Dave McNamara

A former chef, Dave’s passion for food has taken him from working in some of Melbourne’s most renowned restaurants to leading the largest food relief charity in Victoria.  

In 2013, Dave was appointed CEO of Foodbank Victoria. He has dedicated his life to fighting hunger and has since then been leading the fight against food insecurity.

In 2014, he appealed to the Victorian government, stressing the importance of ensuring that our most vulnerable children can access a healthy school breakfast. The Andrews government announced $13.7 million funding for Foodbank Victoria to run school breakfast clubs and programs in the following year.

The program was an enormous success and would see breakfast provided to 25,000 children across Victoria at 500 of the most disadvantaged primary schools in the state.

As a result, the Andrews government announced in 2018 that $58 million would be allocated to expanding the breakfast program to double the reach and provide a lunch option for children who turn up to school without lunch. It would also include a literacy program to improve nutrition at home for these children and food supply for the holiday periods.

Having worked in the not-for-profit sector for many years prior to his appointment as CEO, he is a true leader of change for good, and he now offers his thoughts to you. As a speaker, Dave aims to raise awareness and instil a desire to help within his audience.

Dave is a member of the Committee of Management for Emergency Relief Victoria and the Victorian Healthy Eating Enterprise collaboration group.