Agriculture is more than tractors and paddocks, it’s innovation, leadership, sustainability, and community. From global innovation to grassroots leadership, careers in agriculture are as diverse as they are rewarding.
This video series showcases the journeys of two remarkable women who have built successful, long-term careers in agriculture right here in North Queensland. Their stories are real, their insights are powerful, and their impact on their communities is undeniable.
With over 25 years of experience in Australian agriculture, Alison brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the sector. Raised on a mixed farm in the Darling Downs, she has remained deeply connected to beef production and rural communities. Alison is a Rural Financial Counsellor, Director of the Advancing Beef Leaders Foundation and a seasoned mentor, board member, and former CEO.
Her videos highlight:
Alison Larard is a distinguished Australian agricultural leader with more than twenty‑five years of experience spanning beef production, rural financial counselling, organisational leadership, and community development. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to building capability and resilience within rural industries and the people who participate in them. Raised on a mixed farm in Queensland’s Darling Downs, Alison’s personal history and professional practice continue to be shaped by her deep connection to agriculture and regional communities.
Alison grew up immersed in the day‑to‑day realities of a mixed farming enterprise, a foundation that fostered both technical understanding and a lifelong affinity for the land. Over more than two decades, she has developed an extensive portfolio of roles across agricultural and community leadership, including:
This combination of financial counselling, governance, leadership, and mentoring has positioned Alison as a respected voice in capability building for northern Australian agriculture.
A consistent thread across Alison’s career is her commitment to strengthening human capability within agriculture. Her contributions underscore the importance of investing in people to build long‑term industry resilience.
The themes highlighted through her professional storytelling and sector engagement include:
These emphases alignment with contemporary human‑capacity frameworks that stress capability development, adaptive leadership, and long‑term community empowerment.
Alison’s leadership style is notable for its integration of lived experience with professional expertise. Her upbringing in a beef‑focused agricultural environment provides contextual understanding and credibility, while her executive roles and financial counselling work cultivate strategic insight and empathy.
This blend enables her to:
Her role within the Advancing Beef Leaders Foundation directly contributes to leadership pipeline development, reinforcing the importance of grooming future leaders capable of managing increasingly complex industry demands.
Alison’s influence extends beyond organisational boundaries. Through mentoring, governance, and sector advocacy, she contributes to:
Her emphasis on education and leadership resonates strongly with broader efforts to future‑proof Australia’s agricultural sector.
Alison Larard exemplifies leadership grounded in experience, empathy, and strategic vision. Her work as a financial counsellor, mentor, board director, and former CEO demonstrates a sustained contribution to building human capacity across agricultural communities. By focusing on education, leadership development, and intergenerational mentoring, Alison strengthens the social and professional fabric of Australia’s rural industries, ensuring the next generation is equipped to thrive in an evolving agricultural landscape.
Krista is the Founder and Director of Natural Evolution, a globally recognized business pioneering banana flour, resistant starch, and banana-based ointments. Her journey is one of innovation, resilience, and a deep commitment to sustainability. Krista’s work has positioned her as a leader in agricultural product development, transforming waste into high-value goods and creating new markets for tropical produce.
Her videos explore:
Krista Watkins is the Founder and Director of Natural Evolution, a globally recognized business pioneering banana flour, resistant starch, and banana-based ointments. Her journey is one of innovation, resilience, and a deep commitment to sustainability. Krista’s work has positioned her as a leader in agricultural product development, transforming waste into high-value goods and creating new markets for tropical produce.
Krista began her professional journey outside of agriculture, working as a teacher in the Queensland Department of Education from 2006 to 2015. Her formal training, a Bachelor of Education (Science, Politics, Early Childhood) from James Cook University, provided her with strong foundations in communication, learning principles, and community engagement.
This period developed her early leadership capabilities, particularly in problem‑solving, relational influence, and stakeholder communication, skills that later became central to her entrepreneurial success.
Krista entered the agricultural sector when she married Rob Watkins and moved to the family banana farm in Walkamin. This transition placed her at the centre of an industry facing:
During this time, Krista was balancing teaching, motherhood, and an emerging interest in agricultural innovation. The turning point arrived with the now‑famous “puff of flour” moment when dried green bananas crushed under a vehicle produced a fine, flour‑like powder, revealing the nutritional potential of green bananas.
This discovery catalysed a career pivot toward agri‑innovation.
By 2015, after several years of experimentation, research, and capital accumulation (including Krista returning to full‑time teaching to support the venture), Krista and Rob launched Natural Evolution.
Krista’s transition from educator to entrepreneur involved:
The shift marked her evolution into an agribusiness leader operating at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and regional development.
As Managing Director of Natural Evolution, Krista guided the business from a farm‑based start‑up to a globally exporting enterprise producing banana flour, resistant starch, and health products.
Her leadership approach emphasises:
Under her stewardship, Natural Evolution achieved major milestones:
These achievements demonstrate a career trajectory characterised by scaling innovation from local problem‑solving to global impact.
Krista’s career progression has been acknowledged through significant awards, including:
Her story now serves as an exemplar in discussions of sustainable innovation, leadership, and regional economic development.
Transitioning beyond education, Krista applied these capabilities to entrepreneurial and capacity‑building contexts, where her impact has been defined by an ability to bridge sectoral boundaries, mobilise people around shared purpose, and create sustainable value. Her work demonstrates a consistent focus on human capability development, particularly in enabling individuals and organisations to adapt, collaborate, and thrive in complex environments.
Across her career, Krista’s impact lies not only in the initiatives she has led, but in the enduring skills, confidence, and agency she has cultivated in others—positioning her as a values‑driven leader with systems awareness and a strong commitment to community and long‑term outcomes.
Krista Watkins’ career trajectory demonstrates:
Background
The TNQ Drought Hub previously developed a formative video series with seasoned industry experts Bob Shepherd and Roger Stone to share knowledge and highlight opportunities in agriculture.
Building on this work, a new series was created to showcase the experiences of women who have built successful, long-term careers in the agricultural sector in North Queensland, aiming to broaden the sector’s appeal and showcase its diversity.
Two industry leaders, Krista Watkins, Founder and Co-Director of Natural Evolution, and Alison Larard, Rural Financial Counsellor and Director of the Advancing Beef Leaders Foundation, were interviewed. Together, their journeys reflect the breadth of possibility across agribusiness, entrepreneurship, resource management, and leadership.
Why This Matters
The agricultural industry faces ongoing workforce shortages, with businesses across the sector working hard to attract and retain talent. Encouraging more women to explore careers in agriculture is critical to building a skilled, diverse, and resilient workforce.
By sharing the real stories of Krista and Alison, this series raises awareness of the vast career opportunities available locally in North Queensland. Their insights demonstrate that agriculture is not just about farming—it’s about innovation, leadership, sustainability, and community. The videos aim to spark interest among women considering their career pathways, while strengthening current and future talent pipelines.
What We Did
The TNQ Drought Hub conducted a series of informative, on-location interviews with Krista and Alison. Filmed in their workplaces, the conversations revealed their career drivers, personal passions, and the lessons they have learned through experience.
Krista spoke about her entrepreneurial journey building Natural Evolution, a globally recognised leader in banana flour and resistant starch innovation. Alison shared her extensive experience in leadership, resource management, and capacity building across agribusiness, with a focus on developing future leaders through mentoring and governance.
Both emphasised the importance of resilience and innovation, alongside their commitment to supporting the next generation in agriculture. Six videos were produced for each participant, capturing insights designed to inspire, inform, and encourage more women to see themselves in agricultural careers.
Their stories are a testament to the power of passion and purpose in shaping a successful career in agriculture.
