In this special edition of Re: we’re sharing highlights from Feeding the Future: finding the solutions for a fairer, more sustainable food system, a panel discussion co-presented by Currie and the Sandro Demaio Foundation.
Hosted by Dani Valent, the panel featured:
Hannah Moloney, best known for her work in permaculture and as a presenter on ABC’s Gardening Australia
James McLennan, CEO and Co-founder of Farm My School.
Nornie Bero, CEO and founder of Mabu Mabu
Dr Michalis Hadjikakou, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science and Sustainability in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at Deakin University.
The Sandro Demaio Foundation is a not-for-profit developing disruptive, food-focused solutions to improve the health of all Australians through food systems transformation.
Thank you to Fed Square for helping us bring this to life.
22 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
Re: transforming food systems
How can food systems transform our health, climate, and communities?
In this episode of Re:, Ryan sits down with Dr Sandro Demaio, Director and Head of the World Health Organisation Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health and former CEO of VicHealth, to explore how food systems can be reimagined to improve public health, sustainability, and equity.
Sandro shares his journey from clinical medicine to global food policy, including his work with the Eat Lancet Commission and the United Nations. He explains how food systems are one of the most powerful levers for change in tackling chronic disease, climate change, and social inequality.
They dive into key topics including food waste, dietary diversity, global cooperation, and the behavioural and cultural dimensions of eating. Sandro also reflects on the emotional complexity of sustainable food choices and the importance of empathy in driving change.
24 Jun 2025
Re: Transforming dairy
Helen Dornom, former Sustainability Manager at Dairy Australia, discusses the evolution and unification of sustainability in the Australian dairy industry with host Ryan, highlighting the creation of the first dairy sustainability framework in an interview.
2 May 2025TRANSCRIPT
Re: sustainability reporting
Why are sustainability standards key to increasing corporate transparency?
Ryan sits down with Dr Robyn Leeson, head of STR Consulting, to discuss the evolution of sustainability reporting, from voluntary ESG initiatives to government regulations; the challenges of integrating financial standards with broader impact reporting; and how Australia's new mandatory climate reporting requirements could shake up the system.
19 Feb 2025
Re: Farmers and renewables
How can engagement with farmers and communities be improved to help Australia's clean energy transition?
Authors Dr Fiona Davis and Lilith Palmer sit down to discuss the findings of Currie's latest report Making the Clean Energy Transition Work for Farmers: A blueprint for better farmer engagement in Australia. They discuss the five reasons farmers are an important player in the renewable transition, and Currie's four principles for better engagement.
Read the report here: https://curriecommunications.com.au/farmers_renewables/
29 Jan 2025TRANSCRIPT
Re: thriving communities
How can regional development drive economic success and inclusivity?
In this episode of re:, Fiona sits down with Linda Nieuwenhuizen, CEO of the Committee for Greater Shepparton, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing regional communities. Linda shares her vision for Shepparton’s growth, emphasizing the importance of data-driven policy, collaboration, and enhanced supply chain connectivity.
They dive into key topics including water recovery, energy transition, land use, and improving digital and road freight connectivity. Linda also highlights Shepparton’s $5.5 billion annual manufacturing sector and outlines her vision for a future with secure water, reliable energy, and increased investment in research, development, and education—creating a vibrant, inclusive regional economy.
31 Oct 2024TRANSCRIPT
Re: Regional Renewal
In this episode of re: Fiona sits down with Liz Ritchie, CEO of the Regional Australia Institute, to explore her journey from growing up in Deniliquin to leading a national vision for rebalancing Australia. Liz shares her passion for regional Australia, recounting how her upbringing on a farm and early involvement the Deniliquin Ute Muster shaped her career.
They dive into key topics around the challenges and opportunities facing regional Australia today, and the Institute's mission to shift the narrative using data and storytelling, aiming to bust myths about regional living and highlight the potential for regional communities to thrive “regionalisation.”
18 Jul 2024TRANSCRIPT
Re: Solving the climate crisis
How do we reach across the divide to solve the climate crisis and combat the threat of extinction? How do we protect and conserve the environment that Australians cherish? In this episode we unpack the defining issue of our time: the climate crisis. Kelly O’Shannassy, CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation, shares her wisdom and learnings from her long career advocating for nature in government, business and the non-profit sector.
9 Jul 2024TRANSCRIPT
Re: Reimagining newsrooms
Is AI a threat or an opportunity in the newsroom? Or can it be both? In this episode of Re, Currie consultants Peter Somerville and Lilith Palmer discuss the new developments happening in newsrooms across rural Victoria.
28 Jun 2024TRANSCRIPT
Re: transforming sugarcane
Queensland’s sugarcane industry has seen its fair change of change and innovation, and with talk of sustainable aviation fuel and energy generation, there’s plenty more on the horizon.
Its work over recent years to ramp up sustainability credentials has helped the environment, while also paving the way for the next round of technological advances.
In this episode of Re:, Currie director, Fiona Davis, chats with Owen Menkens, a fourth generation cane farmer and chairman of the Queensland Canegrowers Organisation about the industry and everything in between.
They reframe and examine a wide range of topics surrounding cane growing, from the challenges it faces, to sustainability in agriculture, leadership, and the impacts of climate change. It’s one not to miss!
23 May 2024TRANSCRIPT
Re: Back to the future of public relations
What does the future of public relations look like?
Mark Paterson, Partner at Currie, joins Eloise Lane on this episode of Re: to reflect on his time at the agency and share his insights on the future of public relations.
They discuss the key moments, highlights and lessons from Mark's tenure at Currie, highlighting the importance of adaptability, innovation, and staying ahead of the curve in an ever-changing landscape.
23 May 2024TRANSCRIPT
Re: What Australian agriculture can do to tackle climate change
What can Australian agriculture do to address climate change? This is the question that Currie has enlisted Richard Eckard, Professor and Director of the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre at the University of Melbourne, to reimagine in our latest episode of Re.
The impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on farmers is a pressing threat to our food systems and our future. In this episode, Currie Director Fiona Davis interviews Professor Eckard as they discuss all things climate change and we learn about reframing carbon neutral to net zero, putting value on biodiversity, engaging the consultancy sector in carbon mitigation and accounting, and the quest to empower the next generation of farmers.
23 May 2024TRANSCRIPT
Re: Why small business should take big climate action
As a small professional services business, Currie has a relatively small carbon footprint. But does that mean businesses like us shouldn't take meaningful climate action?
We've recently had our near-term and net zero emission reduction targets validated by the Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi). We're one of just six businesses in Australia to have achieved this.
So, why bother?
23 May 2024TRANSCRIPT
Re: Waste & NIMBYism
We all generate rubbish. And it has to go somewhere. But how do people react when that 'somewhere' is too close to home?
Currie's Susan McNair chats with Cleanaway's Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager, Olga Ghiri.
23 May 2024TRANSCRIPT
Re: Product Stewardship (part 2)
Last episode, Re: explored product stewardship and giving a second life to our mobile devices. In this episode, we take the conversation further, dissecting Australia's role and responsibilities in implementing the concepts of a circular economy.
Currie's Mark Paterson interviews John Gertsakis, Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, director/co-founder of the eWaste Watch Institute and director of the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence.
Mark and John discuss the future of product stewardship in Australia and the courage industries must find to kick-start the conversation around national solutions to overconsumption. In our sophomore episode, Currie continues to reframe, rethink and realign important conversations about sustainability and the environment through conversation with insightful and knowledgeable industry actors.
23 May 2024TRANSCRIPT
Re: Product Stewardship
There’s nothing better than getting a slick new phone. But the last time you upgraded, how much thought did you give to the valuable materials in your old phone?
Phones are full of valuable resources that can be recycled and given a second life. But, as Warren Overton, CEO of the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Program says, people tend to hoard them and stick them in a drawer.
Currie’s Mark Paterson spoke with Warren recently to kick off our new podcast, Re. Re is about reframing, rethinking and realigning conversations around the environment, sustainability and food production.
We’re excited to share the first episode, which is all about product stewardship – or, in very simple terms, what happens to your old mobile phone or computer when you upgrade.
Inside a recent episode
Re: Feeding the Future
Published 28 Aug 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] What do we mean when we say this? And I might throw to you first, Michaelis. Yes, I think you can rely on the academic to start us off with a nice dry definition, just to promise it'll get better. So food system is the entire, I guess, realm of food production on consumption, starting from the agriculture production stage, including any processing, distribution stages, retail, and then finally consumption as well as disposal of any waste, which we know is a problem, which I'm sure we get to that later. I think the important thing for me here is that it's beyond just the agricultural system. Often intuitively, we might think of the food system as the farm agriculture, but it's way broader than that. […]
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