Belinda’s research on horticultural standards earned her a prestigious Churchill Fellowship, where she investigated how horticultural quality assurance systems can evolve to meet the demands of consumers and society.

Her research inspired the #howandwhywefarm campaign, which uses storytelling to promote the social purpose of farming and highlight the health benefits of fresh produce.

 Belinda’s dedication to the industry has not gone unnoticed.

In 2021, she was awarded the Tas mania Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership.

“That award really meant a lot to me, it verified that I’m not alone in what I’m doing, that it is being recognised and it does have value,” she said.

As a proud mother of three daughters, Belinda hopes her leadership will inspire future generations to break down barriers and pursue careers in agriculture, regardless of gender.

She is now in the stage of her career where she is looking to give back and do more volunteer work.