William assists with his partner’s Angus seedstock operation.
William Richards from Southeast Queensland has been chosen for the inaugural Angus Australia and Achmea Australia cadetship.
William will embark on a four-week placement to gain practical experience with Achmea Australia, a growing specialist agricultural insurer that supports thousands of agribusinesses across Australia.
Already working towards a career in agriculture, William is studying a dual bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness and Agricultural Science at the University of Queensland. Outside of study, William also assists with his partner’s Angus seedstock operation.
Achmea Australia’s Chief Executive Officer Emma Thomas is excited for the cadet to experience the day-to-day operations within Achmea Australia, gaining insight into its co-operative heritage and commitment to the business continuity of farming.
“William exhibits an eagerness to support Australian farmers and the agricultural industry, with his studies and interests centred on the innovative and sustainable production of food and fibre,” said Emma.
“With Achmea Australia’s vision to protect and enhance a sustainable future for agricultural communities, William’s approach to supporting our farmers is a great fit for this cadetship,” she said.
Growing up in Southeast Queensland on a small hobby farm with a dairy goat stud, William has an ingrained interest in agriculture. He is hoping to absorb as much knowledge and experience as he can through this cadetship and is excited to make new connections along the way.
“I have a keen interest in the agribusiness sector, so exploring the work of an insurance business dedicated to agriculture in Australia is appealing,” said William.
“I am excited to see Achmea Australia’s operations and the work that goes into protecting farmers, especially how its farm insurance specialists connect with farmers to get an understanding of what is important to them and their insurance needs. I am also looking forward to the Marcus Oldham program, where I hope to broaden my leadership skills and meet like-minded rural leaders,” he said.
Jake Phillips, Angus Australia Extension Manager also congratulated William on becoming the inaugural recipient of the Angus Australia – Achmea Australia cadetship, supported by the Angus Foundation.
“William has demonstrated his willingness to apply himself in a range of situations from study to employment and we feel his strong interest in dealing with farmers to help them improve their operations will lend itself well to the cadetship placement,” said Jake.
During his placement, William will gain a wholistic agricultural insurance experience by following Achmea Australia’s client journey including:
• going on-farm alongside Achmea Australia’s dedicated Farm Insurance Specialists to get to know their clients and what they value most,
• understanding the importance of risk mitigation,
• helping to deliver Achmea Australia’s purpose of keeping farmers farming, and
• learning the basics of social media and event management.
William’s cadetship will take place in mid-2023. Following his placement with Achmea Australia, William will conclude his cadetship by completing the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Course.
-Angus Australia