Meet the passionate team who power FareShare.
Chief Executive Officer
With an extensive career spanning over 25 years in the food sector and a passion for creating positive change in people’s lives, Daniel took the helm of SecondBite in September 2023. His impressive background includes leadership roles at various food businesses across Australia and Asia, with his most recent position being at McCormick, the world’s leading herb and spice company. In this capacity, he spearheaded growth and transformation, fostering sustainability and profitability.
Director of Community, Innovation and FareShare
Fiona’s career has spanned the non-profit, government and university sectors in Australia and the USA, including leadership positions at Philanthropy Australia, Brisbane Powerhouse, Next Wave Festival, and Artsupport Australia. Through these roles and as a board member of many organisations, Fiona has gained extensive experience supporting philanthropists, non-profits, advisors and intermediaries, and helping them build stronger, more sustainable relationships with supporters. When she isn’t developing key partnerships for FareShare Brisbane, she puts her expertise to good use as Deputy Chair of DVConnect, a state-wide domestic violence crisis service, and as a fellow of the Australia Council Arts Leaders Program.
Chief Operations Officer
Over the course of a 20 plus year career in Procurement, Supply Chain and International Business, Lucy has a proven ability to identify and realise cost savings and efficiencies. Lucy has a keen focus on leading and optimising complex supply chains in FMCG, agriculture and manufacturing in Australia and internationally. Lucy began her career providing export and international business development advice to food, beverage, agricultural and FMCG companies. She has built a strong technical skillset in procurement, logistics, negotiation and international supply chain management.
Chief People Officer
Melanie brings a wealth of experience in People & Culture (P&C) functions, with 18 years in HR operations and leadership roles worldwide. Melanie has a proven track record of managing large teams and
leading program and project delivery, driving enterprise-wide change and
people-centric strategic programs. Melanie has sucessfully optimised P&C functions for several large organisations and has a stong foundation in designing leadership, induction, and professional development programs.
Director of Philanthropy & Transformation
Jo’s extensive history in the for-purpose sector includes youth homelessness, education scholarships, NDIS programs, leadership programs and now food rescue. She has held numerous Board positions in the peak body and start up space and membership on several Ministerial Advisory Committees. Jo is a member of the AICD and Women on Boards.
Director of Finance
Kevin has extensive experience in finance management in NPOs, having previously worked as Finance Manager at Multiple Sclerosis and at South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network where he successfully managed the rapid growth of the business.
Director of Government Relations & Strategy
Solly brings considerable experience as a skilled management and strategy consultant and nearly a decade working in the highest levels of politics and government. Solly has also served in an Executive Management role in the TAFE sector and as a consultant assisting clients with government and stakeholder relations. His near decade in politics included as Chief of Staff and Adviser to State and Federal Ministers, and as a Media Advisor to a State Premier.
Director of Fundraising & Communications
Emma has held numerous leadership roles within the NPO, government and corporate arenas, heading up fundraising, communications and stakeholder engagement in the conservation, social services, and animal welfare sectors. Emma has coupled her professional career with a strong volunteer history, including roles as a wildlife rescuer and Non-Executive Board Director at Animal Aid and The Thin Green Line.
Production Manager
Leads our Melbourne kitchen team responsible for cooking thousands of nutritious meals every day.
Production Manager
Heads our Brisbane kitchen established in 2018 to provide nutritious, cooked meals for vulnerable Queenslanders.
Logistics Manager
Oversees transport, logistics and warehousing in Victoria to rescue food and distribute free, nutritious meals.
Garden Program Manager
Leads our kitchen garden teams and plans our vegtable crops and harvests across three sites in Melbourne.
Volunteer Programs Manager
Leads our Melbourne volunteering program including our corporate and school programs.
First Nations Officer
Coordinates our Meals for the Mob program, providing free, nutritious meals to First Nations communities from our Brisbane kitchen.
President: David is a director and part-owner of the TIC Group and is involved in a number of other private companies. A Certified Public Accountant, he has been a long-serving member of the FareShare Board. He joined FareShare when it was known as One Umbrella and production in the kitchen was just 1000 meals per week. During his tenure he has watched our staff and volunteers in awe as production has risen to more than 60,000 meals a week. In addition to his formal involvement, David has been a regular participant in the the annual Upstream Challenge, a sponsored walk, raising significant funds for FareShare. David was also a member of the Foodbank Victoria Board for 12 years, retiring in 2017.
Vice president: Sandy Dudakov was a building project manager before joining One Umbrella, the forerunner to FareShare. In her time she has seen the charity grow from collecting food in private cars to now having nine refrigerated vans driving around Melbourne, and from having to cook in borrowed kitchens to operating Australia’s largest charity kitchens in two states. Sandy is especially pleased to have been around to see the Wrongs & Other Acts 2002 passed in Parliament which by offering legal protection encourages businesses to donate safe food to charities.
Paul Conroy is the CEO of The Ian Potter Foundation. He has extensive experience in the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. This includes practising as a corporate lawyer in Australia, Asia and the UK, working as Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary of Fosters' Group Ltd and Treasury Wine Estates Ltd as well as a number of executive and chief executive roles in Australia and the US, and serving as Chairman of the Summer Foundation, which supports and empowers young people with disabilities.
Rilka is an entrepreneur, food writer and broadcaster with a long history of community service. She serves on the board of The Hospital Research Foundation and the Centre for Creative Health among other charity commitments. Author of Rilka’s Feasts, she is known among Melbourne and Adelaide radio listeners for regular segments on food and culinary culture.
Chris is the CEO of Citywide Service Solutions Pty, a leading physical services company in Australia. Prior to this, he had more than 30 years’ experience in the resources sector, including with BHP Billiton, in various senior executive roles. More recently, Chris has acted as a non-executive director, including with the Victorian Government’s Metropolitan Partnership, and for innovation company Breakthrough Technology. He has been a ‘friend’ of FareShare for a number of years, participating in volunteering opportunities himself, and also with colleagues and teams from Citywide.
Margot founded de Groots wills & estate lawyers in Brisbane in 1986 and in Sydney (2007) and Melbourne (2013). Margot also founded the Queensland branch of the international Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and was a founding member of the Queensland Law Society Succession Law Committee. She has also served as Chairman of Law Australasia, a National Association of law firms and has been a Director and Chair of several other companies and foundations.
Our Patron: Mr Charles Goode is the Chairman of Australian United Investment Company Ltd, Diversified United Investment Ltd and Flagstaff Partners. He retired in February 2010 as Chairman of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group after serving as a director for four years and as Chairman for 15 years. He retired in July 2007 as Chairman of Woodside Petroleum Limited after serving as a director for 19 years and as Chairman for eight years. Mr Goode has a wide range of community interests, including chairing The Ian Potter Foundation, one of Australia's largest philanthropic foundations, for many years. He was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2001.