Speakers
The speakers are at the heart of the Vegan Festival Adelaide. These amazing communicators explore and illustrate the Festival's core themes through their own personal stories and passions.
Zachary Bird - Animal Rights Aerobics
Zacchary Bird is the vegan butcher, the vegan baker and, above all, the vegan rule breaker. He’s vegan, BTW. No matter which hat he’s wearing, the job is the same: to perfect the plant-based version of absolutely every menu item known to humankind, and then some.
With a background in commercial plant-based meat development and teaching cooking classes (that go heavy on the deep-frying), Zac and his recipes alike are known for being extra AF. Flipping through his cookbooks will reveal a bounty of bold flavours, vibrant eye candy and (at times) bewildering creativity. Scrolling through his social media, you’ll find Zacchary teaching recipes as well as performing as a global dance icon (live from his living room), to kill time between tours of a croissant dough.
Zacchary’s first book, Vegan Junk Food was published in 2020 and was once used as a political prop by Jacinda Ardern. The Vegan Butcher won the PETA Australia Vegan Cookbook of the Year 2021, which Zacchary claims makes him the world’s number one vegan butcher/baker hybrid who can also do a backbend. These days, Zac owns a Brisbane based vegan eatery and coffee bar called Archie AM PM.
Festival Patron: Jason ‘Dizzy’ Gillespie
The incredible Jason Gillespie is the face of our vegan festival in Adelaide! This cricket legend and devoted vegan isn't just a patron; he's our enthusiastic advocate, championing the cause with his name, support, and passion. From gracing our events to proudly endorsing the festival, Gillespie brings star power and genuine commitment, elevating awareness and support for a cause that connects athleticism, environmental care, and compassion for animals. It's not just an endorsement; it's a dynamic celebration of values and advocacy! 🌱🏏
Jason ‘Dizzy’ Gillespie is an Australian cricket coach and former cricketer who played all three formats of the game. A right-arm fast bowler, he was also a dependable lower-order batsman who’s unbeaten 201 is the highest score by a night-watchman in international cricket.
Jason has recently been appointed as the Head Coach of the Pakistan Test side for the next 2 years.
Gillespie made his international debut in 1996, and quickly established himself as one of the most feared bowlers in the world. He was a key member of the Australian team that dominated world cricket in the late 1990s and early 2000s, winning three consecutive Ashes series and two World Cups.
Gillespie was known for his raw pace, accuracy, and bounce. He was also a very intelligent bowler, able to adapt his style to different conditions and opponents. Gillespie played 71 Test matches and 97 One Day Internationals for Australia, taking 259 Test wickets and 142 ODI wickets.
Gillespie retired from international cricket in 2006, but he has continued to be involved in the game as a Head Coach. He has led South Australia, Yorkshire, Sussex, the Adelaide Strikers and more, achieving success wherever he travels.
A worthy inductee into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, Gillespie was a brilliant cricketer and is a wonderful role model and ambassador for the game.
Kristy Alger
Kristy Alger is the current sitting chairperson for Animal Liberation Tasmania, and has volunteered with the Bob Brown Foundation and Farm Transparency Project in recent years in direct actions leading to multiple arrests. Kristy strives to base her animal rights advocacy within a framework of total liberation. Kristy is also a published author, releasing Five Essays for Freedom: a political primer for animal advocates in 2020, and has recently turned her attention to photography (especially of ducks!). She lives and works in lutruwita/Tasmania on the unceded lands of the mumurimina people's with her family.
Harley McDonald-Eckersall - Farm Transparency Project
Farm Transparency Project (FTP) is a non-profit animal protection charity, dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals in farms, slaughterhouses and other commercial settings.
In 2018, Farm Transparency Project (then Aussie Farms), released the groundbreaking documentary film Dominion, bringing global attention to animal farming and slaughter in Australia and around the world. Since then, their cutting edge investigations have pushed the boundaries of what is possible when it comes to documenting and exposing how animals are bred, confined and killed by humans.
Harley McDonald-Eckersall
At age 19, Harley co-founded the organisation Young Voices for Animals (YVA) with the mission to educate and inspire the next generation of animal liberation activists. After taking part in her first direct action during the Dominion Anniversary day of action in April 2019, Harley moved to the UK to work on messaging and strategy at Animal Rebellion. In early 2022, Harley returned to Australia and took a position with the Animal Justice Party, coordinating volunteers for the 2022 state election. During this time Harley began working closely with Chris and, after the election, she joined FTP, directing her enthusiasm and dedication into creating hard-hitting campaigns and grassroots actions.
