Impact Hour Illawarra: The business of local, sustainable food

In a world where collaboration is key to addressing the climate crisis and other social and environmental challenges, it's crucial to bring people together across different industries and perspectives.

Impact Hour Illawarra is a space for anyone passionate about corporate responsibility, sustainability, ESG, and driving impact to connect, learn, and grow.

These in-person events break down barriers and build community by inviting professionals and enthusiasts from all levels and backgrounds to meet up, share ideas, and enjoy meaningful conversations.

Featuring expert panel discussions on pressing sustainability topics and guided networking opportunities, Impact Hour Illawarra fosters local connections that can drive real change.

The business of local, sustainable food

Impact Hour Illawarra on 6 May 2025 will examine the business of local, sustainable food in our area: Who is growing, distributing and consuming?

With some well-developed and highly skilled enterprises in our midst, and we want to know how they started, how they've evolved and what has been learned along the way? We also want to pose questions like:

- What is the future of local food?
- What types of businesses or enterprises will produce it?
- What needs to happen to develop the food system?

This event welcomes sustainability professionals, corporate executives, and anyone interested in sustainability for business. Together, we'll discuss the increasing importance of the business of local, sustainable food in the Illawarra.

Hear from our panel of experts and join the conversation

	Phil Preston is a locally based speaker, facilitator, strategist and event host. He’s the author of Connecting Profit with Purpose, co-founder of Impact Hour and the co-founder of Purpose Ignition, a community of senior leaders championing purpose in business. Phil’s also an accredited ‘master facilitator’ with critical thinking experts, Janellis.
	Jo-Anne Fahey is Managing Director of Darkes Glenbernie, a 6th Generation Family Commercial Fruit Farm delivering fun and immersive fresh fruit adventures, cider experiences, events and direct sale of value added products made from the orchard’s fruit and honey, including vinegar, mead and internationally acclaimed ciders.
	Rod Logan is Market Garden Coordinator at Green Connect, Chair of the Flame Tree Coop and co-founder of the Woonona Community Garden, amongst many other roles he’s held in food-related endeavours in the Illawarra area. Rod brings a wealth of knowledge and experience including organic farming, revegetation, grazing and land management, creek line regeneration, orchards/fruit trees, soil health and vegetable box production.
	Ryan Aitchison is the Publican of the Illawarra Hotel, managing director of the Smith Street Distillery and President of Business Illawarra’s Regional Advisory Council. He has extensive experience in the tourism and hospitality industries and has been noted in the media for his innovative sustainability initiatives.
	Karen Charlton is the Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Wollongong, and is passionate about improving the health of populations through nutritional interventions, programmes and policy. She’s actively involved in creating more sustainable, healthy and equitable food systems, especially at a local level.