We are here to solve the problem of global food waste and we intend to feed a lot of animals doing it.

Dr Ron Glanville has had a 45 year career working in animal health and biosecurity in Australia, including the positions of Chief Biosecurity Officer, Chief Veterinary Officer and Chief Inspector of Stock for the State of Queensland.

Career highlights include leading Queensland’s response to equine influenza, Australia’s largest biosecurity emergency response, as well as leadership roles in around 30 other emergency responses; a key role in finalising tuberculosis eradication in Queensland; and leading the implementation of the national livestock identification system at the state level. Since 2011 he has established a successful consultancy business in biosecurity. He was awarded the David Banks Biosecurity Lifetime achievement award, by the Australian Federal Government at the Australian Biosecurity Awards 2020. The catalyst for his award nomination was a review of biosecurity capability in Torres Strait and part of Cape York Peninsula which he conducted in 2016. This led to development of the groundbreaking Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area Biosecurity Strategy.

Professor Bob Swick is currently Poultry Research Coordinator at Poultry Hub Australia in Armidale. Over his 40-year career he has held positions at Monsanto Company, Novus International, American Soybean Association and University of New England. Bob has supervised of 15 higher degree research students and has published over 300 technical papers, bulletins, reports, journal articles and patents. His current interests include protein and amino acid nutrition, and sustainable poultry production.

Rod Jenner is a consultant poultry vet, consulting to both the chicken meat and egg industries. He is conducting projects on behalf of Agrifutures Australia and Australian Eggs Ltd and has been in the poultry industry since graduation.

Rod has served on a number of industry representative committees over the years including the RIRDC chicken meat advisory committee, and has also served as President of the Australian Veterinary Poultry Association (AVPA), member of Therapeutics Subcommittee and Welfare Subcommittee of the AVPA, Queensland executive of the AVA, and divisional committee of the WPSA. Of recent years he has progressed into teaching veterinary students in the area of commercial poultry medicine at University of Queensland and James Cook University. In 2021 Rod was the recipient of the Australian Poultry Award for Meritorious Service to the Australian poultry industry, presented by the World’s Poultry Science Association.

Andrew Jones has over 20 years’ experience in the patent profession who worked for the first half of his career with one of Australia's top tier specialist IP firms up until 2013 when he founded his company Foundry Intellectual Property.

Andrew assists clients with all aspects of the patenting process, including the drafting of patent specifications, patent prosecution in Australia and overseas, as well as providing validity, infringement and freedom to operate advice. He also regularly advises clients on appropriate patent strategies, given their individual circumstances. He has worked with a diverse range of clients, both from Australia and overseas, ranging from individuals, to SMEs, start-ups, Universities, Government organisations and corporates.

Given his research experience in medicinal inorganic chemistry, much of the focus of his patent practice to date has been in chemistry-related technologies. He has drafted patent specifications and prosecuted patent applications for clients with inventions in a diverse range of chemical technologies, including inorganic and organic synthesis, polymers, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, alloys, process chemistry, food science and waste treatment. He has specific experience in technologies relating to flocculating polymers, electrochemical sensors, coating compositions, dye-sensitised solar cells, superconducting materials and medical devices, to name but a few. He also has extensive experience with mechanical inventions, and for many years helped teach the course “Drafting of Patent Specifications” at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Dr. Dharma Hagare, is a Senior Lecturer and Associate Dean International (South Asia) at Western Sydney University (WSU). Dharma is working in the broad areas of resource conservation, and recovery and reuse of water, nutrients and materials. He is the leader of Nutrient, Water and Materials Recycling Group (NewMarg) at WSU. He actively seeks to find innovative, interdisciplinary/ transdisciplinary and practical solutions to environmental/industry problems. He is actively working in the area of zero waste systems and circular economy, including valorisation of waste materials.

His recent projects include use of food waste for chicken feed and liquid fertilisers, and processed solid waste for manufacturing building materials. Dharma has published over 150 refereed journal and conference papers, and book chapters. 13 PhD and 6 MPhil students have successfully completed their degrees under his supervision. He has secured over $2.8 million in research funding. His recent industry collaborators include Food Recycle, Global Renewables, Austral Bricks, several city councils and other organisations.

Professor Vijay Jayasena is currently employed at Western Sydney University. He is an internationally awarded and recognised Food and Nutrition expert, with proven success in research, attraction of funding, application of technologies in numerous countries and excellence in student education, mentoring and development.