Ronni Kahn – Founder & CEO of OzHarvest
Successful business entrepreneur, Ronni Kahn, founded OzHarvest in November 2004 to take action on the amount of food wasted by the hospitality industry.
OzHarvest rescues its food daily from restaurants, cafes, hotels, retailers and food outlets then delivers the fresh meals to charities.
Oz Harvest collected and delivered its first meal on 3 November 2004 and in its first month delivered 4,000 meals to 14 shelters using one van.
OzHarvest now delivers over 400,000 meals each month with a fleet of 21 vans to more than 500 charities across Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Melbourne. Since its inception, over 21 million meals have been delivered to women, children and men in need while also having rescued over 6,000 tonnes of food from ending up as landfill and waste.
Ronni was inspired by AmericaHarvest, a New York charity that had been operating successfully for over 20 years. The Macquarie Foundation provided initial funds and Goodman provided the first OzHarvest van and office space.
Ronni was instrumental in changing the existing legislation across four states that had prevented food donors from supplying excess food. Now companies and registered businesses around Australia are protected from liability when donating quality excess food to OzHarvest under the Civil Liabilities Amendment Act and Health Acts.
In 2011, OzHarvest found a way to assist and teach communities and individuals in rural Australia to set up their own food rescue service with the introduction of a regional food rescue program, REAP.
Ronni was also behind the creation of the NEST program – Nutrition, Education & Sustenance Training which aims to educate vulnerable Australians about nutrition and healthy eating, providing valuable life skills to disadvantaged and marginalised communities.
Ronni has been recognised as a leader in the fields of entrepreneurship, social impact and innovation and has been awarded numerous achievements for her work and commitment to the community, some of which include:
- Australia’s Local Hero, Australian of the Year Awards 2010
- Enriched List by American Express in 2010
- Veuve Clicquot Award Business Woman Tribute Award for Innovation, Entrepreneurial Skill and Contribution to the Community in 2012.
- Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2012
- InStyle Woman of Style Award - Community /Charity category 2011
- Official Australian Partner of the UNEP Think.Eat.Save Campaign (United Nations Environment Program)
- OzHarvest received the United Nations Environment Day Award for Community 2013
Monday 15th September at 7pm (supper at 8:30pm) at the Lindfield Community Centre, 259 Pacific Highway, Lindfield.
$5 non-members. Free for PSN members. Doors open at 6.30pm – library, reuse roundabout, produce swaps. Please join us for supper afterwards and bring a mug for tea.
