2026 ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit

Ora Kemp serves as Senior Policy Advisor at the Mayor's Office of Food Policy, where she advances Food Forward NYC: A 10-Year Food Policy Plan, supports the implementation of New York City’s Food and Climate Strategy, strategizes with stakeholders across the food surplus, rescue, redistribution, and waste reduction ecosystem to advance coordinated solutions, and guides cross-agency collaboration that strengthens equitable food systems infrastructure across New York City. Her work extends to national and global food systems initiatives through engagement with organizations and coalitions, including C40 Cities, Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, Natural Resources Defense Council, and World Resources Institute.

Grounded in the belief that food is a fundamental human right, Kemp works to advance policies and partnerships that build resilient, community-rooted food systems and expand equitable access to nourishing, culturally relevant food with dignity. She holds a Master of Public Health and is a Castanea Food System Leadership Fellow.