Her Story

Juggling a young family, a freelance career and a blur to Victoria, she started organising the monthly meetup and one quickly multiplied into three.

Today, Melbourne Farmers Markets is a not-for-profit company with a voluntary board of directors. The company has seven accredited farmers markets, two of which run every week. Miranda is as hands-on as ever, but also employs a small specialist team of management, communications and business development.

Miranda is especially proud of all the hundreds of small regional farming businesses that have benefitted from the opportunities that Melbourne Farmers Markets presents.

She is currently seeking to diversify into a network of services to assist in the growth and sustainability of the local food system. She is driven by her belief in the work she does and that she can make an increasing impact for Victorian farmers.

“Without the farmers, the rest isn’t possible.”

Strategies for Success

• Being a consultative thinker. A business has many complexities and the capacity to listen, observe, and consider before acting is pivotal to good decision-making.
• Being a doer. Jumping in to contribute as a valuable member of the team is a vital means of staying respected and connected with the team, plus the interface of the business.
• Being firm about your convictions. As the team leader, and with the whole vision of the organisation, being strong and decisive is essential.
• Being a good employer. Creating an environment that values its team with clear expectations, a degree of workability, personal satisfaction and an enjoyable workplace.
• Recognizing and responding to natural evolution of a business. Recognizing when things need to change and adapt.