My life has been and always will be spent on a boat.
Despite the fact that gender doesn’t matter in fishing, India Thompson is usually one of only a handful of females at tournaments – which is why she’s dedicated to getting more women involved in the sport.
Nothing makes India happier than being out on the water chasing fish that are sometimes the size of a small car - something she’s been doing with her family since she was a small child. Her competitive nature saw her take this passion beyond a hobby and into the sporting domain, and she’s enjoyed huge success.
In her day job as a marine scientist, India is a strong advocate for sustainable fishing, working hard to make sure Aussies can continue to enjoy the sport for generations to come. India now enters ‘tag and release’ tournaments rather than ‘capture’ events, to ease the pressure on fish populations.
Talking Points
Bridging the Gender Gap
There is no inherent gender bias in recreational fishing, with the sport being widely acknowledged as one where there is genuine physical equality.Bridging the Gender Gap
Despite this, fishing is widely known as a traditionally male domain, and in Australia, more than twice as many men participate in fishing than women.
India’s ambitious nature combined with her scientific credentials make her a fantastic role model for females – and it’s little wonder she’s often approached for advice on getting started in fishing.
In this powerful talk, she presents audiences with her insights on making a ripple in a male dominated industry.
Driving Sustainable Change
How can we encourage people to fish more sustainably and help ease the pressure on fish populations? In this keynote, Indy explains the power of influence and how encouraging people to do the right thing (and helping them understand why) has had a huge impact on both local fisheries and on fishers’ behaviour at a global scale. Driving Sustainable Change
She believes that helping people understand how to decipher and understand information in a way they can easily implement is the key to change. A powerful presentation for any enviro-warriors and those looking to drive important and sustainable change in their field.
Diverse Teams are Successful Teams
Extreme fishing is a tough industry - involving large fish, sleepless nights (often weeks at a time), big egos and big prize money on the line, so it’s no surprise it can prove testing for teams. Diverse Teams are Successful Teams
Indy’s experience is that the key to leading or being a part of a successful team is the clear definition and ownership of roles, and the knowledge each individual possesses to achieve collective success.
One person cannot do it all, but they can do one thing well. Here Indy shares her experiences of how diversity is key to success.
