We connect producers, chefs, retailers and consumers through informative workshops and joyful festivals that highlight the art in artisanal.
We write meaningful stories that engage and inform, and help clients tell their stories through new and existing channels.
Our bespoke events celebrate achievements and bring together stakeholders to create and nurture relationships.
About Julie Shelton – Founding Director
- Visionary with recognised background in strategic planning and delivery to completion
- Excellent communicator across all media and as public speaker
- Reliable administrator with exceptional attention to detail
- Project manager and facilitator of major initiatives
- Awarded event manager able to work across multiple simultaneous projects
- Relationship manager skilled at establishing and developing strong working relationships with stakeholders incl government and industry
- Successful small business manager and workforce supervisor
- Passionate supporter of Australia’s local food economy
- Cultivator of extensive network of food producers, chefs, retailers and other stakeholders
Key roles
- Senior Project Officer, Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) – current
- Director, Forage Pty Ltd – consultancy specialising in event management, local food sourcing, small-scale enterprise start-ups – current
- Founding Director, Food & Agribusiness Network (FAN)
- Director, Real Food Festivals Pty Ltd – delivering annual regional food events on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland – no longer trading
- Winston Churchill Memorial Trust – 2008 Churchill Fellow: Nourishing Local Food: shortening the distance from paddock to plate, an investigation of regulatory impediments to small-scale and artisanal food production, and initiatives that nourish relationships between producers and consumers – research undertaken in USA (Slow Food Nation), Ireland (Slow Food Terra Madre), UK (Soil Association), France (Slow Food) and Italy (Slow Food Terra Madre international)
- 2008 Slow Food Terra Madre delegate representing Australia in Turin, Italy
- Co-founder/manager of The Village Organic Farm – diversified, integrated organic farm for 10 years
Other roles
- Media, Marketing & Fundraising Officer – Royal Flying Doctor Service Tasmania
- Food Curator – Farm Gate Market, Street Eats @ Franko, Food & Beverage Collective
- Contributing Writer, Hinterland Times
- Project Officer, Mary Valley CAN DO Project
- Project Manager, QLD Mining ITAB
- Creative Development Manager, Tropical Industry Training Associates
- Marketing & Public Relations Officer, Townsville TAFE
- Executive Officer, Tasmanian Enterprise Workshop
- Travel Consultant, Webster Travel
Past voluntary roles
- Presenter (Dinner with Julie & Carlos) – Edge Radio 99.3 FM
- Founding Director – Food and Agribusiness Network Ltd
- Member – Sunshine Coast Agribusiness Taskforce
- Member – Sunshine Coast Food Tourism Reference Group
- Founding Leader – Slow Food Sunshine Coast Hinterland
Testimonials
Over the five years, the Festival brought tens of thousands of visitors to the region – during the Festival itself and through repeat visitation. In fact, more than 95% of visitors from outside the region indicated they wanted to return, with an anticipated average stay of 2.5 visitor nights.
Not only was I happy to support this wonderful event, I also took part in the annual ‘The Mayor & The Minister’ cook off segment, with Sunshine Coast Mayor, Mark Jamieson.
My kids’ reviews of my cooking were clearly said out of love as I did not prove half as successful in this annual event as I would have hoped. But it certainly added some fun and ‘flavour’ to the Festival proceedings and, more importantly, showcased a whole stack of local produce.
The Real Food Festival brought together Sunshine Coast businesses engaged in food production or some part of the supply chain from paddock to plate, together with stakeholders at all levels of government and from outside the region. Consequently, the Festival facilitated business-to-business relationships that led to the creation of enduring collaborations and trade opportunities.
Julie also worked with the Queensland government and Sunshine Coast Council to deliver workshops tailored to the needs of exhibitors that built capacity in a range of aspects of small business management.
Julie’s passion and commitment contributed to a major shift in the region’s food and agribusiness sector. This resulted in the establishment of the Food & Agribusiness Network, which continues to develop opportunities for Sunshine Coast producers and manufacturers.
- Tolmans Hill Park
- John Turnbull Dog Park
- Kemp Street Amenities
- Great Short Walk revitalisation
- Legacy Park
- Max’s Infinity Loop
Julie was extremely professional and effective. Julie played a key role by engaging with, and coordinating key and diverse stakeholders, funding bodies and state and federal departments and Ministers’ offices, in partnership with City Officers and its elected members to ensure high quality outcomes.
Julie had embarked on creating a new event in the town of Maleny called the Real Food Festival. The mission of the festival was to connect local growers with local customers including restaurants and cafes.
I worked with Julie for a number of years creating an informative enriching program for the festival, which attracted thousands of visitors.
Julie was inspirational, an inspirational leader not to mention her extraordinary organisational and managerial skills. Her successful leadership of a dedicated team was primarily based on our recognition and appreciation of her enduring commitment to promote good clean locally produced food and connect the communities that would most benefit from successful local growers.
I worked with Julie for several years as a graphic design contractor for the Real Food Festival.
Julie’s experience in the food industry, along with her expertise and management skills were all key to the success of the festival. Her warm and cooperative personality ensured that working with her was always a positive and productive experience.
My time working on the Real Food Festival alongside Julie and the team was a truly uplifting and delightful time in my life!
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Brisbane, Queensland
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