Australia Day 2025 Ambassador Information – Katie, Maggie, and Michael Quach:
Kate, Maggie and Michael Quach are the visionary siblings behind Beyond Best Before, a social-impact enterprise tackling food waste and promoting sustainable living. In 2025, their work earned international recognition with a place on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list for Social Impact, highlighting their leadership in sustainability and innovation.
Their story is rooted in resilience and multicultural heritage. The siblings' parents arrived in Australia as Vietnamese refugees in the late 1970s, instilling values of resourcefulness and community care. Growing up in Melbourne's inner west, they learned the importance of never wasting food - a principle that inspired Beyond Best Before.
"We were raised to finish every last grain of rice in our bowls. That simple lesson became the foundation of Beyond Best Before," Katie said.
Founded in 2021, Beyond Best Before intercepts surplus stock and near-date grocery items destined for landfill, reselling them at affordable prices through a national e-commerce platform, a flagship store in Sydney, and an emerging wholesale marketplace. Their model reduces waste, saves consumers money, and educates Australians about food sustainability.
"The idea behind it has always been that we want to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill," Maggie said.
"With our products, it's about raising awareness; we want to change the perception of what's still edible and what's still appropriate."
Beyond their flagship enterprise, the siblings collaborate with government programs such as NSW's Love Food Hate Waste initiative and partner with universities and non-profits to deliver community education on sustainability.
Katie draws on over a decade of corporate experience at Deloitte, Lions and Commonwealth Bank Australia to her role as co-founder of Beyond Best Before. She champions diversity and empowers women in STEM including actively volunteering and mentoring in initiatives with Business Chicks Australia, Banking on Women, St Vincent de Paul Society, Toastmasters International, and Women in Technology (WIT). Katie leads strategy and partnerships, mentors emerging entrepreneurs, and advocates for systemic change in food supply chains. Her expertise in business transformation and passion for giving back underpins the venture's growth and impact.
Maggie drives grassroots engagement through initiatives like Waste-Less Wednesdays and myth-busting sessions, working closely with councils and community groups to shift perceptions around food waste. With a strong background from her start in finance at Woolworths, and a decade in tech consulting delivering large-scale IT programs for almost every major bank, she shapes the systems, digital platforms and strategy behind Beyond Best Before. Her impact extends beyond business; Maggie actively mentors emerging founders through accelerator and pilot programs including Sydney Uni's Accelerator programs and Hatch: Taronga Accelerator, supporting eco-startups and driving innovation in the social enterprise sector.
"I feel like I'm contributing to a bigger cause - and that's the most rewarding part of this journey," Maggie said.
Michael combines deep academic and professional expertise with a passion for sustainability. Holding three master's degrees and the prestigious Alek Safarian MBA Scholarship, he leads pharmacy strategy, governance and services across multiple hospitals within the Illawarra. His experience in healthcare and leadership complements Beyond Best Before's mission to innovate and create lasting social impact.
Since its inception, Beyond Best Before has gained national attention with features across major media outlets including 2GB Radio, The Guardian, Money Magazine, SBS News, Today Show, Channel 9 News, 10 Studio, ABC platforms, and the Sunday Telegraph, and has been formally recognised in Parliament for its leadership in reducing food waste and advancing circular economy practices.
For the Quach siblings, being Australian means embracing diversity and generosity.
"Growing up, our street was like a family, Greek, Albanian, German, Vietnamese. We shared food, traditions and kindness without thinking twice. That's the Australian spirit," Katie said.
