It’s our mission to shine a light on Australia’s Indigenous food. Bringing our incredible native ingredients to the world, whilst celebrating Indigenous culture and supporting Indigenous communities.
Started by Chef Jock Zonfrillo, the Foundation seeks to protect and preserve thousands of years of know-how and cultural heritage through research, innovation and enterprise.
Our Projects
Check out some of the amazing projects that we've been working on. With your help, we can do even more.
Indigenous Food Database
Nyul Nyul Community Packing Shed
Food Qualities Assessment
Food Flavour Assessment
Plant Production Assessment
Geraldton Wax
Indigenous Enterprise Projects
Kuti Co
Marrithiyel, Marri Dan, Marramaninjsji Plants and Animals Book
Board
JOCK ZONFRILLO
Founder and Board Director
Culinary Creative Director
Born in Scotland and raised by an Italian and Scottish family, Jock Zonfrillo’s formative years were heavily influenced by his respective cultures and their understanding of seasonality and connection to the land.
Jock began working in Scotland’s great country house hotels before moving to London, where he worked with many great chefs, including Marco Pierre White and David Cavalier.
Keen to experience new culinary cultures, Jock then spent a year in Australia at Sydney’s Restaurant 41. It was here that his serendipitous meeting with an Aboriginal man began to form an idea that would eventuate in The Orana Foundation.
Returning to the UK, Jock again worked for Marco Pierre White, this time at Les Saveurs. He then then helped launch The Pharmacy by artist Damien Hirst, before opening a restaurant in a small boutique hotel on the Cornish coast.
In 2000 the opportunity to return to Australia as head chef of Restaurant 41 presented itself and Jock immediately took it. He had discovered his spiritual home in Australia. His time in Sydney was followed by consultancy work before he moved to Adelaide as Executive Chef at Penfolds’ Magill Estate Restaurant. He remains in Adelaide and is now chef and owner of Restaurant Orana and Restaurant Blackwood.
NORMAN GILLESPIE
Executive Director & Board Director
Norman has over 30 years’ experience as a Finance Director and CEO, spanning commercial, government and not-for-profit sectors in culture and tourism, humanitarian development and aid, finance and tax, philanthropy, telecommunications and the extractive industry.
He is passionate about working with extraordinary people to realise their vision of creating and developing enterprises which bring about sustainable positive economic, social and cultural change.
Norman has held positions as Head of the CEO and Chairman’s Private Office of BP PlC, Director of Finance and Planning for BP Exploration in the US, Group Finance Director for Cable & Wireless (UK), Chief Financial Office and Deputy CEO of Optus Communications, CEO of the Sydney Opera House, Deputy Chair of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, and most recently as CEO of UNICEF Australia.
He has led organisations, large and small, through periods of transformational change and growth, bringing his commercial experience, strategic vision and business acumen to not for profit enterprises. Norman also sits on a number of cultural sector advisory boards and foundations.
JO WILLMOT
Board Director
Jo has worked for the State and Commonwealth Government, as well as Aboriginal and non-Government agencies for many years. She has extensive experience in Indigenous cultural training and developing culturally appropriate training programs tailored to different groups.
A proud Wakka Wakka woman, Jo was born and raised in the Cherbourg Aboriginal Mission. Her mother was sent out to work for white families and pastoral properties, while her father was banned from the Mission when she was born. She moved out of Cherbourg with her mother and step father to Ipswich and then to Acacia Ridge in Brisbane, before relocating to Adelaide in 1972.
Jo proudly organised the first ever contemporary Aboriginal Women’s Arts Festival in 1985. An event supported by Adelaide Fringe and Adelaide Festival.
LAUREN ZONFRILLO
Board Director
Lauren is the Founder of Pulse Collective, an award-winning Australian marketing and communications agency. Recently named as one of Australia’s 50 influential women entrepreneurs, Lauren is a regular panellist on ABC’s Gruen TV show and a commentator on Channel 7 news and The Project.
She started her first business more than 13 years ago, and has grown a successful, award-winning and competitive presence in the marketing and advertising industry, picking up a number of accolades including the prestigious NSW Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year award.
Lauren is currently the CEO of the Orana Group, which includes the Australian Restaurant of the Year 2018 and 2019, Restaurant Orana.
