Our Program Team.
Saadi Allan
Expert in Residence
Saadi Allan will be leading the 8 week Accelerator program for Agrifood, AgTech and Agriwaste enterprises in start up or on a scaling journey.
Saadi is an entrepreneur and marketing professional with a strong commitment to sustainable business practices.
As the co-founder and former CEO of Subpod, an innovative composting and gardening brand, he helped the company gain a loyal community of over 60,000 waste warriors across 26 countries, who collectively divert more than 240 tonnes of food waste from landfill every week.
Previously, Saadi served as the Head of Marketing at BeeInventive, creators of the groundbreaking Flow Hive.
Jane Laverty
Program Manager
Jane Laverty is the Regional Director for Business NSW based in the Northern Rivers.
She is a self-confessed regionalist with a personal mission and passion for sustainable economic development, genuine community engagement and building a bright future for young people in the Northern Rivers.
As the Regional Director for Business NSW Jane’s work revolves around advocacy for business, positioning the region for investment and championing policy that supports job creation, innovation and liveability in the region.
Jane’s work in the region has crossed economic, social and environmental projects for Government, not-for-profit and the commercial sector.
In 2010-2012 she was part of the Northern Rivers FoodLinks project team (a $2M Environmental Trust funded project led by the 7 Northern Rivers Councils) where she managed the local marketing/local distribution program and sustainable agriculture project pilot program.
Jane is driven by doing the right thing and doing things right and likes to make things happen.
Kate Fletcher
Program Coordinator
Kate Fletcher is the Regional Coordinator for Business NSW and the Program Coordinator for the Sourdough Regeneration Program.
Kate has extensive events and project management experience across not-for-profit, Government and corporate environments and is exceptionally well organised with the ability to juggle competing priorities.
Kate is the key contact for all stakeholders engaged in the program and also manages the Mentorloop tool that will play an integral role in supporting our mentors and mentees (accelerator participants).