Our story

From a simple idea to a nationwide movement, Food Ladder has redefined how students and communities grow, learn and connect through food. We provide schools across the country with a holistic food security and education solution, enabling schools to grow fresh food while arming children with the knowledge and skills to create a healthier future.
Planting an idea,
growing a movement

Food Ladder started in 2010 with a simple idea – to develop practical solutions to address food insecurity in regional and remote areas, and support nutritional education through hands-on learning in our experiential greenhouses.

Since then, 11,200 children across Australia have grown over 106,000 servings of vegetables through our program – and children across the country have been inspired and empowered to make a difference in growing a healthier future.

Our values

Innovative

We combine agricultural technology with cutting edge AI-powered tools to deliver a unique product that has been proven to work.

Joyful

We bring joy through hands-on, transformative projects that energise classrooms and connect communities.

Nurturing

We provide children with the tools and knowledge to grow, prepare, and preserve crops, empowering them to make nutritious food choices.

Connection

We create a space for students, teachers and schools to come together, learn from one another, and grow stronger as a collective.

Our beliefs

We provide the building blocks to access fresh food

By growing food locally, we help address affordability, quality and availability issues.

We create a safe space for children to learn and thrive

Our green classrooms facilitate practical, hands-on learning and arm children with the knowledge and skills to create a healthier future. 

We fuel community, connection and cumulative impact

Through connection and shared effort, we are growing an interconnected ecosystem of empowered schools that are making a real difference.

We inspire change – individually and collectively

We have generational impact, boosting the physical, mental and psychological health of the next generation through a movement of collective change.

Who we are

Samantha Shepherd

Samantha Shepherd

Executive Assistant & Business Lead

Sam brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit and people-focused energy to Food Ladder. With a background in founding and leading two award-winning businesses in the women’s health and hospitality sectors, she has a deep understanding of what it takes to build purpose-driven initiatives from the ground up. A passionate advocate for wellness, food security, and community connection, Sam is dedicated to supporting Food Ladder’s mission through strong relationships and seamless coordination across projects and partners. Having lived abroad in India and Berlin, Sam brings a global perspective — and as a true foodie at heart, she believes in the power of fresh, nutritious food to bring people together and create lasting change.
Warwick Brown

Warwick Brown

Head of Technology & Product

Warwick is Food Ladder’s Head of Technology and Product, bringing more than 15 years experience building and scaling digital platforms across marketplaces, SaaS and B2B/B2C businesses. He has led cross-functional product, engineering, design and analytics teams in ASX and NASDAQ-listed companies and high-growth start-ups. At Food Ladder, Warwick leads the build-out of the organisation’s AI-enabled education platform, designing tools that help teachers turn greenhouse activity into engaging, curriculum-aligned learning. Alongside this, he is responsible for the broader technology stack, ensuring the whole system is secure, scalable. A hands-on builder at heart, Warwick is an enthusiastic DIY-er, camper and tinkerer with electronics. He brings that practical, problem-solving mindset to Food Ladder’s mission, working closely with the team, schools and partners to ensure the technology always serves the people on the ground first.
Dylan Male

Dylan Male

Head of Food Systems

Dylan is an agricultural scientist driven by firsthand experience of climate challenges on his family farm. At Food Ladder, he advocates for resilient food systems and reconnecting communities with where their food comes from. Dylan sees Food Ladder as a vital tool in addressing food insecurity and restoring our relationship with nature.
Lucy Payne

Lucy Payne

Head of Partnerships

Lucy brings a unique blend of investment expertise and passion for food, nutrition, and sustainability. Formerly Head of Clients at an Australian trading platform, she now leads Food Ladder’s School Rollout Program, building strong relationships with partners and donors. Lucy believes in the power of fresh produce to inspire healthier habits and brighter futures for students.
Kelly McJannett

Kelly McJannett

CEO and Co-Founder, Executive Director

Kelly McJannett is a visionary social entrepreneur and Co-founder of Food Ladder. With a background in scalable, place-based agri-solutions, she leads a team using AI and hydroponic greenhouses to transform remote schools into hubs of learning, nutrition, and wellbeing. Her mission is clear: empower the next generation through smart, sustainable food systems.

The Board

Olivia Perks

Olivia Perks

Director Board Member
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Olivia Perks

Olivia Perks

Director Board Member

Passionate about inspiring and empowering others to shape a better future for business and humanity. I am dedicated to legal innovation, developing human-centered solutions designed with the user in mind. With over 26 years of experience as a commercial lawyer, I have a proven track record in leading and developing high-performing teams that drive successful business outcomes. Known for being a strategic and commercial lawyer, as well as a collaborative and inclusive leader.

Sudeep Gohil

Sudeep Gohil

Director Board Member
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Sudeep Gohil

Sudeep Gohil

Director Board Member

Sudeep is a strategy, marketing and branding specialist with over 25 years of global experience. Having started out in Australia, Sudeep’s career has seen him work in Singapore, Japan, England, the USA and India. He has worked with brands such as Nike, Adidas, CUB, Coca Cola, Qantas, Telstra, Tiger Beer, Levi’s and Instagram, and with agencies including BBH, W+K, Droga5, and Publicis.

Currently, Sudeep is a partner at KPMG, where he leads the Creative, Reputation and Insights practices in the Customer Advisory part of the Consulting Division. He joined the Board of Food Ladder in 2024 to throw his branding smarts behind a vision he believes in.

Kelly McJannett

Kelly McJannett

CEO and Co-Founder, Executive Director
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Kelly McJannett

Kelly McJannett

CEO and Co-Founder, Executive Director

Kelly McJannett is a visionary social entrepreneur and Co-founder of Food Ladder. With a background in scalable, place-based agri-solutions, she leads a team using AI and hydroponic greenhouses to transform remote schools into hubs of learning, nutrition, and wellbeing. Her mission is clear: empower the next generation through smart, sustainable food systems.

Jane Clifford

Jane Clifford

Director Board Member
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Jane Clifford

Jane Clifford

Director Board Member

Jane has worked in public education for more than 20-years. Her commitment to social justice and philanthropy has already helped multiple not-for-profit organisations – including Room To Read, Australian Wildlife Conservancy and The Bright Spots Schools Connection. As a Director of the JAAM Foundation since June 2012, Jane has helped support organisations in
the arts, education, health, domestic violence, and the environment. We were so pleased she joined the Board
of Food Ladder in July 2019.

Mike Abbott

Mike Abbott

Director Board Member
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Mike Abbott

Mike Abbott

Director Board Member

Mike Abbott is currently a Partner at Antler. He is a finance guy turned start-up junkier. He joined Uber pre-Australia launch and loved every minute of the next 6 years building the company Across Australia and NZ. He co-founded Kaddy – a B2B marketplace platform for the beverages industry (at least initially). Mike is passionate about using tech to revolutionise real world operations, scaling businesses, hiring and developing the very best talent and team culture. He joined the board of Food Ladder in 2024 as the NGO sets its course for scale.

Anthony (Tony) Surtees

Anthony (Tony) Surtees

Director and Chairman
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Anthony (Tony) Surtees

Anthony (Tony) Surtees

Director and Chairman

Tony has extensive experience as a director of private, public, and not-for-profit companies and has been appointed by various Australian Ministers to chair or participate in advisory bodies. He is an investor, manager, mentor to start-ups, and is the Australian President of the Stanford alumni community in Australia. He advocates for growth mindsets and entrepreneurship and played a key role in the first Nasdaq IPO of an Australian venture-backed start-up.