The most effective solutions emerge when the right people work together.
Forage helps organisations tackle complex challenges through collaboration,
research and meaningful engagement.
Our work is particularly focused on regional development, food systems, agriculture, research translation and community-led initiatives.
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About Forage
Forage brings together trusted specialists in research, science, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, communications and design to assemble the right team for every project. We design and deliver workshops, stakeholder consultations, round tables and events that create genuine conversations and lasting partnerships.
We listen to and understand our stakeholders. We build relationships and create shared purpose. Our strength lies in bringing together the right people, building shared purpose and coordinating practical action that delivers lasting outcomes.
Who We Work With
- Government
- Research organisations
- Industry associations
- Food manufacturers
- Agribusiness
- Regional communities
- Universities
- Not-for-profits
Meet Our Specialists
Forage assembles multidisciplinary teams tailored to each project, drawing on a trusted network of specialists across food systems, research, commercialisation, communications, design, facilitation and innovation.
Julie Shelton CF
Julie is the founder of Forage and specialises in bringing together the right people, ideas and evidence to create practical solutions to complex challenges.
A strategy and stakeholder engagement specialist with more than 30 years’ experience, she helps government, industry, researchers and communities work together.
Julie’s career spans organic agriculture, food manufacturing, regional development, industry engagement, education, communications and project delivery. She has founded successful businesses, established industry networks, authored strategic reports, facilitated stakeholder engagement across Australia and led award-winning initiatives that have strengthened regional industries and communities.
She believes the strongest systems are built through collaboration, curiosity and meaningful engagement.
Selected Experience
Founder & Director, Forage Pty Ltd
Established a boutique consultancy supporting organisations across food systems, stakeholder engagement, research, facilitation and strategic communications.
Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA)
Connected SMEs, researchers and industry partners through innovation programs, stakeholder engagement, workshops and collaborative research initiatives.
Food & Agribusiness Network (FAN)
Co-founded a 500+ member national industry network; led strategic reset of FAN focused on governance, sustainability and membership growth
Real Food Festivals Pty Ltd
Conceived and directed one of Australia’s leading regional food festivals, attracting more than 20,000 visitors annually while creating partnerships that contributed to establishment of the Food & Agribusiness Network.
Churchill Fellow
Conducted research across USA and Europe examining food systems and regional agriculture
The Village Organic Farm
Co-founded and managed a diversified organic farming enterprise employing 13 staff across production, manufacturing and retail, developing first-hand commercial experience across the food value chain.
Mary Valley CAN DO Project
Interviewed and supported 650+ rural clients through Mary Valley regional reskilling initiative
Key capabilities
Strategy
- Food systems strategy
- Industry development
- Partnerships
Research
- Survey design, qualitative research
- Industry insights
- Market research
Engagement
- Stakeholder consultation
- Facilitation
- Workshops
Delivery
- Project leadership
- Communications
- Event and experience design
Dr Rimjhim Agarwal
Rimjhim holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She works at the intersection of science, commercialisation and market intelligence, helping organisations identify opportunities, evaluate emerging technologies and translate research and business ideas into commercial value. Combining scientific expertise with market intelligence, she supports businesses, research organisations and government in making evidence-based decisions around innovation, partnerships and growth.
Rimjhim’s experience spans technology evaluation, market analysis and research translation across the agrifood sector, working with industry partners to inform product development, investment priorities and strategic planning. She brings a structured analytical approach, strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to bridge technical complexity with practical commercial outcomes.
Experience highlights
- Supported innovation and commercialisation initiatives involving organisations including Fonterra, Chobani, Avocados Australia and MSF Sugar, providing market intelligence, technology insights and strategic analysis.
- Led the development of strategic market intelligence platforms integrating 25+ datasets across consumer trends, technology landscapes, regulatory environments and commercial opportunities to support innovation decisions.
- Guided multidisciplinary projects connecting researchers, industry and government to accelerate research translation and deliver practical commercial outcomes.
- Built trusted partnerships across Australia’s food and agribusiness ecosystem, enabling collaboration and knowledge exchange between research organisations, industry and government.
Key capabilities
- Research commercialisation and translation
- Technology assessment and opportunity evaluation
- Market intelligence and strategic insights
- Industry, research and government engagement
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Daniel Greenup
With over 15 years’ experience in the creative industries and more than 10 years in online education, Daniel has diverse skill sets in gaming, advertising, graphic design, animation and multimedia.?
Daniel’s passion for creativity and visual arts is rivalled only by his love for coffee – and perhaps a waffle to go with it.
Experience highlights
- Graphic design and animation for FaBA’s portfolio of reports, training modules, presentations and marketing collateral
- Educational Animator/Editor for the Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation (ITaLI)
Key capabilities
- Graphic design
- Illustration
- Animation
- Motion graphics
- Audio and video recording and editing
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Anne Briggs
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Lance McInnes
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Esther Haskell
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Olivia Ratten
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Selected Projects
Industry Development
Real Food Festival
- Built one of Australia’s leading regional food festivals with 20,000+ visitors and 100+ food and beverage exhibitors annually
- Facilitated capacity-building workshops, business-to-business networking, new trade opportunities
- Conducted business planning, budgeting, logistics and risk management; managing administrative staff, contractors and 150 volunteers
- Developed and administered post-event surveys; data analysis informed grant acquittals and sponsor reports
Stakeholder Engagement and Project Delivery
FAN (Food & Agribusiness Network)
- Co-founded FAN to create a collaborative business network that connects the value chain from production to consumption
- With 500+ members, it has contributed to a more prosperous food and agribusiness economy that celebrates the provenance and innovation of the greater Sunshine Coast region
Government Delivery
Sunshine Coast Regional Council
- Conducted Food Security Assessment as part of Council’s Energy Transition Plan development, focusing on threats to and opportunities for local food production and distribution
City of Hobart
- Coordinated major civic projects
- Connected industry, government and communities
City of Moreton Bay
- Worked with businesses on provenance stories, hero images and preparation for large event participation
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Trusted by clients, collaborators and industry leaders
Creating lasting impact
From 2011 to 2015, Julie Shelton conceived and directed the Real Food Festival, which was based in Maleny, a key centre in my electorate of Glass House.
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.
Building partnerships
The City of Hobart engaged Julie Shelton on several occasions to assist in the delivery of various events to celebrate and acknowledge the delivery of key City projects, including:
- 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.
Forage 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.
Leading collaboration
I first met Julie when I was researching a documentary about community- supported agriculture. Everyone I spoke with told me to talk to Julie Shelton as she was the most informed authority on local food growers and their issues.
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.
Working together
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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