WESTPAC'S new regional general manager of agribusiness for Queensland, Peta Ward, is returning to her roots after 11 years to work with the people and communities she started life with. Peta, who has taken over the reins from Westpac veteran Rod Kelly, grew up on a beef property at Yuleba on the Downs, and is excited to be working with the agribusiness industry in her home state for the first time since beginning her career with Westpac in Victoria.
"Growing up on the land has given me a great affinity with people from the land," said Peta, who has moved to Toowoomba with husband Scott and son William. "I understand the emotion that goes along with being on the land and the connection that people feel, and that's the foundation of my banking approach."
In her new position, Peta will support customers throughout regional Queensland, including farmers, agribusiness professionals and services to agribusiness at every stage of the value chain.
Prior to her latest appointment, Peta spent 11 years in Victoria, most recently as Westpac's head of commercial and agribusiness in Gippsland and Sunraysia, and has devoted her working life to regional Australia, in both agribusiness and commercial banking.
Rod Kelly, who has retired after 40 years of service with Westpac and to Queensland, is in no doubt that Peta is the right person to take on this demanding but satisfying role. "I'm confident handing my position over to Peta. Her wealth of experience and passion for agriculture will truly benefit our Queensland customers," he said.
Peta studied agricultural science at the University of Queensland, majoring in animal science.
She sees many opportunities for Westpac in regional communities. Since taking up her new position, Peta has attended the Young Beef Producers forum. Westpac also supports a number of other initiatives close to her heart, including the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Rural Women's Awards and the Graeme Acton Beef Connections program. These enable Peta to foster collaborative networks within regional communities.
"We are in a great position to be able to partner with our customers and communities, to help them grow and be successful - in good times and bad - as we have done for nearly 200 years.
"One of the big issues for our rural communities is that the current drought comes on top of low commodity prices, making it very difficult and creating a compound effect on cash flow."
Peta says supporting her customers and staff can strengthen communities and businesses, and she wants to bring talented people with agribusiness skills into banking and help them create new connections with rural communities.
Her passion for regional Queensland is clear. "I want to be somebody who makes a difference in regional Australia; somebody who sees our regional communities and agribusiness grow and be successful, domestically and globally."