Ella Williams
Administration and Communications
With a keen interest in cooking and where food comes from, advocating for sustainable and future proof agricultural practices, started early for Ella.
Local and regional produce always has a history or a story behind it. If we look at most world cultures, they are based on food availability and accessibility. They become intertwined and one is not without the other. The history around a region almost always includes their stories of cuisine. Growing up in Tassie with strong agricultural ties, and enjoying being outdoors as much as possible, fostered an inescapable link for Ella, between environmental sustainability and local and regional food.
After studying Food and Nutrition Sciences at Deakin University BFood&NutrSc(Hons), Ella spent six years at Monash Health and Monash Children’s Hospital coordinating Allied Health teams, assisting with the nutritional needs of the Dietetics patients and learning a great deal about administration. A tertiary approach to nutrition and health was eye opening and rewarding for her.
In a change of scope, after completing a Graduate Certificate in Agriculture at the University of Melbourne majoring in Climate Change, Ella found that a broader view of nutrition was equally as important as specific nutrients for a thriving population. Maintaining and building a strong, competitive, economically viable and environmentally sound agricultural sector in Australia is the dream for a healthy community.
Starting with the ARC Research Hub for Smart Fertilisers back in 2023, Ella has been an integral part of supporting the team here at the Hub with their organisational needs so that the team can complete and communicate their research efficiently and effectively. Ella has coordinated multiple project reviews and co-ran the Advancing Green Agriculture Symposium 2025. She maintains the Hub’s online presence and contributes to the ongoing communication of Hub achievements and research to the public and industry.
In the future Ella would like to see more emphasis on the nutritional quality of produce grown in Australia, whether that is from less pesticides; growing crops not just for their high yield but for their underlying health properties; reducing the environmental impact through reducing pollution or degradation; and working in sync with the rich biodiversity of Australia.