IWCA Australia Builds Community At Stronger Together Breakfast
During the 2022 Melbourne International Coffee Expo, IWCA Australia hosted the Stronger Together breakfast with the goal of bringing the coffee community together to acknowledge the work of women in the coffee industry and create greater visibility of roles women hold across the value chain. More than 100 people attended the event at Axil Coffee Roasters, 30% of which were men, and had the opportunity to meet chapter leadership and listen to a panel discussion addressing the challenges and barriers women in the coffee industry face.
The panel featured perspectives from different roles in the coffee supply chain. Speakers included Lucy Stocker, owner of Crater Mountain Coffee, Andreza Mazarao, coffee trader for Grupo Farroupilha, Tina Yerkes, CEO of Coffee Quality Institute (CQI), Yanina Ferreyra, green buyer and international sales for Project Origin, Lucy Ward, green buyer for St ALi Coffee Roasters, Ashleigh Milla-Carpenter, technician for BrewTech/La’Marzocco, and Georgia Macki, owner of Seedlings Cafe. All panelists shared their coffee journeys and individual experiences, highlighting the challenges and the level of support they have had along their journey.
key takeaways
Identify the needs of each individual and create open and encouraging spaces for everyone, but particularly women to be heard in the workplace.
Understand that women in positions of leadership are setting the tone for others to aspire to. If you can see it you can be it.
There are gendered perceptions of qualifications needed to be successful.
Team leaders should actively practice inclusive leadership by embracing and acknowledging the diversity of people and their perspectives.
More mentorship for women in coffee is needed to help them identify their voice, value, and opportunities for growth. Effective mentorship for women doesn't have only come from women.
Continue working to break gender stereotypes by eliminating assumptions about the roles women play within the coffee industry.
IWCA Australia is committed to facilitating platforms, like the Stronger Together breakfast, for networking locally and globally, sharing knowledge and common goals, and creating more visibility for women and marginalized folks to develop their leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Future objectives of the chapter include mentorship and coaching programs, channeling coffee from IWCA global members to the Australian market, and acting as a networking hub for importers, roasters, and cafes.
This event would not have been possible without the support of the local coffee community. Thank you so much to the generous sponsors that invested in the Stronger Together event:
Gold Sponsors: Axil Coffee Roasters, Califia Farms, and Dalla Corte
Silver sponsors: Condesa CoLab, Riverina Fresh, and Upstream Imports.
Prize fundraising sponsors: BeanScene Magazine, The Global Coffee Report Magazine, Barista Supplies, Same Cup, Ezicaf Solutions, Five Senses Coffee and Amy Schubert.