Penny Hooper
Tasmanian agribusiness professional Penny Hooper is tackling one of agriculture’s most persistent challenges: how to make livestock and dairy farming compatible with a sustainable work-life balance.
Specifically, Penny sets out on her Nuffield travels to explore whether livestock and dairy farming can be profitable when working a 40-hour week.
As the Executive Officer at BWB Management, Penny oversees reporting, budgeting, HR, and strategic planning across seven dairy farms in Northern Tasmania.
The farms collectively milk 7200 cows across 3200 hectares, producing 3.4 million kilograms of milk solids annually.
Penny left an earlier on-farm role to take up the position at BWB Management, but says she’s now reluctant to return to her preferred style of on-farm work due to the lack of flexibility and balance.
She is driven to learn from industries and cultures that have adapted to attract and retain staff through offering flexible hours and improved work conditions. She will also examine how data systems and task planning can reduce burnout, improve retention, and maintain profitability.
With a Bachelor of Agribusiness from Marcus Oldham College and a background in livestock management, Penny brings both operational insight and strategic acumen to her role and studies.
Penny aims to investigate models in countries like the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland, where quality of life and agricultural innovation intersect.
Her goal is to help reshape perceptions of agricultural employment and offer practical solutions for a healthier, more sustainable workforce.
Investor Information:
The JM Roberts Charitable Trust was established in 2003 by the late John Roberts with a goal to provide additional funding to support and promote the well-being of our natural environment today and for generations to come.
Specifically, the Trust has a focus in the areas of reducing land and soil degradation, clean waterways, re-vegetation, managing erosion and informing and educating the community and youth on the importance of land care.
Website: jmroberts.org
The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) is a research institute at the University of Tasmania specialising in research, development, extension and education to support prosperous, innovative and sustainable agriculture and food sectors in Tasmania. TIA began in 1997 as a joint venture between the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government, bringing together the human and physical resources of the Tasmanian Government with the scientific research and teaching capacity of the University of Tasmania.
Website: www.utas.edu.au/tia/about
