Agriculture university and college students come together with sponsors at AWC!

Two things make the AWC Student program successful:

  1. Students who are excited about starting their career path with a blast of inspiration, some great direction, and a network of leaders at their fingertips.
  2. Industry leaders who will join us in sponsoring and supporting these students and future leaders, giving them the opportunity to attend AWC and reap the benefits.

AWC matches students from agricultural degree and diploma programs across Canada with companies looking to invest in future leaders!

Would you like to sponsor a student to attend AWC?

Leading associations and agribusiness can take pride in supporting these young women and making this opportunity possible. That is what AWC has in store for you.

Call us at 403-686-8407 or email iris@irismeck.com

Are you a student that would like to apply for Sponsorship?

The AWC EAST 2025 Student Application deadline is September 30, 2025. Thank you to our students—we can’t wait to meet you at the conference!

Applicants and Sponsors

Christina (Yi-Ting) Chua

Niagara College, Second Year, Greenhouse Technician (Co-op) Program

Hi everyone, I’m Christina. I am currently studying in the Greenhouse Technician (Co-op) Program at Niagara College, where I am gaining hands-on experience in greenhouse operations, plant care, and sustainable horticulture practices. My passion for plants and dedication to learning have driven me to pursue a career in horticulture.

Previously, I worked as a Process Support Engineer for 10 years at Applied Materials, one of the world’s leading semiconductor equipment companies (TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2023). I specialized in troubleshooting semiconductor equipment, supporting customers in ramping up Node 5 and Node 3 production fabs, and providing tailored solutions to optimize performance.

In addition to my studies, I recently completed a co-op placement as a Student Horticultural Technician at the Niagara College Greenhouse, where I engaged in tasks such as plant propagation, transplanting, watering, fertilizing, and harvesting. I hope to devote my energy and time to building a sustainable vegetable industry and contributing to a healthier environment.

I am so glad I am able to attend the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference this year. It is a wonderful opportunity for me to learn from agricultural female leaders and build connections with critical people. As a student in the Greenhouse Technician (Co-op) Program at Niagara College, I am developing to be a professional greenhouse technician including pruning, watering and integrated pest management for crops. I believe the conference will expand my knowledge beyond the academic learning and know more current industry status and real hands-on experience in the conference.

My career goal is to become a Greenhouse Operations Manager. I plan to combine my engineering background with horticultural training to build a sustainable and environment-friendly greenhouse operations. Participation in this program will help me gain mentorship and navigate to helpful resource when I have challenge. In addition, building a leadership experience is also critical to be a Greenhouse manager. In this program, I have many opportunities to present and talk to talented agricultural experts to strengthen my abilities.

Hope Chumbwe

University of Manitoba, Second Year, Agribusiness

I’m studying Agribusiness at the University of Manitoba. I’m learning about how farming and business work together. Even though I haven’t had a job on a farm, I’ve helped a lot. Back home, I went to farm tours, planting days, and farm masterclasses. My family are all farmers, and I spent time learning from them too. When I was in junior high, I took agriculture class and learned how to grow food and care for animals. These things helped me love farming, even though I haven’t worked on a farm for a job yet.

I want to go to the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference because I want to get better leaders skills and meet smart people who care about farming. I want to learn how to be confident and how to share ideas with others. This conference has important talks and teamwork that can help me grow. I plan to use what I learn to help my friends, family, and school. I think this meeting will make me ready for more jobs and help me share what I learn with others.

Sajida Noor

University of Guelph, Ph.D. Student, Plant Breeding and Genetics

I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Originally from Pakistan, an agricultural country. I hold a master’s degree in agriculture and bring research experience from the Climate Change Impact Studies Centre in Pakistan. My work there focused on assessing the effects of global warming on crops and developing strategies to mitigate its impact.

I am deeply passionate about enhancing crop productivity and addressing the global food crisis. Last year, I had the opportunity to attend AWAC-East, which I found to be a highly interactive and motivational networking event. It encouraged me to connect with leading professionals from diverse backgrounds who are excelling in agriculture.

Now in the final year of my doctoral studies, I am focused on building a strong professional network with individuals who share my research interests. This will not only help shape future collaborations but also guide me in exploring opportunities to work independently toward my long-term goals in Canada. I believe attending this year’s conference will be especially valuable at this stage of my academic and professional journey, and I would be grateful for the opportunity to participate once again.

Melyse Renwick

Olds College, Fourth Year, Bachelor of Applied Science Agribusiness

I am an agricultural advocate in Southwestern Ontario, where my passion for farming began on my parents’ cash crop operation. I hold an Associate Diploma in Agriculture from the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, and am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Agribusiness from Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. My education has been complemented by practical experience in agronomy, elevator systems, and sustainability initiatives. My past experience includes working at AGRIS Co-operative Ltd as a summer student, executing branch admin, buying grain through live markets and assisting in the elevator. Currently, I am a Marketing Associate at Great Lakes Grain. This role is assisting me in gaining hands-on experience for my Directed Field Study, for my degree . I lead sustainability and grower engagement at Great Lakes Grain, with a focus on building strong relationships at the farm gate and with end users. In my role, I am committed to be a trusted advisor for our growers in the entirety of our footprint of elevators in Ontario. Executing Great Lakes Grain’s annual crop assessment tour and farm checks, falls into my portfolio as well.

Beyond academics and work, I actively contribute to agricultural outreach through volunteering with Farm and Food Care Ontario and managing our family’s farm gate business, offering produce and seasonal goods to our local community. I am driven to bridge the gap between the consumer and the producer, while sharing the voices of farmers too.

I am interested in attending the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference because it offers a unique opportunity to learn from and connect with accomplished women leaders across the agriculture sector. The conference aligns closely with my career objective of building a long-term role in agricultural leadership and sustainability, as it provides access to valuable insights leadership strategies, and innovative approaches that can be applied to my current and future work while also assisting in my DFS.

By participating in workshops, keynote sessions, and networking events, I hope to strengthen my leadership skills, expand my professional network, and gain tools to better advocate for agriculture within my role at Great Lakes Grain. The conference will assist in making relationships in all sectors of the industry. The program’s focus on professional growth, mentorship, and advancing women in agriculture will not only support my personal development but will also allow me to bring fresh perspectives, and back to my team, directly contributing to our shared goals at Great Lakes Grain.

Prerana Upretee

University of Saskatchewan, Third Year, Masters of Science in Plant Science

I am Prerana Upretee from Kathmandu, Nepal. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Bangladesh in 2021. After graduation, I returned to Nepal and worked as an intern at Nakkhu Seeds, a private agricultural company. I gained hands-on experience in plant breeding, farm supervision, seed packaging, and retail operations during my time there.

Following this, I moved to Canada to pursue a Master’s in Plant Science at the University of Saskatchewan. My research assesses critical factors affecting the winter survival of fall dormant-seeded selected spring crop species (lentils, field peas, wheat, canola, carinata, mustard, and coriander) in the Canadian Prairies. Along with my academic work, I also had the opportunity to work as a Research Assistant at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Saskatoon.
As I approach graduation, I am eager to transition from academia to industry and apply my knowledge and skills.

I’m excited to attend the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference as it will allow me to network with and learn from women making a difference in the agricultural industry, something I haven’t had the opportunity to do before. I am excited to hear their tales, learn about their professional trajectories, and get ideas for my journey. I will be able to network with professionals and fellow students who have similar agricultural interests, meet role models, and share ideas at this conference. As I move from academia to the working world, I’m keen to learn more about the current issues and trends in the industry.

Overall, I believe this experience will help me grow personally and professionally, and give me the confidence to take the following steps toward becoming a leader in agriculture.