Ronni Kahn

Ronni Kahn AO is a South-African born Australian visionary social entrepreneur, activist, and founder of the groundbreaking food rescue charity OzHarvest. A passionate advocate for sustainable food systems, Ronni is renowned for her relentless mission to disrupt Australia’s food waste landscape and create lasting change. From her humble beginnings in South Africa to founding OzHarvest in 2004, Ronni’s journey is a testament to the power of one person’s commitment to making the world a better place.

Before launching OzHarvest, Ronni was the owner of a successful event company. It was through this lens that she first saw the staggering amount of food wasted at her events, much of it untouched and perfectly good. This awareness sparked a deep internal conflict, especially as she knew millions of people in her own community were going hungry. In what would become the first step of her extraordinary mission, Ronni began personally delivering leftover food from her events to homeless shelters in Sydney. This small but significant act of kindness laid the foundation for what would soon become a nationwide movement.

In 2004, Ronni founded OzHarvest with the simple yet powerful mission to nourish Australia. By rescuing surplus food from across the country and redirecting it to those in need, OzHarvest has grown into Australia's leading food rescue organisation, now operating in six states with a dedicated team of nearly 300 staff and 3,000 volunteers. . In 2005, alongside pro bono lawyers, Ronny lobbied government to have the civil liabilities amendment act passed in NSW to allow good food to be given away for free without any fear of liability to the donor, with all states following suit.

The organisation’s success has since inspired similar initiatives in New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, and the UK under the OzHarvest model. In addition to food rescue, OzHarvest is a leader in food waste and sustainability education, with programs in schools and initiatives that provide hospitality training to vulnerable youth, fostering community connection and self-worth.

Ronni’s can be seen making regular appearances in national media, on expert panels, and as a highly sought-after keynote speaker worldwide, inspiring audiences to take action in the fight against food waste. Collaborating with some of the world's finest chefs, including Jamie Oliver, Massimo Bottura, and Neil Perry, Ronni has turned her passion for food into a powerful tool for social change.

Beyond food rescue, Ronni continues to innovate with initiatives like the world’s first free supermarket, OzHarvest Market, based on a "take what you need, give if you can" philosophy. In 2022, OzHarvest launched Refetorrio, a restaurant in collaboration with Massimo Bottura’s Food for Soul, which not only reduces food waste but also provides free meals to Australia’s most vulnerable..

Ronni’s work has been widely recognised, with accolades such as her appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), the Australian Local Hero of the Year award, Boss Magazine Top 21 True Leaders, Griffith University’s Doctor of the University (honoris causa), and the Gourmet Traveller’s Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality Award. Her journey was captured in the 2020 documentary Food Fighter, and her memoir, A Repurposed Life, was published and nominated for an ABIA award for Biography Book of the Year. Ronni’s inspiring story sheds light on the personal and professional transformation that drove her to pursue a life of purpose.

Through OzHarvest and her continued advocacy, Ronni Kahn’s life and work serve as an inspiring reminder that one person’s vision and commitment can change the world.