Board of Directors

Victoria 

Director since 2024

Partnerships Committee

Ashley Johnston | Director

Ashley’s passion for the organics industry runs deep, having grown up immersed in it as part of the third generation of Bark King. This experience shaped his passion for the industry where he built a strong background in operations and business development and successfully leading Bark King’s growth and eventual sale to Repurpose It. At Repurpose It, Ashley played a pivotal role in integrating the business and leading the organics division through the company’s subsequent sale.

As General Manager of Organics at Repurpose It, Ashley led the company through the rollout of the new EPA regulations act in Victoria, transitioning greenfield sites to licensed facilities and building strong relationships with the regulator. He also drove significant growth areas, including the onboarding of an open windrow composting facility, the development of a FOGO hall, and the construction of in-vessel composting tunnels. Success in these areas led to his promotion to his current role as the General Manager of Business Development, with a focus on innovation, growth, strategy, and sustainability. Additionally, as a Victorian Executive Member of AORA, Ashley champions his dedication to promoting the sustainable management of organic resources.

In addition to his industry expertise, Ashley serves as the Managing Director of ASA Holdings, responsible for steering the company’s strategic direction to ensure sustainable growth, overseeing operations, financial management, business development, and stakeholder engagement. He also brings operational experience from founding and successfully selling AJAR Unique Homes, and a dedication to his local community as a longstanding board and committee member of the Boronia Football Netball Club.

New South Wales 

Director since 2019

Finance Committee

Charlie Emery | Chair

Charlie is the Managing Director of SOILCO and has been with the company since 2001. Over the past 20 years, Charlie has overseen the growth of the business through focusing on its core competencies; provision of organics recycling services and production of quality assured soil, compost and mulch products.

A fundamental aspect of Charlies current role is strategic planning and implementation of business development initiatives. Prior to SOILCO, Charlie achieved tertiary qualifications in Science (Environmental Biology) UTS, and worked with a range of environmental, landscaping and horticultural businesses.

New South Wales 

Director since 2024

Technical and Policy Committee

Angus Johnston | Director

For over 25 years, Angus has specialised in organic waste recovery for composting and energy generation. His passion is diverting waste from landfill and promoting a circular economy for organics. Angus’s experience includes private sector consulting, government planning and policy development and project delivery, and work with not-for-profit organisations. In 2018 Angus founded BioCarbon Soil to improve recycled organic products and develop markets for their beneficial use. In addition to leading Biocarbon Soil, Angus works also with Jackson Environment Planning where he focusses on planning, designing, and licensing organic recycling facilities.

 

Angus was Principal Consultant with pitt&sherry where he led a team delivering waste and resource recovery solutions in NSW and Victoria. He also spent two years helping the NSW EPA establish resource recovery grant programs and evaluate proposals. This built on six years as National Projects Manager for Compost Australia, now the Australian Organics Recycling Association, where he remains an active member and volunteer, including serving on the NSW committee.  Angus grew up on a farm in regional NSW, and then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) and a Master of Environmental Management (University of NSW). 

Western Australia

Director since 2024

Technical and Policy Committee

Daniel van Veen | Director 

Daniel is the General Manager Resource Recovery – WA for Veolia and has been with the company for nearly 20 years. In his current role, Daniel has overseen significant growth in Veolia’s West Australian organics business and has transitioned the operations to process over 80,000 tonnes annually.

Daniel completed his Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Hons) from Monash University in Melbourne prior to undertaking numerous roles throughout his career with Veolia, including managing the previous Joint Venture composting business with the WA Water Corporation (BioWise). 

Daniel has a passion for the organics industry and has a hands-on approach to achieve circular economy solutions. From advocating for clearer acceptance criteria for FOGO through to the development of new markets for composted products, Daniel is driven to ensure the production of high-quality composted products for sustainable end markets is at the centre of all decision making.

