The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) is pleased to announce that Darling Downs leaders Rowena (Rowie) Beveridge and Amanda Burchmann have been awarded the Weis Community Fund Scholarship to take part in the 2026 Australian Agribusiness Leadership Program (AALP).
Rowena Beveridge is a Toowoomba local with more than 20 years of experience across the cotton, grain, livestock and horticulture sectors. She has built a reputation for excellence in ethical and sustainable growth, with a clear focus on carbon neutrality and enhanced productivity. Rowena noted the significance of the opportunity for her region. “In the Darling Downs, our ability to innovate hinges on leaders who can navigate complex industry hurdles and unite the community around shared solutions,” she said. She looks forward to using the program to develop tools that bring people together to tackle the real challenges facing her industry.
Amanda Burchmann is a beef producer and the founder of JAB Agri Solutions, a business dedicated to supporting hobby farmers and small-scale livestock producers with biosecurity and traceability. She is currently developing a National Education Hub and toolkit to simplify these complex requirements for others. Amanda sees the AALP as a step in taking these tools to the next level and ultimately leading larger, impact-driven adoption. “The knowledge and network from the program will allow me to deepen my impact within the industry and wider community,” she said.
The scholarship is made possible through the Weis Community Fund, which is managed by the People First Bank Foundation. The Weis Community Fund was initially set up by Unilever’s ice cream business (now The Magnum Ice Cream Company) to have a longstanding impact in the Toowoomba community and leave a legacy that honours Weis’ 60+ year history.
For Paul Olds, Executive Officer of the People First Bank Foundation, the scholarship is important because it supports leaders who demonstrate a strong commitment to making a difference on the Darling Downs. “We congratulate Rowie and Amanda on being named scholarship recipients and look forward to seeing the continued impact they will create,” he said.
