AUSTRALIA | End Food Waste Australia (EFWA) has announced the appointment of Tristan Butt as its new CEO.
Butt brings a strong track record of commercial success, transformational leadership, and impactful stakeholder engagement across the food industry.
With extensive experience driving sustainable growth and operational excellence at leading organisations in Australia and internationally, including Woolworths, Harris Farm Markets, Kerry Foods and Mars, Butt is well positioned to lead EFWA in delivering on its mission to halve food waste in Australia by 2030.
EFWA is Australia’s national organisation dedicated to driving coordinated action on food waste. With a science-based, collaborative and commercial approach, EFWA works across the entire food system, from paddock to plate, to deliver measurable, systemic change.
Despite Australia’s highly productive and efficient food and agribusiness sector, food waste costs the nation an estimated AUD 37 billion each year. This has wide-ranging environmental, social and economic impacts.
Addressing this challenge requires a significant shift in mindset, investment, and system-wide thinking, something EFWA is uniquely positioned to enable and lead.
EFWA Chair John Webster welcomed the appointment.
“Tristan brings a unique blend of commercial discipline, strategic thinking, and values-driven leadership. As we work to unlock systems change across Australia’s food value chain, his deep understanding of the industry and supply chains end-to-end, coupled with his passion for impact and sustainability, make him the ideal leader to take EFWA forward as we scale our efforts to end food waste nationally,” Webster said.
Butt joins EFWA from his role as Chief Operating Officer at TMX, where he led successful business transformation, drove EBIT and revenue growth, and worked closely with major retailers and manufacturers across Australia and globally.
“I’m incredibly honoured to be appointed CEO of End Food Waste Australia. It’s a huge privilege to step into this role at such an important moment. The scale of food waste in Australia is staggering but so is the opportunity to create change,” said Butt.
“I’m energised by EFWA’s mission and look forward to working across government, industry, education and community to deliver real impact. We can’t afford to treat food waste as an inevitability. It’s a solvable problem, and together, we will solve it.”
Butt succeeded Dr Steven Lapidge, who founded and led EFWA since its inception and was deeply involved in establishing Australia’s National Food Waste Strategy and Roadmap. Dr Lapidge will continue to support EFWA by joining the Board as a Non-Executive Director.
“End Food Waste Australia has built strong foundations in science, collaboration and impact. It has been an absolute privilege to lead EFWA since 2017 and to work with so many committed partners,” said Dr Lapidge.
“I’m confident that under Tristan’s leadership, EFWA will continue to grow in reach, influence, and impact, and I look forward to supporting that journey in my new role on the Board.”
Tristan Butt will formally commence in the CEO role on the 5th of May 2025.