Savanah
Savanah starred in season 5 of Love island Australia. She finished the reality TV competition in the position of runner up, and was often described throughout the show as one of the realest and more genuine people to appear throughout the Love Island series.
Savanah has been a committed vegan for over 10 years and often explores the rights of animals within our legislative system- having also completed a double degree in law and business where she was awarded second class honour.
She caused a stir on the show and was referred to by the media as ‘having absolutely no filter. She certainly isn’t afraid to speak her mind and stand up for what she believes in.
Chris Delforce - Farm Transparency Project
Farm Transparency Project (FTP) is a non-profit animal protection charity, dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals in farms, slaughterhouses and other commercial settings.
In 2018, Farm Transparency Project (then Aussie Farms), released the groundbreaking documentary film Dominion, bringing global attention to animal farming and slaughter in Australia and around the world. Since then, their cutting edge investigations have pushed the boundaries of what is possible when it comes to documenting and exposing how animals are bred, confined and killed by humans.
Chris Delforce
Chris learned from a young age the importance of social justice and compassion for all – particularly those less fortunate than himself - and seeks to use the privileges afforded to him to improve the lives of others. He started an organisation called the Youth Vegetarian Association at his university in Canberra, through which he met members of Animal Liberation ACT and learned of the cruelty of the dairy and egg industries. He went vegan and began participating in covert rescues of animals from factory farms, liberating hundreds of animals. Chris has investigated over one hundred farms, slaughterhouses and other animal exploitation facilities across Australia and internationally, founded Farm Transparency Project (originally Aussie Farms) in 2014, and has written, directed and edited two award-winning feature-length documentaries, 2014's Lucent and 2018's Dominion.
Mark Pages
Phytality Nutrition Meet Mark Pages who is a specialist in the field of micro-algea and other plant based ingredients and founder of pytality. Mark will be sharing his passion in sustainable and ethical vegan nutrition from micro-algae/phytoplankton. This session focuses on how to absorb hard to get nutriends on a plant based diet such as omega-3s, B12 and other minerals. Delve into the importance of choosing a vegan product for the nutrients and the benefits not just for your body, but also the environment and sea life.
Pam ahern - edgars mission
A lifelong animal lover, Pam cut her teeth on cat and dog rescue and became a champion equestrian. However, everything changed when a tiny piglet, the eminent Edgar Alan Pig, trotted into her life in 2003 and led her down a path she’d never imagined. She gave up her full-time paying job, hung up her riding boots, and dedicated her life to the protection of farmed animals. With Edgar firmly at its heart, Pam built the sanctuary from the ground up and set in motion outreach programs that would bring farmed animals out of the dark unknown and into public view. Pam is also the proud Australian Ambassador for World Animal Day and was a 2014 Victorian Local Hero Finalist in the Australian of the Year Awards.
Yasmine Lintvelt
Yasmine is a quirky and fun human, who loves to laugh and loves animals. She is a Chiropractor in Norwood, South Australia at The Spine Hub, together with Dr Lyndon (they’re both vegan)! She has a Graduate Diploma in Animal Biomechanical Medicine as an Animal Chiropractor, is a qualified yoga teacher and personal trainer, and big on vegan fitness and growing and maintaining muscles with plants. She’s been vegan for over 8 years, and was the "Vegan Chiropractor" on Channel 7's Million Dollar Island Australia in 2023! She signed up to prove that a vegan stranded on an island with a pig could, in fact, survive as a vegan (spoiler: she did - still alive and still vegan). She is also a creator on social media @yasminelintvelt, where she shares vegan friendly and sustainable fashion choices, vegan food and recipes, and tips on health, yoga, and fitness.
Yolanda Soryl
Yolanda Soryl CNZM is a butcher’s daughter who has been involved in the animal rights movement since 1983 and has been vegan for 35+ years. She raised her own four children as vegan from birth to adulthood. Yolanda is President of the Christchurch Vegan Society/Te Rōpū Whēkana o Ōtautahi in Aotearoa (New Zealand). She has created resources, groups, founded and organised vegan positive events such as Vegan Expos, Vegan Triathlons, Vegan Film Festivals, Vegan Camps etc., and written and spoken on vegan issues both in NZ and internationally. Her life work is to help people go and stay vegan and to normalise it in all ways.
