Farewell to Kitchen Garden Foundation CEO Ange Barry

This week the Foundation farewells our CEO, Ange Barry, who has led the organisation for more than 10 years. Ange was the inaugural CEO when the Foundation was established, and her leadership and knowledge will be greatly missed.

Ange penned the following letter to announce her resignation to our kitchen garden community …

I write to let you know that after 10 wonderful years as CEO of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, I am moving on to my next adventure. 

It has been an incredible journey. I started at the Foundation in 2006, as it was expanding from the very first pilot Kitchen Garden Program at Collingwood College. During the state-wide, and then national, rollout of the Kitchen Garden Program from 2007, we saw the Program grow to over 800 primary schools across the country – a phenomenal 10% of all Australian schools with a primary curriculum. I've been incredibly proud to be a part of this unique community.

Since 2015, with the assistance, experience and support of the Program Schools, educators, the Foundation’s partners, stakeholders and the kitchen garden community, we have opened the kitchen garden toolkit to another 600 or so primary schools, secondary schools and early years learning centres through the Kitchen Garden Classroom membership. This membership base is growing and thriving, and we are learning together every day as we all strive to share the pleasurable food education message. 

During my time with the Foundation, with you, I have planted seeds, built beds and turned asphalt into edible gardens. I have picked fresh carrots, beans and broccoli straight from your school gardens, added them to the children's harvest baskets, and entered your beautiful kitchen spaces with a sense of wonder and delight. I have torn lettuce, put pasta through the rolling machines, steamed peas, stirred sauces and watched over little fingers as the children chopped, sliced and diced – and amazed visitors.

I have also sat down, countless times, with you, your staff and your students. I have shared your beautiful dishes and the company of your wonderful school communities. Above all, I have heard your stories and your challenges, and most of all your successes, as you and your children and families have told me personally how your kitchen garden program has changed attitudes, and changed lives.

I thank you for this. It has been an amazing adventure, one which I hope to see continued and shared through your work and the vision you and the Foundation share: to see all children develop positive food habits for life. 

Again, thank you for your hard work, your passion, and for allowing me just a small glimpse into your community. I wish you all the very best for the future, and know that your partnership with the Foundation will continue to thrive and change lives.

With warmest wishes, 

Ange Barry

Scroll through the gallery above to see photos of Ange’s time at the Foundation.

We wish Ange all the best as she embarks on the next chapter of her life, and welcome the Foundation’s new CEO Rebecca Naylor. Keep an eye on our website for a profile on Rebecca in the coming months.