KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Kathy Kellogg Johnson – Owner, Kellogg Garden Products (USA)
Kathy Kellogg Johnson is the owner of Kellogg Garden Products, a 4th– generation, all-organic, garden products company founded in 1925, as well as Organic Control Inc. Kathy speaks passionately about recognising soil as the fundamental building block of regenerative agriculture and its essential role in the fight for a healthy planet.
Kathy has been referred to as the “First Lady of Compost” by Frank Franciosi, President of the U.S. Composting Council. Since graduating from USC, Kathy has been a leader in the compost industry, bringing together disparate parties and forming the Association of Compost Producers.
She serves on the board of the Environmental Media Association and the South Coast Botanical Gardens; and supports the Captain Planet Foundation. Kathy is a longtime supporter of Plant with Purpose, educating the world’s poorest farmers in sustainable farming practices. Kathy’s greatest joy is spending time with her husband, their three children, and her rescue pup Luna.
MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Matt Taylor - Director, Heart HR
Matt has over 20 years of general management experience in the not-for-profit, government, and private sectors in the UK and Australia. He has always gravitated toward people-related roles and issues and so, with this experience and purpose of helping people, established his own HR consulting business – Heart HR.
Matt also provides his experience and support to several local organisations including President of the Newcastle Business Club, Chair of Go circular and volunteer for Keep Australia Beautiful and the Annual Ride for Sick Kids to support Ronald McDonald House – which fits in well with his passion for cycling!
Matt is also a seasoned Master of Ceremonies (MC) with a proven track record of hosting and leading a wide range of non-profit and corporate events.
In addition, Matt is a Justice of the Peace (NSW) and professional member of the Australian Human Resources Institute.
Matt holds a Bachelor of Environmental Management (Cranfield, UK), a Master of Business Administration (University of Newcastle) and Executive Leadership qualifications from the University of Oxford.
Rachel McIntyre - Coordinator Resource Recovery Campaigns & Projects, Inner West Council
As the Coordinator of Campaigns and Projects in the Inner West Resource Recovery Planning team, Rachel brings with her 11 years’ waste and resource recovery industry experience.
Nine of those years were spent in the private sector working alongside early FOGO adopters since 2013, such as Orange City, Bathurst Regional, Forbes Shire and Parkes Shire Councils.
Rachel is passionate about empowering the community to take achievable, meaningful action to reduce waste, with FOGO presenting a new, easy opportunity.
Thank you to our 2025 Conference Supporters
AORA would like to acknowledge our National Sponsors who play an active role in realising our vision:
