Our Team

Prudence Rothwell has been working in the not-for-profit food systems sector for over a decade. Prue joined Open Food Network in 2021 and has been part of the Leadership team since 2022. In her role as project manager she oversees projects across the Australian food system. These projects have built market access and demand for regenerative agriculture products, built capacity for the community food enterprise sector and improved food equity and access via food subsidy programs.

Prue originally grew up on a dairy farm in Northern Victoria and moved to Melbourne to complete a Bachelor of Environment at the University of Melbourne. During these studies, Prue began working in the farmers’ market sector, building networks and relationships with many farmers and food businesses across the State. In 2016, she was awarded an International Specialised Skills Institute Fellowship which enabled her to travel to the US for 10 weeks to investigate farmers’ market best practice and opportunities for the Australian sector. This led her to undertaking a Master of Food Systems and Gastronomy at William Angliss Institute, where she graduated in 2021 with distinction and the Dean’s award. Her thesis investigated the resilience of the Victorian accredited farmers’ market sector.

Prue enjoys working both on the ground with implementation and at the strategic system level – using both experiences to inform the other for stronger outcomes towards food systems transformation.