GLENMORE entrepreneur Nikki Davey has been awarded the 2023 VIC AgriFutures Rural Women's Award for her trail–blazing approach to sustainable farming practices in the flower industry.
The prestigious award was presented at a ceremony in Melbourne by Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Regional Development Michaela Settle.
The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award is Australia's leading award in empowering and celebrating the inclusive and courageous leadership of women involved in Australia's rural and emerging industries, businesses, and communities, now and into the future.
Ms Davey, co–founder of Grown Not Flown, was selected for her work in creating a digital platform that supports the slow flower movement by connecting flower consumers with local and sustainable producers.
The slow flower movement aims to encourage sustainable farming practices by reducing flower miles, and encourage consumers to buy from the many local small–scale producers who make up the Victorian flower industry.
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Launched in the July of 2021, Ms Davey along with her cousin Jayde Timms, had envisaged a global directory of flower farmers, which would not only educate consumers on seasonality but also make it easy to search, source and connect with local growers.
"Our focus was more on micro and small–scale growers, to remove the need for these individuals to build their own website and engage in marketing to find their consumers," said Ms Davey.
"We wanted consumers to be able to come to them, knowing what they had available and when, and to create a level and fair playing field."
The resulting platform has become a global community of flower growers, which the founders hope will continue to evolve into a one–stop shop for consumers, whether they are wholesalers, florists, event stylists, hospitality venues, DIY brides or just everyday flower lovers.
"The next phase for us is to include florists and floral designers on the app who are using locally grown produce to offer that level of transparency for all flowers consumers," said Ms Davey.
"So that consumers known when they use the Grown Not Flown app, they're supporting local, whether it be local flowers, local businesses or local florists.
"There are also plans to extend on the functionality within the app, so that people can transact, send invoices and click–and–collect.
"Future goals also include the ability to collate seasonality pricing and industry data that can then be shared back into the sector, with a view to assisting growers with their whole farm plan."
As part of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award, Ms Davey receives a $15,000 grant from Westpac to further support her project as well as the opportunity to undertake a professional development course of her choosing.
Ms Davey will go on to represent Victoria at the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award Gala Dinner and National Announcement in Canberra later in the year where the National Winner will be awarded an additional $20,000 Westpac grant and the National Runner Up, an additional $15,000.
"I feel so incredibly grateful for this opportunity to be able to share our Grown Not Flown story and platform with everyone, and to help promote and raise awareness around flower miles, slow flowers and supporting local," Ms Davey said.
"As a self–funded start–up, often progress can be very slow and so this Westpac grant will be an absolute game changer for us and what we can achieve in the next 12 months.
"I'm so excited and proud to be joining an Alumni community of supportive and strong women who are real change makers within their rural communities."
Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Regional Development Michaela Settle commended Ms Davey and fellow finalists Grace Larson, Neha Samar, Michelle Daga and Sarah Duncanson for their brilliant work and ongoing contribution to rural and regional communities in Victoria.
"Victoria is proud to congratulate the 2023 Victorian finalists, all of them showcase the powerful impact women have across our regional communities," said Ms Settle.
All five women will now join a 300–strong alumni which provides a network to support their future endeavours.
AgriFutures Managing Director John Harvey hopes Ms Davey's achievements will inspire other determined and forward–thinking female leaders working in rural, regional and remote communities across Victoria for years to come.
"The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award provides these women a platform to build on their leadership skills to drive change in rural and regional Australia," Mr Harvey explained.
"It's exciting to see Nikki already making such a positive influence in her industry and community," he said.
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"There has been a huge focus on provenance of food, and the whole paddock to plate ethos.
"We want the floral industry to receive the same attention.
"We want consumers to feel the same way about flowers."
–Nikki Davey, Grown not Flown
