PRESIDENT
Kirsty Bishop-Fox is a sustainability educator and consultant at Sustainability Pathways inspiring people to rethink waste and make better environmental choices. She works with councils, businesses, and communities to transform the approach to waste, recycling, and sustainable living. Kirsty is a co-founder of Zero Waste Victoria and the Zero Waste Festival.
VICE PRESIDENT
Petra Creed loves working with others to create positive “green spaces” in the community. She is a member of Bush Heritage and has worked with Parks Victoria to create “green spaces” in highly populated areas.
She is also a researcher whose area of research is in understanding behaviour change and developing interventions that assist people with achieving their positive health goals. She is passionate about working with others to help reverse the damage done to our natural environment.
CO-SECRETARY
Julianna Gillespie is a passionate advocate for the environment and healthcare. Julianna opened up to a Zero Waste lifestyle in Jan 2019; with many developments since then. Her commitment to innovative and behavioural change comes from a career in community healthcare as a Chinese Traditional Acupuncturist and several years of human dynamics study. Where environmental issues can all seem too hard and difficult, it can also be a few simple steps in the right direction to create lasting results and, with the communities around us. Julianna lives with her husband and her many creatures.
CO-SECRETARY
Jacinta Bisognin is a passionate and adaptable changemaker with a background in environmental management and community engagement. From working with Melbourne Water on sustainable waterway management to leading teams in fast-paced environments, she combines practical expertise with outstanding people skills.
Treasurer
Fiona Bunting is an experienced finance professional and CPA with over 20 years’ experience in financial management across diverse industries. Having just completed a Master of Environment and Sustainability at Monash University, she volunteers as Sustainability Co-ordinator at Mentone Grammar and with the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances Conference. Taking on the role of Treasurer with Zero Waste Victoria allows her to combine her financial expertise with a strong passion for reducing waste and supporting community sustainability initiatives.
MEMBER
Kirsteen is a passionate advocate for the environment in both her professional and private life. She has an extensive knowledge of all things plants and will chat about compost with anyone for days.
Kirsteen has a background in Chemistry / Biochemistry and Environmental Science and lives with her husband and dogs.
MEMBER
Erica is a recent graduate from Monash University with a degree in Master of Environment and Sustainability. She is highly creative and mission-driven, with experience across community, corporate engagement as well as hospitality in non-profits.
Member
Ximena Chavez is an Environmental Engineer with experience in environmental management projects. She is focused on promoting positive change in waste management by developing practical and sustainable solutions to reduce environmental impact.
Motivated by the desire to drive meaningful change, she seeks to contribute to initiatives that promote sustainability and strengthen a more responsible connection between people and the environment.
Member
Mario Mendez is an environmental consultant focused on waste minimization and management, bringing expertise gained from his relocation from Mexico to Melbourne. Currently working as a consultant in waste planning and circular economy, Mario collaborates everyday within an interdisciplinary group to develop waste management plans, conduct waste audits, and assist organizations in reducing their waste footprint. Mario loves working to find ways to rethink waste as a resource and turn traditional bin rooms into resource recovery hubs.
Member
Sally Ridden has a background in project management, major events, new builds, hospitality and hotels. She’s witnessed the excess of waste and hopes to be able to ignite some passion and awareness with Zero Waste Victoria. Her mission is to rethink current business infrastructures and create action to limit, reduce and reuse waste whilst empowering next generations with opportunities to lead this movement.
Sally is a mum of 1 teenager, dog, cat, thumper rabbit, worm farm, herb garden & bird feeder, and on the is a Habit/belief Coach & Declutter Organiser.
Member
Tarun is a passionate, multidisciplinary researcher, he holds a Bachelor-of-Tech in Fashion & Apparel Engineering and a Master’s in Textile Chemistry.
Specializing in advanced material exploration, smart clothing, sustainable fashion, and garment construction, Tarun is driven by environmental, social, and economic considerations, and is currently focusing on the “Utilization of Textile Waste into Value-Added Products.”
Tarun seeks to advance the circular economy and environmental conservation, making meaningful contributions to sustainable practices in the textile industry.
Member
Yi Jing Ang is a generalist and industrial designer by trade, adept at translating impermanence into immersive experiences. One of her many passionate pursuits is practising sustainability through the use of materials such as upcycling and creating modular textiles.
Zero Waste Victoria was founded as a not-for-profit association and charity by a group of passionate and committed individuals who envisioned a world with less waste.
Spearheaded by Kirsty Bishop-Fox, Emily Hui, and Erin Rhoads, the organisation aimed to inspire and empower the community to reduce waste.
The journey of Zero Waste Victoria began with members connecting through a Facebook group, which continues to be a vibrant platform for sharing information and resources among Victorians. This group is a hub for inspiration and practical ideas to minimise waste
Erin Rhoads sparked interest by proposing a presence at the 2017 Sustainable Living Festival. This initiative led to a collaboration among like-minded individuals, resulting in an information stall that showcased simple swaps to reduce waste. The success of this effort propelled Zero Waste Victoria into participating in various other events, spreading the zero waste message further.
The inaugural Zero Waste Festival took place in 2018, uniting leading voices in waste and sustainability, eco-friendly businesses, and the community for a dynamic day of panel discussions, activities, and exhibitors. Since 2022, this annual event has been held at Fed Square, attracting a growing audience each year.
Zero Waste Victoria has earned a reputation for leading crucial conversations on overconsumption and highlighting the wasteful ways we use resources. Through its efforts, the organisation empowers individuals to rethink waste and adopt more sustainable practices.
