Sally Higgins | Nurturing Progress

Sally Higgins is no stranger to hard work and success. Being one of only ten students selected to receive the annual Corporate Partners in Excellent Scholarship, she maintained academic excellence at QUT while balancing two full-time internships. After graduating with a Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) (Honours), Sally worked in financial services and later joined Nous Group, while also co-managing a mixed cattle and cropping farm on the Darling Downs. In 2024, Sally was awarded a prestigious Nuffield Scholarship to travel globally and explore how the Australian agriculture industry can adapt to meet net zero emissions.

The QUT Alumni Team sat down with Sally to chat about balancing her dual careers and what she has learned so far on her travels.

You are a Manager for International Consultancy Firm, Nous Group, a farmer and now a Nuffield Scholar. Can you walk us through what a week in your life might look like?

Every week is different! This week, I spent a few days travelling in regional Western Australia with my Nous team to speak with farming communities who have received funding to build drought resilience. I flew back into Brisbane and worked a day in our Nous office in the city before driving out to Allora that evening to work my Friday from home, at the farm. I will spend my weekend doing a few odd jobs around the farm but mostly just resting and enjoying the quiet and slow pace of my hometown, Allora. It’s my favourite place to recharge.

What are your views around remote working? What challenges have you faced, and how have you maintained motivation and cohesion within a team?

I’m a big fan of flexible, remote working. I never thought it would be possible to farm two hours away from the city and still enjoy the opportunities that come from working for an international professional services firm. Growing up, I had always thought that choosing to return to my hometown would exclude me from this type of career – I am very grateful that I work during a time where these dual lifestyles are possible.

However, I cannot understate the importance of coming together with your colleagues to connect. All of my project teams are hybrid, with people based all over Australia. At key points in our projects, we invest in bringing the team together in person for collaborative deep thinking. I believe this pays huge returns in team motivation, connection and engagement.

You’re currently seven months into your Nuffield Scholarship research. Can you tell us about the project and what you have learned so far?

Thanks to the scholarship supported by AgriFutures Australia, I have and will continue to travel across the world, exploring how agriculture can best respond to the large-scale land use changes resulting from the transition to net zero. I have noticed across my region in the Darling Downs that there is increasing pressure for farmers to use land to meet multiple objectives. For example, growing crops for food and biofuels, or pasture management for carbon sequestration and animal grazing. I have recently returned from three weeks in Brazil attending the Contemporary Scholars Conference with the other Nuffield scholars from around the world. The trip deepened my understanding of the nuanced challenges and opportunities that countries are experiencing as they navigate agricultural emissions reduction.

Do you have any recommendations for how consumers can strengthen their relationships with farmers and tread more lightly on the land?

I am a passionate advocate for regional Australia. I think there is a massive opportunity for people who live in major cities to get out into the country and onto the land to build their appreciation for nature and agricultural production. There are so many innovative agri-tourism options across Australia that provide unique experiences without compromising on some of the those luxuries we are all seeking from a getaway.

As an advocate for continuous learning, what are you planning to embark on next?

My next goal is to learn about international policy development through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations or a similar organisation. I am eager to keep learning about the challenges facing our global food system and the roles that countries like Australia can play in a more sustainable future.

What insights did you gain from your time at university?

A highlight of my time at QUT was my participation in the business case competitions. In a team with three others, I would travel to business schools around the world competing in strategy and pitching competitions. I learnt how to work intensely with a team, how to keep working under extreme pressure, and built invaluable skills in public speaking. These skills have been critical to my career so far.

What is one goal you'd like to achieve professionally or personally in 2024?

A goal for me this year is to make sure that my partner gets to join me for at least one of my Nuffield trips overseas. He is a massive support for me, and we would not have a farm if not for his skills and work ethic. I want to get him over to Europe or the US to see some farming operations at least once this year!

What is one skill you couldn’t live without and why?

I like to think of myself as an effective connector. I can bring together seemingly different ideas and also forge strong relationships with others. I find myself leaning on these skills a lot to connect perspectives from the city and country. As the role for regional economies and farm land becomes more diverse in the future, I expect I will need to continue honing that skill and helping people to see the similar objectives that we are aiming to achieve.

QUT degree - Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) (Honours) (2020)

Do you have a question for Sally? Connect with her on LinkedIn.