Ms Manning is the founder of KiwiHarvest, a national food rescue organisation that collects surplus and donated food, and distributes it throughout New Zealand to community organisations, providing food support to those in need.
A qualified lawyer and physiotherapist, she brought the food rescue concept to life in Dunedin in 2012, when the organisation was first known as FoodShare.
It was driven by a desire to do something for the community in which she lived.
Not entirely sure what that would be, she was bothered by media reports on poverty and children going to school hungry.
But it was not until she read an article in the Otago Daily Times about dumpster diving — people retrieving food from skips — that she realised food rescue was what she wanted to do.
Initially, she collected rescued and donated food in her car and delivered it to local social service agencies and food banks to distribute to families in need.
Today, KiwiHarvest has grown to become the country’s largest food rescue organisation, serving communities across the country.
While KiwiHarvest flourished, Ms Manning still recognised the food rescue sector was missing an efficient solution that could get large volumes of surplus food from food businesses into vulnerable communities.
Her answer was a comprehensive, nationwide organisation, New Zealand Food Network.
In a statement, the Sustainable Business Network said that organisation would streamline the systems that connected food donors and food charities.
Since launching in 2020, the New Zealand Food Network has transformed the food rescue sector, bringing efficiency and scale, and successfully connecting food supply and demand.
Ms Manning was also a member and past co-chairwoman of New Zealand Food Waste Champions 12.3, a coalition of 12 champions from New Zealand’s food supply chain who were committed to halving food waste by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3) and a leading voice in advocacy, strategy and education on food waste issues.
Last week, KiwiHarvest was joint winner in the excellence in not-for-profit category at The Grand Business South Awards.
Organic drink manufacturer Karma Drinks was the overall winner at the Sustainable Business Awards.
