Julie Shelton is an experienced company director, project manager and entrepreneur with a career dedicated to strengthening Australia’s food and agribusiness sector. With more than 25 years working across small business, events, consulting and social enterprise, Julie brings a strategic yet hands-on approach to building resilient, connected industry communities.

Julie has founded and led two companies and several food and beverage–focused social enterprises, drawing on her background in small business management and her deep networks across Australia. She is well known for establishing and directing the Sunshine Coast Real Food Festival, a major regional event that hosted up to 20,000 visitors and more than 100 exhibitors, helping to forge long-lasting B2B relationships across the local supply chain.

A long-time advocate for the region, Julie contributed to Sunshine Coast Council’s Agribusiness Industry and Investment Plan (IIP) and played a foundational role in the creation of the Food and Agribusiness Network in 2015. Her involvement in FAN’s early development reflects her commitment to industry-led collaboration, regional identity and sustainable growth.

Through her consultancy, Forage P/L, Julie has supported numerous startups and emerging producers to innovate, scale and navigate regulatory and market challenges. She brings wide-ranging experience in governance, event and program delivery, grant management, stakeholder engagement, training needs analysis, and CRM/database systems.

Julie is recognised for her strong communication skills, high emotional intelligence and ability to work confidently with diverse audiences — from primary producers and startups to government, industry representatives and national leaders.

Grounded, thoughtful and impact-driven, Julie brings to the FAN Board a rare combination of strategic vision, operational capability and a deep personal commitment to helping local businesses thrive.