Sally Turner

Administration is not generally a favourite business task, but Sally Turner is on a mission to reframe it as a strategic asset, rather than a burden. 

Sally, a New South Wales-based agricultural consultant and mixed farmer, has a background blending practical farming with business acumen. 

She is currently studying a Bachelor of Agriculture at Charles Sturt University and holds qualifications in work health and safety, bookkeeping and accounting. Sally runs Ag Opti Systems, providing work health and safety, human resources, administration, data management and bookkeeping support to farm businesses. 

Along with her husband, they run a mixed farming enterprise at Trundle, New south Wales, with a self-replacing Merino flock, also producing prime lambs. They grow cereal crops and offer contract harvesting and spraying services. 

Her topic, “Reframing farm administration: mindset, skills and systems for resilient, profitable ag businesses”, will explore how farmers around the world are transforming administration through culture, education and scalable systems. 

Sally aims to investigate how countries like New Zealand, Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada, and the UK support farmers in adopting digital tools, governance models, and structured workflows that reduce stress and improve decision-making. She hopes to bring back practical tools and cultural insights to help Australian farmers treat administration as the engine of a future-ready farm.

Her research aligns with the National Farmers' Federation 2030 Roadmap, particularly goals around financial literacy, digital adoption, and governance reform. 

With her blend of lived experience, strategic thinking, and commitment to community, Sally is ready to lead a cultural shift in how Australian agriculture approaches the business behind the business.