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We are ProVeg Australia
ProVeg Australia is one of 16 ProVeg organisations around the world, united by a shared vision of a better food future.
While we’re part of a global network, our work is focused in Australia. Health is at the heart of what we do. Australia faces some of the highest rates of diet-related disease in the world, and we believe healthy, plant-rich eating is one of the most powerful tools we have to turn that around.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to transform food systems to support our health, our communities, and our future.
What we do
We contribute evidence-based input to institutional and government food policy discussions on health and nutrition. Through our Million Plates program, we partner with food service providers supplying hospitals and public venues across Australia to increase the availability and appeal of plant-rich meals, supporting chefs, menu developers, and procurement teams with practical menu solutions. Our Veggie Challenge (launching in late 2026) is a 30-day program that empowers Australians to shift toward a more plant-forward diet, helping to prevent and reduce the risk of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and bowel cancer.
Why we do it
The way we currently produce and consume food is having a negative impact on our health and the planet. In Australia, diet-related chronic diseases remain a leading cause of illness and place significant strain on our healthcare system. Transforming food systems by making plant-rich foods and alternative proteins more accessible helps build a future that benefits everyone.
Our Guiding Principles
Maximise our long-term impact
We strive to transform food systems to better support our health, our communities, and our future. Our work is informed by the principles of effective altruism, using limited resources to do the most good.
Influence the influencers
We work with the most impactful multipliers, thought leaders, and innovators to leverage their influence, in their own sectors and in society as a whole.
Incentivise with positive messaging
We motivate and incentivise people and institutions to shift towards eating more plant-based foods and alternative proteins through positive and empowering messaging.
Our Executive Director
Nadia Schilling
Nadia brings a sharp commercial lens to building better food systems, partnering with businesses and institutions to make plant-based foods more accessible, affordable and appealing.
Nadia co-founded Sprout Organic, a world-first plant-based infant formula, and has restructured and rebuilt several Australian food businesses. She has also served on numerous non-profit boards across both human and animal causes
A recipient of the 2024 International Women in Business Award, Nadia holds a Master of Business Administration and brings more than 15 years’ experience across business and non-profits. Earlier in her career, she spent five years in the United States leading national campaigns, giving her a strong foundation in large-scale advocacy and strategy.
At her core, Nadia believes that when we change what’s on our plates, we can change the world for the better.
Our Board
Anu Srinivasan
Anu is a strategist, entrepreneur, and an influencer who shifts and transforms businesses to deliver their vision. She mentors and coaches with passion, partnering and guiding her clients to effectively strengthen and elevate their leadership. She has 20+ years corporate experience working across top and mid-tier consulting, telco, financial services, health care, utilities and government.
Heath Kilgour
Heath has spent 25 years at the intersection of media, marketing, and digital innovation, building and launching startups. With a passion for innovation, product design and online advertising, Heath has a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from RMIT, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and completed an Executive Program at Harvard Business School on leading product innovation. But beyond business, Heath’s biggest passion is animal advocacy and food systems change. A vegan for over a decade, he’s a director of Animals Australia and is now an integral part of ProVeg’s launch in Australia.
Terence Jeyaretnam
Terence is a Director at Foresight, a climate and sustainability consultancy, a member of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AuASB) and a fractional Professor at Monash Business School. He was previously a Partner in EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability team in Melbourne for over a decade, leading APAC. He was Founder and Executive Director of Net Balance, regarded as Australia’s largest standalone sustainability and climate change practice, which EY acquired in 2014.
Terence is an advisory and assurance specialist with over thirty years’ experience advising governments and corporations on sustainability. He holds a degree in Environmental Engineering (UWA), is a Chartered Professional Engineer, a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Australia and a CPA. He is Chair of Amnesty International Australia and Global Citizen Australia, sits on the Board of the Australian Conservation Foundation, and previously served six years on the Board of Food Frontier from its inauguration.
Elena Schaller
Elena is a values-driven nonprofit professional committed to advancing systems-level change. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Pittsburgh and spent a decade working in healthcare before moving into advocacy and nonprofit work. Through her roles with Doctors For Nutrition and Animal-Free Science Advocacy, and her longstanding volunteer work with Faunalytics, Elena brings expertise in science, health, research and communication to her work advancing positive change for people, animals and the planet.
Rachael Morris
Rachael is an editor, writer, and communications specialist with a passion for plant-based living. As the former Managing Editor of Nourish Plant-Based Living (2019-2023), she helped shape Australia’s leading plant-based magazine, bringing inspiration and expert advice to readers worldwide. With a Master of Publishing and Communications and a background in government writing, she excels at making complex ideas engaging and accessible. Rachael believes food system change that makes plant-based food more accessible will help improve public health, reduce environmental impact, ease animal suffering, and create a more sustainable future for everyone.
Dr Heidi Nicholl
Heidi has spent her career working at the intersection of ethics, health, social change and animal advocacy. She holds a PhD in healthcare ethics and has worked across academia, hospitals and the non-profit sector in Australia and the UK. Her leadership roles have included CEO of Emerge Australia and Vegan Australia, and she is currently President of the Humanist Society. Heidi is particularly interested in how evidence, compassion and practical action can improve lives, strengthen communities and create a fairer world for humans and other animals. Her work is grounded in a commitment to turning ethical ideas into meaningful change.
Our Network
ProVeg works with decision-making bodies, companies, investors, the media, and the general public to help the world transition to a society and economy that are less reliant on animal agriculture and more sustainable for all humans, animals, and our planet.
- United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) – Special Consultative Status
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – Accredited Organisation
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – Observer Status
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – Observer Status
- Recipient of UN Momentum for Change Award
ProVeg has offices in 16 countries across six continents and is active around the world. ProVeg has observer status with the UNFCCC, the IPCC, and the CBD, special consultative status with ECOSOC, and are accredited for UNEA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ProVeg Australia?
ProVeg Australia is one of 16 ProVeg organisations around the world, united by a shared vision of a better food future. While part of a global network, its work is focused in Australia, with health at the heart of what it does. Its mission is to transform food systems to support our health, our communities, and our future.
What does ProVeg Australia do?
ProVeg Australia contributes evidence-based input to institutional and government food-policy discussions on health and nutrition. Through its Million Plates program it partners with food-service providers to hospitals and public venues to increase the availability and appeal of plant-rich meals.
Why does ProVeg Australia focus on health?
Australia faces some of the highest rates of diet-related disease in the world, and diet-related chronic diseases remain a leading cause of illness and a significant strain on the healthcare system. ProVeg Australia believes healthy, plant-rich eating is one of the most powerful tools to turn that around, helping to prevent and reduce the risk of conditions including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and bowel cancer.
What is the Million Plates program?
Million Plates is ProVeg Australia’s food-service program. It partners with hospitals, aged care facilities and public venues to increase the availability and appeal of plant-rich meals, supporting chefs, menu developers and procurement teams with practical menu solutions, free of charge.
What are ProVeg Australia’s guiding principles?
ProVeg Australia works to three guiding principles: maximise long-term impact, using limited resources to do the most good in line with effective altruism; influence the influencers, working with impactful multipliers, thought leaders and innovators; and incentivise with positive messaging, motivating people and institutions through positive and empowering communication.
Who leads ProVeg Australia?
ProVeg Australia’s Executive Director is Nadia Schilling, who co-founded the plant-based infant-formula company Sprout Organic, holds a Master of Business Administration, and brings more than 15 years’ experience across business and non-profits, including five years leading national campaigns in the United States.