Queensland 

Director since 2023

Technical and Policy Committee

Deputy Chair

Kali Martin | Director

Currently the General Manager Organics for WestRex, Kali is a seasoned professional with a solid track record in the organic recycling industry. With 6 years of experience in composting, Kali has dedicated her efforts to understanding all aspects of composting, whilst blending her academic background with her profound passion for compost and soil health.

Kali earned her Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) from the University of Queensland in 2006, laying the foundation for her subsequent 11-year tenure of roles within the environmental and technical sector. Her decision to transition into the organics industry was an opportunity to align her skills with her interest and passion for soil. One of Kali’s achievements is the development of WestRex’s compost facility in Queensland. Currently managing the facility, she actively collaborates with the regional farming community, fostering awareness and cultivating a market for high-quality compost.

Kali is deeply passionate about the positive impact the organic recycling industry offers, and her dedication is underscored by her proactive efforts to strengthen the sector through collaboration and advocacy. Her hands-on involvement in facility development, community engagement, and industry advocacy positions her to well to serve the organic recycling industry and assist the AORA team as a driving force behind its sustainable growth

South Australia 

Director since 2023

Partnerships Committee

Lachlan Jeffries | Director

Lachlan is an Executive Chairman at the Jeffries Group.

The Jeffries family have their hands in South Australian soil for generations, growing strong since 1842. Jeffries are passionate about creating value from organic resources, many of these organic resources until recently were lost to landfill. The team at Jeffries delivers premium compost, soil, mulch and fertilizer for farmers, viticulturists, landscapers and home gardeners.

New South Wales 

Director since 2022

Patrick Soars | Director

Patrick is a founding member of AORA and since 1971 the Managing Director of Australian Native Landscapes Pty Ltd. ANL has pioneered the composting of organics and the development of what has become the industry standard across a wide range of recycled landscape, horticultural and agricultural products. ANL operates nine organics processing facilities across NSW and processes in excess of 500,000 tonnes annually

Queensland 

Director since 2024

Finance Committee

Peter Thompson | Director 

With more than 15 years’ experience in the environmental industry, Peter is dedicated to setting direction, delivering results, building organisational capacity and inspiring others. Peter is currently the Chief Strategy Officer at NuGrow which is Queensland’s largest compost manufacturer by volume and geographical reach. Prior to this Peter worked at a large multi-national consultancy for several years with a focus on environmental related projects. Peter’s experience is backed by formal qualifications including a Bachelor of Environmental Management (Sustainable Development) and a Master of Business Administration both completed at the University of Queensland. Furthermore Peter is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  

Working for purpose led organisations fuels Peter’s passion and in many of his roles this has resulted in the facilitation of positive advancements in how we protect and enhance our environments while achieving positive business outcomes. Peter recognises the need for Australia to transition from a linear model to a circular economy model and also appreciates how the recycled organics industry can assist in mitigating environmental issues facing Australia including climate change, pressures on our agricultural systems and soil degradation.

Through his role on the AORA board, Peter is motivated to break down many of the barriers currently preventing the widespread update of organics recycling in Australia. Peter has previous directorship experience having sat on the Board of Bicycle Queensland as a non-executive director.  

Victoria 

Director since 2024

Partnerships Committee

Simon Humphris | Director

Simon Humphris is the Director of Environmental Resource Solutions. He has been successfulworking in the recycled industry for 16 years, working in all aspects of the organics industry, from waste brokering and recycling to recycled organics.

Simon has skills including site development, marketdesign and implementation. Simon has also worked for Komptech and so has a unique view on the best machines to process material, having a unique understanding of how best to design operating facilities in line with the best quality products.

Simon pioneered compost and mulch sales in agriculture viticulture, helping design the machines to spread the product across Victoria which is still used today. 

Simon is the only recipient of AORA’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to Compost Marketing’ award.

Simon is passionate about compost and its multiple benefits to our climate / soil health and the health of our community