Early Life and Education
Ronni Kahn (née Hellmann) was born in 1952 in Johannesburg, South Africa, into a Jewish family. Her parents, Abe and Sylvia Hellmann, instilled in her a strong sense of community and social responsibility. She attended King David School in Linksfield, a prestigious Jewish day school, where she was exposed to social justice movements from an early age.

As a teenager, Kahn participated in the socialist-Zionist youth movement Habonim Dror, where she met her future husband, Des Kahn. In 1970, she was awarded a scholarship to study in Israel and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts and English from the University of Haifa. She spent years living on a kibbutz in the Jezreel Valley, where she embraced communal living and developed a passion for purpose-driven work.

Career and the Birth of OzHarvest
Kahn immigrated to Australia in 1998 and established a successful events management company. However, during a trip back to South Africa, she was deeply moved by the work of a friend who had brought electricity to the township of Soweto. Inspired to create change, she turned her attention to food waste and food insecurity, which she had observed firsthand in the corporate hospitality sector.

In 2004, Kahn founded OzHarvest, an Australian food rescue charity that collects surplus food from restaurants, supermarkets, and caterers and redistributes it to people in need. However, early in OzHarvest’s journey, Kahn faced a legal hurdle—existing health and civil liability laws prevented businesses from donating excess food. She successfully lobbied for legislative changes in four Australian states, starting with New South Wales in 2005, allowing for greater food donations.

OzHarvest’s impact grew rapidly. By 2024, the organisation had delivered over 250 million meals across Australia.

Advocacy and Global Reach
Beyond food rescue, Kahn has worked to address the environmental impact of food waste. She has spoken at global forums, including the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), where she championed the Think.Eat.Save campaign. In 2014, she attended the Sustainable Innovation Forum in Lima, Peru, to highlight the connection between food waste and climate change.

In 2019, Kahn launched SA Harvest in her home country, South Africa, which follows the OzHarvest model. By 2023, SA Harvest had provided over 50 million meals to food-insecure communities.

In 2020, she announced the opening of the OzHarvest Refettorio, a social impact restaurant in Surry Hills, Sydney, in collaboration with world-renowned Italian chef Massimo Bottura. This initiative not only provides free meals to vulnerable people but also fosters a sense of dignity and community.

Public Recognition and Documentary
Kahn’s leadership and impact were documented in the 2018 biographical film Food Fighter, directed by Daniel Goldberg. The film followed her global efforts to fight food waste across Australia, the UK, South Africa, and Thailand.

She also published her memoir, A Repurposed Life (2020), in which she reflected on her personal and professional journey.

Awards and Recognition
Ronni Kahn has received numerous accolades for her work in social entrepreneurship and food security, including:

• 2010 – Australia’s Local Hero (Australian of the Year Awards)
• 2011 – InStyle Woman of Style Award (Community/Charity category)
• 2012 – Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year
• 2017 – BOSS Magazine’s Top 21 True Leaders
• 2018 – AFR 100 Women of Influence (Social Enterprise & Not-for-Profit)
• 2019 – Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to social welfare
• 2024 – Nominated for Marie Claire Australia’s “Icon of the Year”

Personal Life
Kahn married her first husband, Des Kahn, in 1972, and they had two sons, Nadav (b. 1974) and Ido (b. 1978). The family lived in Israel for 18 years before she relocated to Australia. She amicably divorced Des in 1999.

In 2005, she married Irving Wallach, a Sydney-based barrister.

In 2023, Kahn was in Israel visiting family during the October 7 Hamas-led attack and strongly condemned the violence. She has continued to support social causes through the New Israel Fund (NIF), where she serves as a patron of the Australian branch.

Legacy and Ongoing Impact
Ronni Kahn’s work has reshaped the conversation around food security, waste reduction, and environmental sustainability in Australia and beyond. Her leadership has inspired policy changes, corporate responsibility initiatives, and a global movement toward reducing food waste.

As of 2024, OzHarvest continues to expand, ensuring that millions of meals reach those in need every year.