proAGtive owner Isobel Knight said almost no Australian farming family had any form of succession planning.

“From approximately 130,000 farming families identified in Australia, a staggering 90 per cent have not formally implemented succession planning,” Mrs Knight said.

“It’s imperative for farming families to view succession planning as a process, not an event. 

“With this in mind, we aim to break down the negative barriers held by many about succession planning and focus on the great advantages and opportunities the process can create and sustain.”

Mrs Knight is taking the bull by the horns in this International Year of Family Farming by organising an online workshop series in a few months’ time on how to grow and sustain family farms through succession planning.

The online workshop program is designed to assist families in understanding what succession planning entails and highlights the positive influences the process can implement.

Mrs Knight’s company also recently expanded, with Barbara Goldsmith from Coonamble joining proAGtive on a permanent basis after a number of years providing external support. 

Ms Goldsmith will be assisting Mrs Knight and business partner Tim Lane by working with clients in the process of facilitated family meetings. 

Erin Cotter has also commenced with proAGtive and will support the team to help co-ordinate the client-engagement process. 

Ms Cotter will be speaking with family members to assist and gather information required for the process and will also manage the upcoming online workshop.

Mrs Knight was runner-up in the 2013 Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation Rural Woman of the Year award.