On Thursday, 15 May, over 120 passionate individuals from across the food, education, sustainability, and innovation sectors gathered for the Melbourne’s North Food Waste Summit. Hosted in partnership with NORTH Link, Melbourne’s North Food Group and Climateers, this landmark event brought together industry leaders, innovators, and change-makers committed to reducing food waste and creating a more sustainable future for the region.

The Summit featured a dynamic program of expert panels, exhibitors, and engaging roundtable discussions that unpacked the challenges and exciting opportunities of food waste in our economy. Attendees explored practical, scalable solutions for reducing waste while improving bottom-line outcomes and environmental impact. The summit was a powerful platform for building partnerships that will help create a more sustainable and circular food economy across Melbourne’s north.

“Reducing food waste is important to NORTH Link, the Melbourne’s North Food Group, and the region as a whole due to the significant food and beverage manufacturing cluster that exists here, which is the largest in Victoria,” said George Osborne, the event MC and Economic Development Manager at Hume City Council. “Effectively eliminating or managing waste not only unlocks cost savings, but also reduces landfill emissions, and creates new market opportunities.” 

A Huge Thank You to Our Sponsors

This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, whose commitment to a sustainable food system helped bring this important conversation to life. We extend our deepest thanks to: 

• Melbourne Polytechnic 

• Hume City Council 

• La Trobe University 

• Repurpose It 

A Stellar Line-up of Speakers and Panellists 

We were privileged to hear from a diverse group of panellists and presenters across three key sessions: 

Panel 1: Food Waste Outlook – featuring insights from Prof. Simon Lockrey (End Food Waste Australia), Dr Pablo Juliano (CSIRO), Sandra Dal Maso (Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation), and Rob Anderson (Climateers). 

Panel 2: Food Waste Solutions – including Stephanie Salinas (Yarra Valley Water), Syed Shahed (Melbourne Market Authority), George Hatzimanolis (Repurpose It), Phoebe Gardner (Bardee), Victor Barichello (Empauer), and Prof. David Fleming-Muñoz (La Trobe University). 

Panel 3: Food Waste Innovators – with Dr Aida Golneshin (Edlyn Foods), Frank Yao (Innofocus Photonics Technology), Jeremy Hooi (Yume Food), and Prof. Mikel Duke (Victoria University). 

Special thanks also to MC George Osborne, who guided the day with expertise and energy, and to Rob Anderson for facilitating the roundtable discussions that gave all participants a chance to contribute ideas and form new collaborations. 

Collaboration and Innovation on Display 

In addition to the panel sessions, attendees participated in roundtable discussions and networked with exhibitors showcasing food waste technologies, traceability systems, and waste-to-energy solutions. Thanks to our exhibitors: 

• BlueRock 

• City of Whittlesea 

• Farmwall 

• Gagement 

• Green Energy & Carbon Management 

• Jet Technology Corporation 

• Stows Waste Management 

• Titan Packaging 

“This event created a space for real conversations amongst those with the power to drive change including food producers, innovators, councils, and educators.” said Rob Anderson, CEO of Climateers and roundtable facilitator.

Slides from the day’s presentations are available for download below 

Take them back to your teams, share them widely, and use them as a catalyst for action in your own operations.  

Looking Ahead 

The summit concluded with a clear message: Tackling food waste is a shared opportunity. By working together, Melbourne’s north has the potential to lead Australia in building a circular and sustainable food economy.  

As we look ahead, it’s clear that lasting impact will come from ongoing collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and community-driven action. To take the next step toward a more sustainable and innovative future, we invite you to join Melbourne’s North Food Group, a growing network of food businesses, researchers, and partners committed to reducing waste, increasing resilience, and strengthening local industry. By becoming a member, you will gain access to tailored support, strategic partnerships, and a powerful platform to drive change while strengthening your connection to the vibrant food ecosystem. Together, we can transform today’s ideas into tomorrow’s solutions. 

Key Contacts 

Partnerships: Eddy Boscariol – eddy.boscariol@latrobe.edu.au 

Communications and General Enquiries: Avani Parekh – a.parekh@latrobe.edu.au 

Special Thanks 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to:  

Frances Coppolillo and Trent McCarthy of Melbourne Polytechnic for their warm and insightful welcome that opened the Summit and set the tone for a day of meaningful dialogue and collaboration.  

Tayla Gray from J. T. Production Management for her seamless coordination and on-the-ground support throughout the day.  

Nicole Lempriere from Melbourne Polytechnic for her invaluable assistance in managing the venue and ensuring everything ran smoothly. 

Event Photos