Five tips for nailing your evokeAG. Groundbreakers Program application
Applications for the evokeAG. Groundbreakers Program open on Friday August 2, offering five emerging leaders in agrifood and related industries the opportunity to present their innovations at the evokeAG. 2025 event in Brisbane – and plenty more. For young leaders throwing their hats into the ring, outgoing program manager Emily Jones has five tips for success.
Dr Roberta Marcoli, evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2024 Future Young Leader.
Formerly known as the evokeAG. Future Young Leaders program, the evokeAG. Groundbreakers Program has been renamed to better reflect the innovative and impactful leadership of its participants.
Now in its fourth year, the 2025 program will empower five emerging leaders in agrifood and related industries, guiding them to present their innovations at the evokeAG. 2025 event in Brisbane. Participants receive mentoring and a post-event bursary, supporting their goals to enhance rural communities and advance Australian agriculture.
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They also receive group media training to prepare them for interviews and other media opportunities, and a full day videography and photography shoot to capture their story and build their portfolio of professional images.
Emily Jones, (centre) outgoing Groundbreakers program manager, with the 2024 cohort.
Return airfares, five days of accommodation, food, and taxi fares during the week of evokeAG. are all included in the program, as well as two in-person mentoring sessions with their cohort prior to and after the two-day event. Their attendance at evokeAG. is inclusive of the official Welcome Event, and often participants will receive complimentary tickets and/or invitations to other sideline events over the week.
Sam Lambert, evokeAG. 2024 Future Young Leader.
This year, AgriFutures Australia is looking for applications from applicants who can show their “common ground” – the 2025 events theme – and has a strong focus on impact. You may not have your own startup or be working on a revolutionary piece of research, but if you can demonstrate that the work you are doing for the world, the nation, or just your small rural community is having a big impact on Australian agriculture and its people, then this program is for you.
With just five places available, outgoing program manager, Emily Jones, expects competition to be tough. Here’s her top five tips to help your application stand out.
1. There’s a deadline, but don’t rush it
Set time aside in your calendar to complete and proofread your application – and then double it.
“We get so many applications come in at the last minute and often they just haven’t given themselves enough time to ensure all the boxes have been ticked,” Emily says.
“But when you take your time and put in the effort, it really shines through in your application.”
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2. Share your impact authentically
“Often you will be having a bigger impact on the people around you than what you even realise,” Emily says, “so share that with us in an authentic way.”
Maintain your unique voice and don’t copy and paste your marketing or website materials.
And a big one? Don’t rely on artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, Emily cautions.
“Of course you can use AI for support in writing your application, for editing and grammar checks, for example,” she says.
“But make sure you’re writing it with heart; we want to hear your voice, your vision, your words. We want to know who you really are, and why you want to be heard.”
Katia Taylor, evokeAG. 2024 Future Young Leader.
3. What’s your ‘why’?
Where relevant, try to weave your story into your application. Take the reader on the journey you’ve been on.
“A lot of young leaders have really great stories to tell of why they developed the technology or innovation in the first place,” Emily said.
“Tell us about it, it nurtures the connection with the reader to your innovation.”
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4. Give it to us straight
Write your application with the assumption that whoever is reading it – and reviewing it – has no prior knowledge of your business, innovation or technology. Zero, zip, zilch.
Clearly spell out all the information required, while avoiding any industry jargon, acronyms or assumptions.
“Put all the information in there and write the application very clearly and simply,” Emily said.
“Anybody should be able to pick it up and put it down with a clear overview of the work that you are doing.”
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5. Lay it on the line – what can you bring to evokeAG.?
Finally, there’s a lot for young leaders to gain from the evokeAG. Groundbreakers Program.
But to really stand out in the application stack, demonstrate the value you’ll bring for other attendees at evokeAG. 2025 in Brisbane.
“How will the delegates at evokeAG. benefit from hearing what you have to say? What is there to gain for the industry and it’s rural communities? Who will be wanting to seek you out after you’ve done your presentation on the main stage of evokeAG. 2025?” Emily asked.
Key Dates:
- Applications Open: Friday, 2 August 2024
- Applications Close: Monday, 2 September 2024
- Final Selection: Monday,16 September 2024
Eligibility:
- Australia and New Zealand
- Ages 18-30 (by 31 December 2024)
Click here to apply to the 2025 evokeAG. Groundbreakers program.