Meet the Team

Kayla joined the AgCAREERSTART team in January 2022 to spearhead the program as Project Manager. She oversees the delivery of the gap-year program and is passionate about welcoming more young people into agriculture. Originally from a family beef and cropping farm in QLD, Kayla has managed several agricultural careers, education, and capacity building projects nationally, and has extensive experience in designing and implementing agricultural pathway programs. Kayla holds qualifications in Public Relations, Human Resource Management, and Business Law, and she also runs her own agriculture podcast for youth and won Western Australian Young Achiever of the Year – Agriculture in 2020.

Connect with Kayla on LinkedIn.

Mikaila joined the AgCAREERSTART team in February 2024 as the Community Engagement Coordinator. Mikaila is the first point of contact you’ll have during applications and throughout the matching phase. Wellbeing and engagement during your placement are Mikaila’s top priority with her conducting regular check-ins with Participants and Host Farmers throughout the year to ensure great on farm experiences. Hailing from a small property in the Fleurieu Peninsula, Mikaila specialises in people relations and talent engagement, with experience in ensuring high employee engagement. She is a passionate advocate for future proofing Australian Agriculture and educating youth about the endless opportunities within the industry.

Connect with Mikaila on LinkedIn.

Chloe studied a Bachelor of Animal Science at The University of Adelaide before spending two years as a Jillaroo in the Flinders Ranges, SA. She has travelled across Northern SA and Western NSW as a contract musterer and prior to her AgCAREERSTART role Chloe was working as a senior station hand on a 280,000-acre merino sheep property in Hay, NSW. Chloe understands on-farm roles and the challenges associated with farm life. As the Training and Career Development Coordinator for the AgCAREERSTART program, Chloe is responsible for researching and accessing training opportunities for our Participants to upskill themselves whilst completing their gap-year program.

Connect with Chloe on LinkedIn.

Haylee studied a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of New England. During her studies, she has spent time as a bug checker on the Liverpool Plains, a sample stand attendant during harvest on the Queensland border, and an Events Coordinator for a rural events company. Before commencing her role with AgCAREERSTART, she worked in student recruitment at the University of New England. Haylee is passionate about promoting the diversity of roles in Agriculture. As the Outbound Project Officer for AgCAREERSTART, Haylee develops strong relationships with schools to attract Participants to the program and ensures that prospective Participants have all the information they need.

Connect with Haylee on LinkedIn.