The Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA) congratulates Kelly Shotton on being named the 2026 Northern Territory winner of the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award.

NTCA CEO Romy Carey, who attended the awards presentation at Parliament House, said it was a privilege to witness the recognition of a project delivering practical outcomes for the pastoral industry.

“Kelly’s BoreWatch project is exactly the kind of innovation our industry needs. Grounded in real-world experience and designed to solve on-station challenges,” Ms Carey said.

“Water infrastructure is the backbone of our northern pastoral operations. Solutions that improve monitoring, efficiency and reliability are critical not only for productivity, but for animal welfare and land management outcomes.”

Ms Carey said it was encouraging to see Territory-led innovation being recognised on a national platform.

“It was genuinely impressive to be in the room and see the calibre of finalists and the strength of ideas coming forward from across the Territory,” she said.

“Kelly’s work stands out not just for its practicality, but for its scalability across remote operations where distance, labour constraints and environmental conditions demand smarter systems.”

The NTCA also acknowledged fellow finalists Claire Maradani, Adriana Dent and Anita Synnott for their contributions to advancing innovation and leadership in the Territory’s rural sector.

“We have an incredibly strong cohort of women leading change across our industry. That depth of leadership and capability is something the Territory should be proud of,” Ms Carey said.

Ms Carey also acknowledged the contribution of the Northern Territory State Chair of the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, recognising her leadership in strengthening the program locally.

“The growth and success of this award in the Northern Territory does not happen by accident,” Ms Carey said.

“It reflects the commitment, energy and advocacy of those driving it on the ground. The State Chair has been instrumental in building the profile, reach and impact of the program across the Territory.”

“Her passion for supporting women in agriculture is evident in the calibre of applicants, the strength of the network and the continued growth of the awards in the NT.”

Ms Carey said the award highlights the importance of supporting innovation that delivers on-ground impact.

“Recognition through programs like the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award plays an important role in backing ideas that strengthen resilience, improve efficiency and support the long-term sustainability of our industry.”

Kelly Shotton will now go on to represent the Northern Territory at the national AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award later this year.

“We wish Kelly every success at the national awards. I have no doubt Kelly will represent the Territory strongly at the national awards and her work is a genuine reflection of the practical innovation coming out of northern Australia.”