Unique in our combined specialist knowledge of the urban agriculture, food security and local government sector, we bring a diverse mix of perspectives to every project, underpinned a practice-based commitment to food justice for everyone.

Dr Nick Rose
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Nick is a relentless optimist with his eye on the big picture. He is nationally recognised as a leading thinker and practitioner in food system governance and urban agriculture with over 15 years’ experience in sustainable food systems. As Sustain’s co-founder and Executive Director, Nick provides strategic advice and oversight for Sustain’s consultancy projects. Nick was a Partner Investigator on an ARC Discovery Project, “Strengthening Food Systems Governance at the Local Level” and has published extensively on food system governance, food policy and urban agriculture, both academically and in the public domain.
As a 2014 Churchill Fellow, he investigated innovative approaches to the intersection of urban agriculture and food justice across North and South America. Nick facilitates Sustain’s quarterly Local Government Food Systems Networking Forum. He holds a PhD in food sovereignty (RMIT), Master of International and Community Development (Deakin University) and Bachelor of Laws (Melbourne University).

Dr Kelly Donati
Co-Founder and Vice-Chairperson
Kelly is as enthusiastic about digging into food systems data, as she is about her compost heap. As Sustain’s co-founder and board director, she supports Sustain’s research and policy work. Her unique interdisciplinary research and teaching expertise is focused on community food systems, urban agriculture, regenerative farming and gastronomy as a tool for social justice.
Having developed Australia’s only Bachelor of Food Studies at William Angliss Institute, Kelly has significantly advanced food systems education. A recipient of a prestigious Rachel Carson fellowship in Munich, she is now a RMIT Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow. Kelly holds a PhD focusing on small-scale regenerative farmers in Victoria (University of Melbourne) and a Master of Gastronomy (Adelaide) and a Master of Arts (Monash).

Molly Fairweather
Senior Projects Manager
Molly works across a range of research and policy projects and co-facilitates Sustain’s Local Government Food Systems Network. She draws on a range of research experience across food systems, food politics, food security and urban agriculture, and has an additional role as Public Health Nutrition Research Officer at Monash University. Molly holds a Master of Environment specialising in Public Health and Food Systems (University of Melbourne) and Bachelor of Health Sciences/ Master of Dietetic Practice (La Trobe University).

Dr Rachael Walshe
Project Officer
Rachael is a human geographer and food systems researcher specialising in primary and early years school-based food gardening. Growing up on Anaiwan country in a largely self-sufficient household, she has been immersed in sustainability practices from day one. Her research is widely recognised for guiding educators and communities in embedding food system knowledge across all areas of the curriculum.
Let’s talk.
Location
Call
Social Media
Facebook: @sustainaustralia
Instagram: @sustainaustralia