ABOUT US
Putting insects to work.
We started Arvela with a simple belief: insects can solve some pretty big problems.
OUR TEAM
Our Leadership Team
Luke Wheat
Founder and Managing Director
Luke founded Arvela in 2012 and is a pioneer of the Australian insect industry. Luke is responsible for delivery of strategic, operational and commercial milestones while continuing to nurture a culture of innovation and excellence. Luke’s diverse experience across field biology, science and operations management is crucial in driving innovative ideas into commercial outcomes. Luke holds a Bachelor of Conservation Biology and Bachelor of Marine Science from Murdoch University and is a Board member of the Insect Protein Association of Australia (IPAA).
Dr Gina Jimenez
Life Scientist - Lead
Dr Gina Jimenez leads Arvela’s biological research and development, scientific trial design and data-led decision-making. A PhD-qualified life scientist and geneticist, she oversees species selection, insect-production improvement, biological monitoring and the integrity of Arvela’s crop-performance data.
Our Board
Sunil Kadri
Chairman
Sunil has spent 30 years as a Board Director with a focus on early-stage businesses introducing disruptive technologies.
Sunil has extensive experience in the aquaculture industry in both Australia and Europe. Throughout his commercial career, Sunil has remained active in scientific research. Sunil is currently a Professor of Tropical Aquaculture at Charles Darwin University. Sunil holds a PhD from the University of Glasgow, a Masters of Science from the University of Stirling and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Auckland.
Juliet Maclean
Director
Juliet has 30 years’ experience in the agri sector and is co-founder of New Zealand dairy business, Synlait and Onside, an award winning Agritech business.
Juliet holds various governance roles across agricultural, technology, beverage and property businesses. Juliet holds a Bachelor of Agriculture from Massey University, is a Nuffield Scholar and Kellogg Rural Leader.
Dimitri Zabaras
Director
Dimitri is an accomplished scientist with extensive experience in project and resource management, particularly in food production and innovation.
For over 20 years, Dimitri has played a pivotal role in empowering scientific teams within both R&D and production environments to produce successful commercial outcomes, at organisations including CSIRO and Nestle.
Dimitri holds a PhD from Western Sydney University and a post-doctoral fellowship from the University of Reading. Dimitri has authored many reports for industry partners and has published extensively in scientific and trade journals.
Founded in Perth in 2012, Arvela was inspired by the potential of black soldier flies to convert organic waste into high-value products. The black soldier fly became the heart of our business, selected for its unmatched breeding, nutritional and processing prowess.
Today, we transform low-value organic waste into premium products. After ten years of relentless research, testing, and trailblazing, we're not just staring at the horizon – we're redefining it.
Join the flight towards sustainability.
Reimagining our world
Arvela started life as Future Green Solutions, with sustainability at its core. But just like the black soldier fly at the heart of our business, we are re-engineers at heart. We knew our name could be better… so we changed it.
Arvela isn't just a name; it's a mindset shift that challenges us to see the world anew. A rearrangement of the word ‘larvae', Arvela symbolises the metamorphosis from waste to worth, inspired by the black soldier fly.
Ours is a story of purposeful transformation – taking something that's overlooked and repurposing it into something extraordinary. With a little ingenuity and a fresh perspective, we’re here to rearrange the world for the better.
Ready to co-create?
If you're part of an organisation driven by similar values and see potential synergies, let's explore how we can co-create a more sustainable future together. Reach out, and let's start the conversation.