How Process Engineer Bansari Joshi rebuilt her career in Australian manufacturing and found her home at Nufarm
Summary
- Bansari Joshi relocated from India to Australia in 2023, reassessed her qualifications through Engineers Australia, and rebuilt her professional career from the ground up in a new country
- She joined Nufarm’s Laverton North site as a contract Process Engineer and was offered a permanent role after the team quickly recognised her value
- Bansari credits Nufarm’s collaborative, emotionally intelligent culture for helping her settle into both the role and her new life in Melbourne
- Her story is a reminder that engineering and manufacturing are exciting, growth-filled careers for women, especially when the employer gets the culture right
Bansari Joshi arrived in Australia with a suitcase, a chemical engineering degree earned in India, nearly a decade of international experience, and the quiet determination to start again.
A career built across continents
Before Melbourne, there was India. Bansari began her career as a Process Engineer at Jacobs, working on brownfield and greenfield oil and gas projects from the consulting side. She then moved to PI Industries as an Executive Engineer, deepening her expertise in batch manufacturing processes and project delivery within the agrochemical industry.
In 2023, after getting married, she relocated to Australia. Rather than put her career on hold, she got to work. She completed her competency assessment and earned Professional Engineer recognition through Engineers Australia — a significant achievement that required demonstrating her expertise against Australian standards. She then joined Samsara Eco in Canberra, working on the scale-up of PET and Nylon recycling processes and gaining exposure to sustainability-focused manufacturing innovation.
When she moved to Melbourne and saw an opportunity at Nufarm, she took it — “drawn to a company focused on evolving agriculture through innovation and responsible manufacturing”.
The workplace that made the difference
Bansari joined Nufarm’s Laverton North manufacturing site as a contract Process Engineer in August 2025. She will be the first to tell you that the contract-to-permanent journey was not part of a calculated plan. It was something she felt.
“I very quickly felt like I belonged here. Everyone was approachable, supportive, and involved in solving problems together, which made a big difference for me, especially while settling into a new country and work environment.”
This collaborative, inclusive environment reflects Nufarm’s commitment to being agile and bringing people together to solve challenges quickly and effectively
The turning point came early. Bansari found herself pulled into team risk assessments, troubleshooting sessions, and safety discussions; real, consequential work. Her perspective was welcomed, not tolerated. Her ideas were acted on, not filed away.
“What stood out to me was that even though I had joined as a contractor and was still relatively new, the team genuinely welcomed my input and trusted me to be involved in important discussions and decisions. Coming in with a fresh perspective, I always felt encouraged to ask questions and share ideas.”
At Nufarm, empowering people to contribute from day one is essential to how the business evolves alongside the changing needs of agriculture.
When the permanent role came up, accepting it was an easy decision.
Engineering that never stands still
Ask Bansari what she loves most about her work and she’ll tell you: no two days are ever the same.
Working in manufacturing means constant variety; new challenges, new problems to solve, new opportunities to improve how the plant runs. Her role touches operations, maintenance, projects, and quality. It asks her to think across disciplines, build coalitions, and translate complex engineering problems into clear, practical solutions.
“The most rewarding part is seeing how even a small engineering change can make a significant impact on safety, reliability, and overall plant performance. Seeing them happen in real time is the best part of the job.”
– Bansari Joshi
This mindset—continuous improvement with a strong focus on safety and outcomes—supports Nufarm’s responsibility to its people, customers, and the environments it operates in.
That ability to zoom out and see the whole picture and connect the dots across teams is something Bansari has built over years and across industries. At Nufarm, she has the space to put it to full use.
What she’d tell other women
Bansari is proud of what she has built. But she’s also honest about how hard it was.
“The first thing that comes to mind is moving from India to Australia and re-establishing myself professionally in a completely new environment. Career growth has always been a very important part of my life, so starting over in Australia was a big step personally and professionally. Looking back, I’m really proud of how much I’ve learned and grown through that journey.”
– Bansari Joshi
For women considering a career in engineering, or wondering whether agricultural and chemical manufacturing is a place for them, her message is straightforward: the industry is full of meaningful, technically challenging, endlessly varied work. And when you find a workplace with genuine emotional intelligence in its culture — where people are respectful, curious, and willing to support each other — it becomes something more than a job. It becomes a place where people can grow, contribute and help shape the future of agriculture in a responsible, sustainable way.
“I’ve worked with different employers throughout my career, but one thing I truly noticed at Nufarm was the emotional intelligence within the team. People are respectful, approachable, and willing to support each other, especially during challenging situations.”
That, she says, is what made Melbourne feel like home, “and what makes Nufarm a place where people can truly belong while helping agriculture evolve for the future”.
