Victorian tech entrepreneur Nikki Davey has taken home the 2023 AgriFutures Australia Rural Women’s Award, announced at a Gala event at Parliament House in Canberra this week.
Nikki is a co-founder of Grown Not Flown - a digital platform that connects consumers with their local flower growers. Since 2021, Grown Not Flown has grown to more than 3,500 users in 30 countries.
A budding flower farmer based in Glenmore in Central Victoria, she is passionate about sustainable and regenerative agriculture. Identifying a need for technologies dedicated to small-scale growers, Nikki put her skills in business and digital product development into developing a solution that reduces ‘flower miles’ and supports the local cut flower industry bloom.
Nikki said the award felt like recognition for the challenges she has faced as a female founder working across both the agriculture and technology sectors, and emphasised the value of small-scale growers and their contributions to local economies.
“We have an opportunity to change the way we shop for seasonal and locally grown produce,” she said.
“Grown Not Flown is all about supporting local – local communities, local economies.
“We truly believe that the future is small – but in the best way possible.”
After also being named a Victorian State Finalist in 2022, Nikki was selected from a group of five incredible women from across the state to be named the 2023 Victorian State Winner in April.
Along with the title, Nikki receives $20,000 from award sponsor Westpac, in addition to $15,000 she received as the Victorian winner. These funds will support her to develop a Grown Not Flown knowledge hub so that flower growers can tap into tips, tools and best practices.
This is the second successive year Victorian women have been acknowledged in the National honours, with Bendigo woman Kimberley Furness awarded the 2022 National Runner Up title for her efforts to profile and celebrate female-led businesses in rural and regional Australia through her work as founder and publisher of OAK Magazine.
The Rural Women’s Award acknowledges and celebrates the essential role women play in rural and regional businesses, industries and communities.
In addition, the Victorian Government is supporting Victorian women in agriculture with the Rural Women’s Network, helping to build the skills and confidence to participate in leadership and decision making that benefits rural industries and communities.
Applications for the 2024 Rural Women’s Award and Acceleration Grant are open now until October 23. Information on eligibility and the application process is available on the AgriFutures Australia website.
