Australians waste 7.6 million tonnes of food annually, costing the economy $36.6 billion and contributing 3% of national greenhouse gas emissions (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, 2025).
There are multiple initiatives aimed at food waste reduction in Australia, including the National Food Waste Strategy, which aims to halve food wastage by 2030.
The food wastage problem is arguably even more significant in Indonesia, where Ella Xaviera was brought up. In Indonesia, food waste accounts for 44% of the country’s total waste, some 20.94 million tonnes annually, which has major environmental and economic consequences (KRKP and CIPS 2025).
Ella shares why she’s passionate about food waste recycling, why she moved to Australia to study innovation and entrepreneurship, and how she’ll apply what she’s learned to advance her career and her cause.
Launching Magoona: a startup turning food waste into animal feed
Compelled to do something to minimise food waste in Indonesia, Ella and her co-founders started their own food waste recycling startup, Magoona. The startup aims to convert food waste into high-protein animal feed and compost.
“I grew up in East Indonesia where economic opportunities are limited in rural areas, often restricting people, especially women, from reaching their full potential," says Ella.
"This inspired my passion for entrepreneurship as a pathway to create opportunities for underserved communities.
“Before UQ, I worked as a tech consultant, helping companies grow faster with digital solutions.
“Co-founding Magoona taught me the complexity of tackling the waste problem in Indonesia.”
Why study entrepreneurship and innovation at UQ?
Compelled to learn everything she could to amplify her impact, Ella decided to enrol in UQ’s Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation as an international student.
I chose the Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation because it offers various fields of study to explore and is deeply connected to UQ Ventures.
“I was inspired to pursue this field by my passion for building ventures that create positive impact, and by my career goal of working in SaaS leadership roles where I can bridge people and technology for sustainable and meaningful growth,” says Ella.
What Ella has gained from studying this program
Diverse perspectives and valuable connections
Once she started the Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Ella was impressed by the diversity of peers she shared the classroom with.
“There’s a saying in Indonesia: ‘empty your glass’, which essentially means you shouldn’t bring too many assumptions into the classroom so you can learn more from others,” says Ella.
“Being exposed to so many diverse perspectives at once has been invaluable. Some classmates are entrepreneurs, while others work with the United Nations or in biotech. These interactions, whether in class or during a quick coffee catch-up, have greatly enriched my learning experience.”
“I’ve built new friendships with classmates from all over the world," she says.
"I’ve also formed a supportive mentoring relationship with our program convenor and lecturers.”
Associate Professor Frederik von Briel (Program Convenor of the Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation) and Ella Xaviera
Practical skills and insights for sustainable entrepreneurship
In terms of course content, Ella learned a range of innovation theories and tools during the program that she can now apply to her professional career as well as her own sustainable startup.
“I enjoy how the social entrepreneurship, organisational sustainability and corporate innovation courses challenge me to think about business as a force for positive change while also giving me practical tools to innovate,” she says.
Ella’s strong academic performance led to an opportunity to share her knowledge with other UQ entrepreneurship and innovation students.
“Leading tutorials for first-year students on customer discovery and venture ideation strengthened my understanding of the topic. But it also revealed my passion for mentoring and inspired me as I watched students grow in their own confidence and creativity.”
“These experiences have enhanced my communication, teamwork and leadership skills, which are essential for my future career in SaaS leadership or entrepreneurship,” she says.
Expanding her horizons: international internships and networks
In addition to the wealth of learning experiences on offer through the Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, studying at UQ also exposes you to a broader network of valuable connections and opportunities beyond the classroom.
Through UQ Ventures, Ella was exposed to multiple opportunities that helped extend what she was learning in class, tap into a strong ecosystem of connections and gain practical experience, shaping her learning as an aspiring innovator.
“UQ Ventures is open to any student at UQ,” she says.
“They offer programs from beginner to accelerator levels and provide potential investment opportunities from $10,000 to $60,000 depending on your stage.”
One opportunity she took advantage of was a 4-week Startup AdVentures internship overseas.
“My internship in Shanghai with Alignment Intelligence Technology gave me hands-on international experience in developing a SaaS go-to-market strategy, while exposing me to the fast-paced tech ecosystem in Asia.”
Ella also entered Magoona into the Hult Prize, the world’s largest student startup competition, where they won second place.
“Then we joined the UQ Ventures Empower pre-accelerator, which gave us the opportunity to pitch to industry and potential investors,” she says.
“We wanted to test if our idea could actually work, learn from industry professionals and get feedback, even the harsh feedback, to improve our approach.”
What’s next? From classroom to community and industry
Looking forward, Ella expects to take everything she’s learned at UQ and apply it to advance in her professional SaaS career and further develop her startup.
“We want to work with food businesses and government sustainability projects, especially around organic waste,” she says.
“UQ has prepared me for my future career by giving me both practical skills and a strong entrepreneurial mindset. Studying here has been a transformative journey for me, not only academically, but also personally and professionally.
“Through my program, I’ve developed capabilities in customer discovery, business modelling and innovation management, while UQ Ventures programs have given me real opportunities to apply these skills in startups and industry settings.”
“UQ offers more than just a degree qualification; it provides a community and an ecosystem where you can learn, experiment and grow. My experiences have not only strengthened my professional development but also connected me with inspiring peers, mentors and industry partners who continue to support my journey.”
“It’s the perfect place to challenge yourself and discover what you’re capable of," says Ella.
"I really made the right decision to pause my work and come here; I couldn’t replace this experience with just staying and working in Indonesia.”
Discover how a Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation can unlock new opportunities for you and your career.
