Posted by on
04/02/2022
Felicity Taylor’s quiet confidence is one backed by knowledge, insight and a quick wit that belie her youth - and be it in casual conversation or negotiating the most sensitive of business dealings, her engaging appeal is broad.
So it comes as little surprise that her career trajectory with Rabobank has been meteoric, with the impressive young professional recently announced as the Area Manager for the Moree region – the youngest in Rabobank Australia’s history to hold this senior title.
She will now oversee the banking needs of one of Australia’s most valuable agricultural regions, and remains anything but daunted.
“There is so much opportunity in this region, the seasonal outlook is strong, and with Copeton Dam at 100 percent it’s a really exciting time in the irrigation space – the cash flow outlook for our clients looks really positive, and I think there will be a lot of strength in the sector,” she said.
“I’m also looking forward to continuing to build on our cohesive team here in the Moree branch and really cementing a strong presence within the community.”
Suggesting her career path evolved organically, Felicity reflects she has always taken on roles she genuinely enjoyed, and grabbed opportunity as it presented itself.
In her five short years since embarking on a Rabobank internship whilst completing a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics at The University of Sydney, Felicity has worked in the RaboResearch and Country Banking team in Sydney, spent two months in mergers and acquisitions at Rabobank’s global head office in Utrecht, The Netherlands, and experienced working across a number of branches including Armidale, Moree and Toowoomba.
She’s enjoyed a global training ground in an organisation she had long admired.
“I was familiar with the company – my parents are clients – and I found Rabobank’s strong rural and regional focus appealing,” She said. “The fact the bank is ingrained in the community whilst maintaining a much larger network with links to global knowledge and expertise seemed really unique, and I like this big picture thinking whilst keeping the focus local.”
Her time in Utrecht, whilst she admits was challenging, “I have a newfound appreciation for anyone working in investment banking, those guys never stop”, was equally enriching – providing her with context around Rabobank’s rich European culture.
“There is a Rabobank branch on every corner, it’s an organisation so embedded in the economic and social wellbeing of the Netherlands, and given we’re a lot quieter in our street presence here in Australia, it made me really proud.”
In 2018 Felicity returned to her hometown of Moree to take up a role as a Rural Officer in the local branch, embracing the opportunity to not only be close to family, but work in one of Australia’s most productive regions.
“In terms of enterprise, scale and diversity of industry the North West Slopes and Plains is so unique. I’ve had a number of Dutch graduates I met during my time in Utrecht come and visit me out here and they are constantly blown away by the sheer size of our farms, the distances we drive, how big our machines are, how many stock we can run – it’s always a great reminder of how impressive our local industry is.”
Growing up on a broadacre cropping property 35 kilometres north of Moree, she feels privileged to have grown up amongst a farming culture, and enjoyed working with her parents and grandfather.
“I always wanted to do something ag related, and tried to look at different ways to apply my ag background, even looking into the agricultural political advisory space, but in the end I just couldn’t go past Rabobank.”
Throughout her career youth nor gender has ever been an issue, and now – as she takes on the hot seat – she thanked the many female professionals before her for paving the way.
“I’m excited to be something different in this role, something you don’t always see, but I’ve never felt disadvantaged, the groundwork was done for me by so many inspiring, capable women who have led the agricultural space over many years. I feel like the door has always been open.”
When probed on female role models, her response is unlikely – but one reflective of Felicity’s ease in constructing a highly considered, yet practical opinion, all whilst looking beyond the box.
“I often look to one of my colleagues, Rabobank’s own Clare Merrifield, who is a constant source of inspiration, she’s had an incredibly impressive career – from grain trading to banking – and has never let these traditionally male dominated roles get in the way of her femininity,” Felicity reflects. “To see her dealing with clients and be able to maintain the emotional intelligence and compassion that women tend to have was enlightening.”
On a broader scale, she has great respect for National Farmers Federation’s Fiona Simson, who has been a stalwart of industry representation for many years, and inspiration abounds also within her own Moree community.
“I look at young women like Georgina Michael who at 30 has been recently appointed as a director in local legal firm Webb and Boland. It’s such an exciting time for not just women, but all young people in our rural communities, the opportunities are unlimited.”
And when it comes to her hometown, Felicity is one of Moree’s greatest champions.
The current president of Moree Young Aggies – a network of local young professionals – a member of The Moree Picnic Race Committee, and a volunteer in the pavilion section of the annual Moree Show, Felicity is passionate about helping enriching the social fabric of the community.
“Since I returned in 2018 the town really has transformed. The drought I came home to is now behind us, there are fantastic work opportunities, and there’s been such a huge influx of young people into town, socially it’s a very fun lifestyle.”
And, considering her career and personal success thus far, there’s little doubt there will be plenty of fun times ahead for this capable young woman.