In addition to The Orana Foundation, Lauren is the Chair of the McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association, and Board Director of the Rundle Mall Management Authority.
Research Team
DR. PHILIP A. CLARKE
Chief Ethnobotanist
Dr Philip Clarke has an academic background in biology, geography and anthropology. His initial research interests were chiefly on Aboriginal use of plants as foods, medicines and materials for making artefacts, which broadened out to Aboriginal perception and use of the land.
During 1998-2000, Dr Clarke’s curated the Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery Project at the South Australian Museum. He has written numerous professional papers and chapters, and authored four major books on Indigenous use of the environment. Since April 2013, Dr Clarke has participated with the Indigenous Bio-cultural Knowledge working group within The Australian Centre for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (ACEAS).
Ambassadors
ALEX ATALA
Ambassador
Alex Atala is a Brazilian chef of Irish Lebanese ancestry, who runs the restaurant D.O.M. Native ingredients are a hallmark of his cuisine, from jambú, a herb that creates a tingling sensation on the tongue, to Atala's now world-famous use of ants.
He is also the Founder of the ATA Institute in Brazil which researches and promotes Brazilian Indigenous ingredients, working directly with Amazonian communities.
Internationally acclaimed, Alex frequently give lectures at major gastronomic events around the world. He is passionate about native food, acknowledging cultural heritage and giving back to Indigenous communities.
In the establishment years of the Foundation, Jock spent time with Alex in the Amazon where he shared his exstensive learnings in setting up a Foundation and how to design the most effective research team.
BRUNO DANN
Ambassador
Bruno Alfonse Dann is a Traditional Owner, Indigenous Artist, Indigenous Landcare and Culture Specialist and Chairperson of Manowan Aboriginal Corporation.
Bruno was one of the original artists for “Walkabout Australia” which became very successful in Europe, Canada, USA and Japan. In 1985 he was awarded a certificate from the Chief Minister for the Northern Territory for his contribution to art. In 2001, Bruno helped establish the Manowan Aboriginal Corporation, which was named after the country that Bruno’s grandfathers had left for him. As Chairperson, Bruno began his life’s work of healing and restoring his culture and country, while bringing employment and opportunities to many other members of the Nyul community.
Bruno has been an invaluable support for the Foundation, and continues to provide guidance and insights to the Board.
Our Partners
All the great work we do is thanks to the support of our incredible partners. Get in touch if you want to join these amazing organisations, and help us do even more.
News
7 Jul 2020
In reference to recent stories in the media regarding The Orana Foundation’s Indigenous Food Database, please see the statement below…
23 May 2018
It was a chance encounter almost 20 years ago with an Aboriginal busker named Jimmy, on the waterfront walkways of…
18 Dec 2017
Showcasing ingredients such as finger lime, eucalyptus and green ants, Scottish-born chef Jock Zonfrillo is redefining Australian cuisine one dish…
17 Oct 2017
The winner of this award, which celebrates innovation, charity and sustainability, goes above and beyond to contribute to the broader…
24 Aug 2017
After more than 50 years as the country’s leading food magazine, Gourmet Traveller knows a thing or two about how to throw…
16 Aug 2017
He forages for the indigenous ingredients that dazzle diners at his Adelaide restaurant. But Jock Zonfrillo’s ambitions don’t end there.…
30 Jun 2017
The University of Adelaide and The Orana Foundation, founded by chef Jock Zonfrillo, have announced a major new research partnership to support the…
15 Jun 2017
Tomorrow’s 2016-17 Mid-Year Budget Review will include $1.25 million for the Orana Foundation to expand their work in the research,…
28 Apr 2017
Photograph: Tourism Australia / Oliver Strewe Australian native ingredients are destined to go mainstream, but will the traditional owners of…
1 Jan 2017
Jock Zonfrillo’s food journey has taken him from foraging and fishing with his Scottish and Italian grandfathers and cooking for…
1 Jan 2017
Scottish born Jock Zonfrillo is one of the people helping to define Australian cuisine. Working from his Orana restaurant in…
4 Dec 2016
A chat with Scotland-born, Australia-based chef Jock Zonfrillo: he’s working with the Orana Foundation to rediscover some of Australia’s native…