FOODBANK VICTORIA WINS GLOBAL TECH AWARD

Foodbank Victoria has been recognised with an international tech award for using smarter data to improve how 25 million meals are sourced and distributed to Victorians annually.

Kennie Greagen, Foodbank Victoria, Applied Research and Innovation Manager, said the charity has achieved a 15% reduction in food cost per kilogram.

"Foodbank Victoria's data transformation made us more efficient at what we do," Ms Greagen said.

"We've significantly improved how we get the right food to the right areas using data driven decision making - and we are now doing it at a lower cost."

Ms Greagen accepted the Global Impact Award at the Qlik Global Transformation Awards 2025, on behalf of the organisation.

The charity was recognised for its innovative use of Qlik Cloud Analytics to transform operations - reaching around 70% of Victoria's total food relief. It marks the first time that an Australian organisation has claimed the international title.

Ms Greagen said the award win was the result of Foodbank Victoria's commitment to using data in smarter ways to meet rising community needs.

"We're incredibly proud to be recognised on a global stage for using smarter data to deliver more food, more efficiently, to Victorians who need it most," she said.

"We deliver over 25 million meals each year through 500 charity partners and 1,000+ schools and spend about A$5 million a year on food.

"Now, we can tailor that with detailed dashboards that show what's needed, what's coming in, and what to source to fill the gaps."

Ms Greagen said that by centralising, automating, and analysing data from multiple sources, the charity has improved the way food is acquired, distributed, and tracked in real time.

"It means that we identify short-dated products and move them quickly, so waste has come down significantly," she said."

And we can pinpoint areas of more or less demand, and allocate culturally-appropriate food, with data-driven accuracy."

Working with data transformation consultancy Notitia, Foodbank Victoria implemented a Qlik Cloud Analytics solution that integrates internal Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) data and external public datasets to uncover needs across culturally diverse communities.

Foodbank Victoria's team has used the Qlik technology platform to enable their data transformation, Ms Greagen said.

"It has empowered our people to better understand local food demand and respond rapidly," she said.

Alex Avery, Notitia Managing Director, praised their collaboration with Foodbank Victoria.

"Foodbank Victoria is a world-class example of using data for public good," Mr Avery said.

"Their expert team brought bold ideas and a clear mission — we're proud to have supported their transformation and to see this well-deserved global recognition.

"What makes this project especially meaningful is the direct impact it has on Victorians. Every efficiency gain, every insight, means a better result on the ground."

Charlie Farah, Qlik Field CTO for Analytics and AI, commented on the significance of the award win.

"Foodbank Victoria's use of Qlik Cloud Analytics is a powerful example of how data can drive meaningful social impact at scale," he said.

"Their ability to turn insights into action is exactly what the Global Impact Award aims to celebrate and is a testament to the extraordinary innovation, commitment and real-world outcomes achieved by Foodbank Victoria."