Agri-business leader to become Senior Fellow
Award-winning agricultural businesswoman Martha Shepherd of Cooroy will become an Honorary Senior Fellow of the University of the Sunshine Coast on Thursday 24 April.
Ms Shepherd, whose business success stemmed from realising the marketing potential of native rainforest fruit, will accept the award at USC’s graduation ceremony.
Her company, Galeru – which she established with her partner David Haviland in 1997 – produces unique fruit sauces and gourmet bakery products using native Australian rainforest fruits grown in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
The duo developed an environmentally-sustainable and commercially-viable business from Ms Shepherd’s small property, establishing a value chain of independent producers to grow enough native fruits to produce Galeru’s range of products.
Ms Shepherd’s work in developing a model for the sustainable use of small parcels of farmland earned her the inaugural Australian Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Rural Women’s Award in 2006.
She was appointed Innovator in Residence for 2007 by the Centre for Rural and Regional Innovation in Queensland, and received a government scholarship in 2008 to explore new processing technologies and new market opportunities for her products in Australia and the United States.
Ms Shepherd said she was thrilled about receiving the USC honorary award, which will be made in recognition of her contributions to agri-business on the Sunshine Coast.
“It was surprising and unexpected … and a terrific honour,” she said. “I’m looking forward to a future association with the University as well, in developing new crops.”
Ms Shepherd will be one of four people to receive honorary awards at USC’s graduation ceremony which is set to be attended by a record crowd of 2,600 people.
Former USC Chancellor Ian Kennedy AO, will become an Honorary Doctor of the University, while popular culture expert Associate Professor Karen Brooks and former USC business academic Dr Paul Corcoran will become Honorary Senior Fellows.
— Terry Walsh