Michaela Windsor has built a career at the intersection of connection, community and impact. After more than a decade working across business development and marketing within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and health sectors, she brought her passion for feeding people and solving complex problems to OzHarvest.
Today, as State Manager of OzHarvest Queensland, Michaela leads a team rescuing quality surplus food and supporting communities across the state. In this interview, she discusses her career journey, the growing realities of food insecurity in Australia, and the role partnerships play in creating meaningful and lasting change.
Can you tell us about your journey since graduating from QUT?
My career has always been shaped by two things: a love of feeding people and a drive to solve problems. After graduating from QUT, I spent more than a decade in business development and marketing, working across FMCG and health products, on both the retailer and product development side. In 2018, joining OzHarvest brought both passions together. What started as a fundraising role has grown into leading OzHarvest Queensland as State Manager and I haven't looked back.
What might a standard week look like for you?
I have the privilege of leading OzHarvest's operations across Queensland where we have 19 food rescue trucks on the road rescuing quality, surplus food and delivering it to frontline charities. A typical week means working with my leadership team across food rescue, education, volunteering, kitchens, and fundraising functions to explore every avenue for lasting, meaningful impact for our communities and our planet. No two weeks look the same, which is part of what makes this work so energising.
What are some misconceptions people have about who is affected by food insecurity?
Food insecurity is far more complex and nuanced than many people realise. It's not simply about people sleeping rough or facing visible financial hardship. At OzHarvest, we deliver food to community centres, neighbourhood spaces, church groups, domestic violence shelters, school breakfast programs, and flexible learning spaces. The people we serve span all walks of life. So often, food insecurity is the canary in the coalmine when it comes to household financial stability. When we narrow our understanding of who food insecurity affects, we risk leaving people behind.
How can individuals contribute to reducing food insecurity in their own communities?
Supporting organisations working in this space is one of the most direct things you can do. OzHarvest’s Cooking for a Cause corporate volunteering program welcomes businesses in to cook amazing meals for people in need while bringing in critical funding to keep our wheels on the road. And individuals can support OzHarvest by volunteering, running a food drive or making a financial donation – every $1 donated means we can deliver two meals to someone in need. Every contribution, big or small, makes a genuine difference.
What has been the most rewarding (or challenging) aspect of your work in this field?
Witnessing the skill of people working in the not-for-profit (NFP) sector is deeply rewarding. A career here offers meaningful community impact, but also the freedom to pursue excellent work for powerful reasons. My time in the NFP sector has allowed me to deliver the best quality work of my career so far. It’s an honour to be able to apply my studies and experience to some of the most critical and human challenges our state faces.
What is one skill that you couldn’t live without and why?
Relationship mapping. Understanding how people and organisations connect and being able to build multi-layered connections greatly reduces the fragility of our work. Whether encouraging food donors, funders, or volunteers, recognising and celebrating these social tethers gives us the strength to weather cyclones, fuel price surges, or whatever else comes along. Strong, respectful, collaborative relationships are the foundation of everything.
QUT degrees – Bachelor of Business (2010), Bachelor of Laws (2013).
Do you have a question for Michaela? Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Author
Joanna is an integrated marketing communications specialist with an interest in the Faculties of Health, Business and Law. She holds a Master of Business, Bachelor of Mass Communication and Diploma in Business Information Systems.