Hannah Avery

"Industry experience was the best part of my degree."

Why did you choose to study agribusiness?

By 2050 the world’s population is set to double, so agricultural industries are going to become increasingly more important.

Friends and family of mine had studied agriculture and agribusiness at UQ, so I knew about the program at a personal level. 

What was the best part of your time at UQ?

The best part was that my degree led directly to a job! I had 3 job offers before I graduated.

I was offered my current job prior to completion of my degree and started part-time in my final Semester.

A casual UQ Lecturer (Peter Wilson), who had previously assisted me to obtain work experience with another company, offered me a job at AMG where he became a Director in 2012.

Small class sizes were also extremely beneficial, and I had access to academic staff with actual experience in the agricultural industry.

What does a typical day in your job look like?

I spend a lot of time at my desk, analysing market trends, putting together sales proposals, developing and managing trading strategy for value added pulse products, cereals and oilseeds.

I regularly meet with clients to negotiate grain sales, either at our offices or at the client's workplace. I build relationships with our producers, attending grower marketing days and other events.

And I also get to travel! I’ve visited company offices and attended trade shows in Dubai, Canada, Turkey, and the USA.

What advice do you have for someone deciding how to start their career?

I think my UQ studies have given me the ability to critically analyse situations in a business environment. While I had a lot to learn in my current position I have been able to learn quickly and be a useful asset to the company from day one.

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