Graduating in 1991 with a degree in Agricultural Science majoring in Horticulture Management, Amanda Woollams looks back on her time at the University of Tasmania fondly. She remembers her cohort as “small but committed and enthusiastic” and speaks of the breadth of teaching quality, subjects, and learning experiences.
“Being such a broad degree with learning in many areas, an Agricultural Science degree provided an early knowledge base in food production systems, quality control and processes, economics and finances,” she said.
“The degree created a wide starting experience and encouraged pursuit of knowledge in many areas of agriculture. In my case, food production and quality systems.”
After graduating, Amanda started her career in 1992 in Launceston as an agricultural and horticultural agronomist before moving to the United Kingdom in 1997 to work as a senior agricultural advisor. During this time, she worked with farmers to supply major retail chains with fresh vegetables and implemented innovative pest monitoring and reporting programs.
In 2000, she moved to Brisbane to work as a senior loss advisor working in a specialised capacity with legal and insurance teams on agricultural matters.
“We also came back to Australia to be with family and have a family of our own. My husband wanted to start a French wine importation business in Australia, so we moved back to support this career pursuit,” she said.
Amanda then took a slight deviation to further study commercial law in Melbourne in 2009, attributing her success in food management and export compliance to her unique combination of agricultural science and law experience, which enabled her to work in management in Australia and overseas.
With over 30-years of experience in food, law and agriculture, Amanda now utilises her skills to provide expert advice and to assist Tasmanian food producers to get their ideas planted, growing and to market.
“My current role as CEO for Harvest Market allows me to manage a small, member not-for-profit organisation using the skills I have developed over my working career. These experiences allow me to help develop small scale food and beverage producers in Tasmania,” she said.
Amanda is also the principal consultant at Tin Cow Consulting, providing expert advice and support in the areas of food and therapeutic product development and improvement, food quality systems, domestic and export regulatory programs, and domestic and international certifications, including ISO standards and organic certifications.
Amanda has been able to provide valuable support to many reputable food manufacturers across a range of sectors, specialising in recipe development, standardisation, certification and quality control programs, plus programs for local and export market readiness.
Amanda is particularly passionate about preparing businesses to access international export markets and has been dedicated to supporting businesses with growth and expansion throughout her varied and diverse career.
Amanda today lives on the West Tamar Valley in Tasmania and loves being part of an established premium food and wine culture and would like to encourage more people to take on further training in agricultural science.