Business Development Manager

A business development manager in horticulture focuses on identifying growth opportunities, building partnerships, and diversifying revenue streams. They work closely with growers, suppliers, and retailers to expand market reach, introduce new products, and optimize sales strategies. Their role is critical in driving business expansion and ensuring long-term profitability.

These professionals analyse market trends, assess business performance, and develop strategies to enhance competitiveness. They negotiate contracts, establish distribution channels, and explore innovative business models. By leveraging industry insights, they help horticulture businesses adapt to changing market demands and capitalise on new opportunities.

- Identify and develop new business opportunities within the horticulture sector.
- Build and maintain relationships with clients, suppliers, and key stakeholders.
- Analyse market trends and consumer demand to drive business expansion.
- Develop and implement strategies to diversify product lines and revenue streams.
- Negotiate contracts and manage partnerships to enhance profitability.

Due to the technical nature of this field, most occupations require formal study, such as:

- Diploma of Business Development
- Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management
- Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness)
- Certificate IV in Leadership and Management

Q&A withRuby Daly, Business Development Manager, Daly Farms and Hellfire Bluff Distillery, Tasmania

Q: How did your journey start?

A: I left college when I was 17 because I didn't really enjoy what I was doing, and I was quite creative, so I needed a creative outlet to go and be creative essentially. So I went into the beauty industry.

That's when my parents said that they were thinking of setting up a distillery, and I knew that that was something I definitely wanted to come back to the farm for. I was never coming home to the farm for potatoes. So I applied for the job, just like every other job applicant. They thought I was a bit young, I was 21 at the time, and they wanted a little bit more life experience, which in hindsight is probably fair. But I came back and helped set up the distillery from the ground up and have been here for nearly 10 years now.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of working in horticulture?

A: I think it's seeing the results that we've put in every single day and growing the business. I think sometimes we don't celebrate the wins because there is a lot more losses sometimes.

I think when you have a win, you have a really big win and I think it's important that we keep pushing this industry forward for the next generation. Me and my siblings, who are in the farm, have a strong view that we're just gatekeepers for the next generation and I hope that we grow it enough that there's enough for them all to come back and enjoy as well.

Q: You're part of the Hort Innovation Strategic Investment Advisory Panel (SIAP). You're probably one of the youngest members on the SIAP. What does it mean to you to be on an industry body like that?

A: I think it's important that, as a family that we are on those industry bodies, I think it's important that we're seen as well. We're in a little small pocket of Tasmania, we're a small grower, so the fact that the national body recognises that we are a part of the industry is important to us.

Q: If you're going to careers night with a room full of grade 10 students, what would you say to them to encourage them to pursue a career in horticulture?

A: Take a look at it and don't just dismiss it as a farmer's job. I think there is so many avenues within this industry. It doesn't matter what you're interested in. We can find that avenue for you to work within this industry. I also think we need to change the way we present it to the grade 10s. Because the way it was presented to me is that, you're a farmer and you're doing all this hard work, which yes there is that part, but there's also so many more avenues and so many more exciting parts to it.

There is so many opportunities to grow and to be a part of a business that you may never have thought of. I've travelled all around the world as part of this industry, I've been to some really amazing places, to Norway, Sweden, Denmark. You just don't think you get to go to those places if you're in this industry. I think if that's something that you want to do, there's plenty of areas that you can go and travel around the world in this industry.

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