Ren Fernando, an Icon of Change in Australia

Icons of Change International Awards 2026

Ren Fernando
Architect | Artist | Social Entrepreneur
Co-Founder, ReLove Australia

Australian of the Year Local Hero Finalist (NSW) 2025
Snow Entrepreneur 2023
AMP Tomorrow Maker 2022–2023
Marie Claire Eco Warrior Finalist
NSW Woman of the Year Finalist
Maroubra Local Hero
Westfield Local Hero

SDG Focus: SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities

Changemaker for Sustainable Homes, Circular Design and Human Dignity (Australia)

With a professional foundation in architecture and fine arts, Ren has built a distinctive model of social impact that addresses two interconnected challenges at once: the enormous volume of quality furniture and household goods entering the waste stream, and the profound difficulty faced by people in crisis when they move into safe housing without the essential belongings needed to create a home.

Through ReLove, Ren has helped turn surplus furniture into an instrument of social recovery. What began as a simple idea to furnish a small number of homes has developed into a community-driven movement supporting vulnerable individuals and families across Sydney and beyond.

Her work demonstrates that sustainable development is not only about reducing environmental harm. It is also about creating systems in which people can recover with dignity, exercise choice, rebuild stability and feel that they belong.

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From Architecture to Purpose-Led Entrepreneurship

Ren’s journey began in architecture, where she developed an understanding of how physical environments shape the way people live, interact and experience security. She later expanded her creative practice into the fine arts, bringing together design, creativity and a growing desire to use her skills for meaningful social change.

In 2019, Ren met her future ReLove co-founder, Ben Stammer, while volunteering. Together they launched the Run for Good Project, providing free running training for people interested in participating in social good initiatives.

The disruption caused by COVID-19 changed the direction of that work. As community activities were suspended, Ren and Ben continued engaging with the Women and Girls Emergency Centre. Their experience revealed a critical gap in the pathway from crisis to secure housing.

People leaving domestic violence and other crisis situations could finally obtain a place to live, yet many were arriving with almost nothing.

The question became fundamental: How can housing become genuinely safe, sustainable and dignified if people have nothing with which to create a home?

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That question became the foundation for ReLove.

ReLove: Turning Surplus Into Opportunity

ReLove was created around a deceptively simple concept: connect excess with genuine need.

The organisation rescues high-quality furniture and household essentials from businesses, corporate renovations, communities and other sources and redirects them to individuals and families who need them most.