Rescuing Good Food, Rescuing People in Need - Australian Businesswomen's Network

Published: 30 June 2010

Rescuing Good Food, Rescuing People in Need

Ronni Kahn

OzHarvest was founded in November 2004 when events organiser, Ronni Kahn, stunned by the amount of food wasted by the hospitality industry decided to do something about it.

In its first month, OzHarvest delivered 4000 meals to 14 shelters using one van. OzHarvest now delivers around 125,000 each month to 195 charities in Sydney, Wollongong and Canberra with its fleet of six vans. Since its inception, over 5.3 million meals have been delivered to those in need.

In this interview we look at:

How Ronni took her event management skills to relationship management and the production of a valuable outcome for Sydney's hungry.
The role of corporate social responsibility
How being awarded Australian of the Year Local Hero has impacted OzHarvest
The business lessons Ronni has learned in her years in business
The role of passion in business success

About Ronni Kahn and OzHarvest

OzHarvest was founded in November 2004 when events organiser, Ronni Kahn, stunned by the amount of food wasted by the hospitality industry decided to do something about it. Inspired by AmericaHarvest, a charity that had successfully been operating for over 20 years, Ronni brought the food-rescue model back to Sydney.

Backed by the Macquarie Group Foundation which provided funds and Goodman+ which provided a van and office, OzHarvest was established and collected and delivered its first meal on 4 November 2004.

In its first month, OzHarvest delivered 4000 meals to 14 shelters using one van. OzHarvest now delivers around 125,000 each month to 195 charities in Sydney, Wollongong and Canberra with its fleet of six vans. Since its inception, over 4.5 million meals have been delivered to those in need.

In November 2008 Ronni was a finalist in two categories of the Telstra Business Women's Awards. In December 2008, Ronni was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Sydney by the (Sydney) magazine and most recently became a World of Difference Living Donor, one of five Australians chosen for a grant to work full time in the charity of their choice for a year , nominated by the Vodafone Foundation. Ronni has been an Australia Day Ambassador for the last three years.

Ronni was awarded the Australian of the Year Local Hero 2010 in the Australian of the Year Awards 2010.

Learn more:

Website: www.ozharvest.org
Phone: 02 95163877
Email: info@ozharvest.org
Facebook: Join OzHarvest on Facebook
Twitter: @ozharvest

About the In Her Shoes series

In Her Shoes is a regular video series presented by the Australian Businesswomen's Network and BNet.com.au. Each interview features an inspiring businesswoman and her strategies for success. New episodes are released regularly. Become a Community Member for regular updates. StartUp and Growth Members get updates automatically.

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