New batch to gain hands-on experience in agribusiness banking
Rabobank has welcomed 13 university graduates to its 2025 Rabo Graduate Program, continuing its efforts to develop future talent in agribusiness banking.
Since launching the program in 2023, the specialist agribusiness bank has placed graduates in locations across Australia, from Sydney to Geraldton in regional Western Australia.
According to Rabobank Group executive and chief HR officer Belinda Webber, the program is offering graduates the opportunity to build careers within a leading global agricultural finance institution.
“The graduate program participants will acquire skills, knowledge and experience while working at one of Australia’s leading agri banks,” she said.
As part of the Rabo Graduate Program, the 2025 graduates will also gain experience in various areas of Rabobank’s business, including rural banking, sustainability, risk management, technology, operations, legal, business transformation and finance. Placements will take place in both regional and metropolitan locations.
“Each graduate will rotate across a range of areas within their chosen function as part of the program,” Webber said. “And they will be able to spend time at a rural or regional branch – providing a customer-facing experience that allows individuals to develop a greater appreciation and a deeper understanding of Rabobank’s unique method of client support.”
One of the 2025 graduates, Henry Rowley (pictured below) from Australian National University, has begun his first placement with Rabobank’s rural banking team in Toowoomba, Queensland. Originally from a sheep and cattle farm near Goulburn, New South Wales, Rowley said he was excited about the opportunity to work in different locations.
“The grad program provides a great opportunity to work from a range of locations that I may otherwise [have] not had the chance to,” he said. “Having the opportunity to learn about the industries and commodities produced in those different regions and develop an understanding of their complexities is something really appealing about Rabobank’s graduate program.”
Fellow graduate Molly Davidson (pictured below) has started her first placement in Rabobank’s Perth office. Each participant is paired with a senior leader for mentorship, with Davidson working alongside Steve Kelly, the bank’s state manager for Western Australia.
“Growing up in my family’s farming business – two sheep studs and a commercial cattle and sheep operation – I had the chance to see first-hand my parents, sitting at the kitchen table, working with their bank manager,” she said. “It’s a role that requires not only an understanding of finance, but also an understanding of the challenges within farming and be able to provide support. Studying agribusiness allowed me to combine my passions for business and agriculture.”
Applications for the 2026 Rabo Graduate Program open on March 18.
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