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06/05/2024
A gap year working ‘up north’ has become a rite of passage for many young ones today, and for Leongatha Rural Officer Alex Bennett, working on a vast Queensland beef operation became the unlikely catalyst for his Rabobank career.
Growing up on a family beef cattle property, agriculture was always part of Alex’s plan, and after gaining a Bachelor of Agriculture at Melbourne University he ventured north for some practical experience.
“I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do career-wise, but I was intrigued about the northern cattle industry, it is so different to our southern systems and it seemed like a truly unique experience.”
Alex gained employment in Queensland’s Richmond region, working for the Lord family.
The scale, the landscape, and the culture of the northern Queensland cattle industry were instantly compelling, and Alex says Ardie and Kacie Lord took the staff in like family.
The Lords also provided Alex with personal development opportunities, the most significant being a Rabobank Financial Skills Workshop.
“I was able to take time off to attend the workshop in Julia Creek, and it was a really insightful experience,” Alex explains.
“I’d learned a bit of the content at university, but those learnings were broad, where as this workshop was uniquely tailored to agriculture, and managing a farm business – some farmers have millions of assets but no idea about budgeting or analysing data, which is what this course is all about.”
He said the workshop facilitator, Tony Hudson, cleverly related content specifically to the region’s commodity for additional engagement.
It was upon chatting with Tony, who had a similar degree and began his career in banking, that Alex’s vision for his own future started to take shape.
With the Lord family Rabobank clients and proud advocates of the bank, more dots began to join.
Ardie Lord is the Deputy Chair of the Northern Queensland and Northern Territory Rabo Client Council, one of seven volunteer, client-led councils, working hand-in-hand with the bank to develop and deliver meaningful grassroots initiatives and prioritise where funding can make the greatest impact.
The Rabobank Financial Skills Workshops are one such Rabo Client Council initiative.
“It struck me how engaged Ardie was with his bank, his relationship with Rabobank was probably not something I would have expected a banking relationship to look like.”
The Lords’ also generously connected Alex with their own account manager, Lachlan Campbell, for further insights into what a career at Rabobank may look like.
Upon finishing his year up north, Alex returned to his hometown of Leongatha, where – in a further twist of fate – a Rabobank position was soon advertised.
Alex is now just over a year into his role, with the transition from working outdoors on a cattle station to banking eased by Rabobank’s sole focus on agriculture.
“I wouldn’t say this is an office-bound job, the best part of the role is getting out on farm and visiting clients, which we’re encouraged to do regularly.”
“The team is also so inclusive, everyone looks out for each other and the whole team has been so generous with their time teaching me the ropes.”
“I also really enjoy the fact we are a bank dedicated to food and agri, so most of the staff has a rural background, which I appreciate and enjoy.”
Alex’s Rabobank career also enables him to satisfy his personal farming aspirations, spending weekends helping out on his family’s beef enterprise.
“I’m grateful to enjoy the best of both worlds, and each role complements the other – I can relate to my clients first-hand, and I have a far greater vision for our farm business thanks to my role at Rabobank”
Ardie Lord, the man who could well take credit for setting Alex’s career compass, is proud of his former employee's early career success and believes it exemplifies the myriad of opportunities the Financial Skills Workshops affords.
“Alex always appeared to me to have a strong future ahead of him, and the beauty of the Financial Skills Workshops is, in this case, that it gave him a clearer direction on his career path.”
“Tony Hudson has a terrific knack for making financial analysis extremely compelling, and I’ve put a number of staff and family through the workshop.”
“When you have to manage something, you have to know the costs to find its true value – and I recommend the Rabobank Financial Workshop as it’s tailored to, and relevant to managers and business owners across the whole ag industry.”
Contributing to a strong, and sustainable local industry
Considering the personal significance of the Rabobank Financial Skills Workshop, Alex is excited that the initiative will soon be delivered in the region.
Workshops are open to the whole community, and free of charge, and are being held in Warragul on May 16, and Leongatha on May 17.
The region has also benefited from Rabobank Carbon Workshops, which are a valuable opportunity for staff and clients to learn together in an interactive format, and for producers to learn the basics when it comes to lowering their emissions.
Despite having completed a carbon component at university, Alex said the workshop was a terrific source of inspiration.
“This is such an interesting and evolving space, and we’re already seeing a number of local clients who have previously completed the workshop leverage their carbon calculations for a potential opportunity, and it’s exciting to be on the journey together.”
The initiative also exemplified the breadth of skills required of a modern banker.
“This is such an exciting role, and I feel privileged to be part of my clients’ conversation when it comes to reaching their business goals, as well as contributing to a strong Australian ag industry future.”