FOODTRUTHS - Key Persons

Abbie hails from a farming background, having grown up on a large sheep and beef farm in Marlborough, this early farm life propelled her to work on a variety of stations across Australia. Our grounded food responder is also a commercial helicopter pilot obtaining her commercial licence in 2005 and flying throughout New Zealand and Australia. Understanding food systems is in her DNA from flying helicopters to protect crops from frosts to technical work doing GPS mapping for research centres. Abbie is an all-round superstar having had experience in hospitality and tourism and has spent many years in the viticultural industry from grass roots vineyard work through to cellar door with food and wine. Now back on her own small farm, Abbie has planted out her dream orchard and vegetable garden and she has a great love of organic produce (and understands the value of good compost) and a goal of being completely self-sufficient. The road to self-sufficiency means that Abbie spends her spare time developing her property so she is no longer farming rocks, she is also an avid animal lover and thoroughly enjoys riding her horses amongst the scenery of the Kaikoura coastline. She's a bit inspiring, our Abbie.

Creating masterpieces from scratch is Cecilia's forte - be it in the kitchen generating gastronomic genius, or behind her computer manifesting marketing magnificence. Our Uruguayan expatriate first discovered her calling for digital marketing right here in the South Island of New Zealand, and after a small stint back home she has now returned to help bring life to FoodTruths ambitions. Boasting a steady list of qualifications in Graphic Design, Social Media Strategy and Media Planning from Senpai Academy, Cecilia aspires to use her arsenal of aptitude and talent to contribute to the global efforts of creating a healthier future. Her work in this field has already been recognised by local Government in Uruguay where she independently developed an initiative using her photography skills that encouraged children to use rubbish bins in public spaces - an onerous task! Thankfully the raw beauty of Aotearoa was enough to lure Cecilia (and her camera) back across the South Pacific, and she now embarks on an adventure to make the world better in a different way - by joining FoodTruths efforts to re-invent the food system.

Dr Helen Darling is a disruptor. Ever since she can remember she has questioned the status quo. With a background formed in health and a PhD in Public Health from the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Helen has never been afraid to question failing systems; her belief in better food systems is drawn from deep personal experience across the food supply chain. Aside from obvious experience as a consumer, Helen is involved in the development and protection of a novel fruit (set to disrupt the horticultural sector), produces and sells summerfruit, founded a company (Oritain) that geochemically provenances food and fibre, has sat on a national science based board (the Institute of Environmental and Scientific Research, ESR) and an international standard setting organisation (United States Pharmacopeial Convention) as both a member of the Expert Committee on Food Ingredients and the Expert Panel on Food Fraud. Helen has also represented NZ in international fora on food systems.

Hamish has been immersed in the food world since he could say pavlova. He has managed fruit growing operations in Central Otago for 6 years, and won the Central Otago Young Fruit Grower of the Year competition in 2018. Outside of this, his work has ranged from butchery to tutoring law, to working for the New Zealand Defence Force; all of which he draws on, in his role at FoodTruths. His role is at the forefront of FoodTruths work, communicating their work with the rest of the world.

Michael knows we desperately need a seismic shift in our food system to protect us and our Earthly Home - and he's not afraid to make it happen. With a background in the development of behaviour changing products that span workplace health, safety, and wellbeing to combating a lack of affordable and nutritious food - Michael specialises in overcoming seemingly insurmountable tasks. See: David vs Goliath.

"It's better with a little salt." Keeper of Sumfood's entrepreneurial flame, Richard started his first company before he could drive a car. Ideas emit off the Christchurch native like solar flares from the sun. Richard's interest in the latest gadgetry isn't unusual for a tech guy, but his passion for using...