Board Members
Read here for the Roles and Responsibilities of our board members
LUKE WhEAT, chair
Luke is the founder and CEO of Arvela, Australia’s leading commercial supplier of BSF seedstock solutions. A pioneer of the Australian insect industry, Luke has extensive experience across all aspects of BSF production and processing.
As CEO of Arvela, Luke is responsible for delivery of Arvela’s vision to Give Waste a Purpose, by simplifying the operations of businesses building their own insect-based waste and protein solutions. Luke joined the Board of the IPAA in 2022 and is passionate about delivering on the potential of BSF to Australia’s economic and sustainability outcomes.
MAUREEN CLARK, SECRETARiat
Maureen brings another external business lens to the Association having experience across large-scale retail food operations. Without having a financial interest in any insect protein business or official education in the field, her interest and involvement comes from a backyard-enthusiast place.
Originally from a small farm in Canada and having travelled extensively, Maureen developed a personal love of insects whether to feed the chickens or to eat in a taco! A big believer in collaboration for the greater good, Maureen is committed to continue building the communication channels across the Association and the sector.
MARTIN PIKE, Treasurer
R&D, innovation and business optimisation specialist with experience in developing and growing businesses.
Passionate about sustainability, technology and mathematics.
Managing Director of Viridian Renewable Technologies (VIC).
DAMIEL BOERMA, board member
An innovative B2B product and marketing executive with full marketing mix experience with strengths in brand management, digital and acquisition marketing. Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to build strong relationships across all client groups and key stakeholders.
Zachery Schubert, Social media
Zachery has been farming crickets since 2017 under Schubugs, in Loxton South Australia. His interest grew in the field through his studies of Nutrition at the University of South Australia. He has also spent time travelling through Asia for his sport, beach volleyball, which allowed him to discover insects being used for human consumption. Zachery wishes to use his experiences and nutritional studies to further enhance the industry.
Zachery provides up to date information about the industry through IPAA social media both nationally and internationally.
PHOEBE GARDNER, BoARD SECRETARY
Phoebe Gardner founded Bardee in 2019, a circular economy startup on a mission to reshape the global food system. To do this, Bardee transforms food waste into sustainable protein and fertiliser with insects.
Bardee operates a large facility in Melbourne supplying organic certified fertiliser to Bunnings nationwide, as well as protein for animal feed and pet food. In a landmark decision, Bardee's technology was certified to produce carbon credits (ACCUs) by the Australian Government Clean Energy Regulator.
Phoebe was awarded the 7News 2023 Young Achievers Award and was featured in The Australian's Top 100 Innovators List in 2021 and 2022. Before Bardee, Phoebe started her career in architecture, working on $1B rail projects at Arup.
JUSTIN FRANK, BOARD MEMBER
As former Chief Strategy, Sustainability and Communications Officer at SUEZ Australia, Justin Frank is a purpose driven circular economy leader with applied circular economy experience in the UK, Europe and Australia.
Justin is MBA qualified with a proven record in driving transformational change leading to sustainable growth, by successfully engaging and enabling teams to implement shared value strategies in global / ASX industrial and environmental services businesses.
With over two decades experience working in circular economy networks, Justin has successfully implemented multiple sustainable development roadmaps in multinational businesses, which directly correlate to the UN SDGs. He is experienced in partnering with like minded organisations, from NFPs to Innovation think tanks, to enhance business strategy communication / execution and help embed circular economy strategies through tangible metaphors and storytelling.
Justin is part of the Goterra executive team as Head of Strategy and Communications to help drive Goterra's innovative circular economy solutions and make a sustainable difference to the next generation's future.