Powered by our people: Amandeep Kaur-Shaik, HR IT Services Integration

Aman Kaur-Shaik is a strong voice for women in non-traditional industries, having worked across the transport, mining and ag sectors for over twenty years. Through the support of mentors, she’s found her voice and isn’t afraid to call out inequalities when she sees them.

“I’ve always worked in male dominated industries,” says Aman. “In the beginning, it was a struggle to adjust and understand the work cultures, but with great mentors – both male and female – I’ve been able to grow both personally and professionally.”

“I joined Nutrien in 2012 in Canada at a Potash mine with a safety and training group. I then moved into the HR team to support talent development and system implementation going back to my roots of information management and project management with the Potash, Nitrogen, and Phosphate group.”

“After five and a half years of very cold winters, we decided to come back home to Sydney and Nutrien gave me the opportunity to move to Nutrien Ag Solutions doing what I love most – empowering people through systems. Now I’m working with the HR Team supporting business processes with technology and project management,” says Aman.

“Nutrien’s work environment provided me with a safe space to think and speak my mind and call out the biases when I see them. I believe that biases can exist anywhere if we let them exist. The change starts with me and I make sure I live by my values and always do the right thing by the people and for the people.”

Aman is a strong advocate for gender equality in both her personal and professional life.

“I believe in gender equality and always advocate for it. I’m involved with the Australian Indian Women Association to promote Indian cultural values and give the platform for women to perform and express themselves in a safe environment in Australia. In my personal life, I am always encouraging girls in my extended family to live their dreams, go places and be independent.

For Aman, working in agriculture is an important connection to her roots.

“I come from an agricultural family in India, and I’m in awe of the commitment of our farmers and their families around the world to feed us.”

With this year’s IWD theme of ‘break the bias’, Aman would love to see more women in the agriculture industry.

“I believe every step is taken forward or backward is progress but we have a long way to go. On International Women’s Day, I’ll be reflecting with my twelve year old son. He doesn’t understand why it is taking so long to achieve gender equity and why women are not paid as much as men. His questions give me hope that change is not far away.”

Aman