Australian Representative Appointed to New International Industry Organisation ~ Women in Olive Oil

Amanda Bailey, managing director of The Olive Centre and chief executive of the Queensland Olive Council, has been appointed the Australian Leader for Women in Olive Oil, an international organisation for women in the olive oil industry. Currently Women in Olive Oil represents over 1200 women from almost 50 countries.

"I have always aimed to work towards the development and direction of the Australian and New Zealand Olive Industries. Women In Olive Oil is a most exciting project whereby a non-political environment supports true unity with a practical purpose and outcome for the olive oil industry. I have dreamed about such an opportunity and was thrilled when I was contacted and invited to head up the Leadership Team for Australia, and to represent Australian women involved in our industry,” Ms Bailey said.

The new global industry organisation, Women in Olive Oil, is a platform for women involved in an extensive range of professions within the olive oil industry to exchange knowledge, expertise and experiences, and to collectively develop and implement innovative projects with an international reach.

A well renowned and respected advocate within the Australian and international olive oil industry, Ms Bailey has inspired Australian olive growers, producers, processors, educators, consumers, chefs and food media about the virtues of extra virgin olive oil and table olives for almost 20 years. Ms Bailey, who established The Olive Centre in Queensland in 2003, is the major supplier of olive oil equipment, machinery and professional advice to the Australian olive industry, and a leading industry supplier to New Zealand.

"We supply and offer professional advice on the latest equipment and machinery with the aim of enabling growers to achieve the maximum from their grove that results in efficiency and quality improvements in their product and business. We give back to the industry with various initiatives we provide to the wider industry throughout Australia, which growers and producers rely upon," Ms Bailey said.

Ms Bailey has travelled extensively throughout the major olive oil producing countries in the world, researching olives with international scientists and consultants in olive tree growing and management, olive oil and table olive production, machinery performance, and education and training industry professionals. She has held Board and Committee positions on national and state olive organisations and associations, and has made many presentations at various industry events in Australia and overseas. As a machinery and equipment specialist, she has taken The Olive Centre from strength to strength to maintain the leading role in this field in Australia, and has gained increasing support and collaboration from New Zealand, Malta, Jordan and USA which has enabled her business to establish strong support and global networks that Australian producers rely upon.

The Olive Centre also organises and manages a range of independent industry initiatives and programs throughout Australia, including a conference series under the banner of Olive Exposium, field days, Table Olive Conference, and professional education and training workshops and seminars with both a national and international focus and representation. The Olive Centre also initiated and conducted the largest Australian landmark media and chefs event, FEVOO ~ Fresh Extra Virgin Olive Oil Experience. 

Amanda Bailey was a chief investigator of a pilot Australian government funded project by the Department of Agriculture to research and develop Provenance in Olive Oils in Australia. She was also co-author of the project report which developed recommendations and outcomes for olive oils of provenance in Australia. Ms Bailey also provides current industry information through her blog.

Ms Bailey entered the olive industry back in 1997 under employment of Ray and Delphine Archer, who pioneered the Australian olive industry through their company, Olives Australia, which had sold over 10M olive trees. She managed the subsidiary company, Olive Agencies, where she specialised in the area of olive equipment and machinery supply, and in particular olive oil extraction. She was also involved in industry marketing, promotional and communications projects and events.