"Over the decades, Gerry's focus on the practicalities of returning organic matter to soil and soil health has been unswerving and insightful. 
His work in New Zealand leaves an enduring legacy. 

Gerry is a visionary and has operated with a longer horizon than most.
It has been a privilege to have spent  much time with Gerry in both Australia and New Zealand examining the interconnectedness of biological processes and production systems, searching for best practice.
As a farmer I have greatly valued his respect for the land and those who work it along with his generous sharing of his enthusasim and considerable accumulated knowledge from his international connections. 
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I  highly value his collaborative approach".
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Max Purnell
Waitakaruru 
New Zealand


"I thought the workshop was terrific and Gerry Gillespie was especially good value and most generous with help  after the workshop. He obviously has a lot of knowledge about other areas of interest to biological farmers. I felt he hadn't scratched the surface with what he was trying to tell us".

Lynne Chapman
" I have worked with Gerry on a number of composting and farmer projects over the last few years and have found his innovative approach to composting and reuse of organic materials into agriculture to be highly professional and effective. His evident practical and technical knowledge in this area is apparent as is his skills at working with farmer groups and other various stakeholders. His passion and vision for a sustainable future for Australia is also very praiseworthy"

David Hardwick
Ecologist

Zero waste legend Gerry Gillespie honoured by Australia

Gerry was the manager of Zero Waste NZ in the late 1990s. Along with Warren Snow and Julie Dickinson, he really kicked off the zero waste movement in Aotearoa back at the turn of the century. Now he has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to conservation, to organic waste management, and to the community.
For those of us who have had the privilege of working alongside Gerry, the honour comes as no surprise. If anything, many would say it is long overdue.
Gerry’s career has been remarkable because he consistently focused on practical solutions to real-world problems. At a time when much of the waste debate was still centred on disposal, Gerry was helping communities, governments and organisations understand that waste is not simply something to manage at the end of a process. It is a design failure, a lost resource and an opportunity waiting to be realised.

Congrats Gerry! So well deserved. You can read a fulsome tribute to Gerry's work from Mal Williams at Zero Waste International here.