Founder of Potato Head
If a lot of people feel inspired and make small changes to the way they live and work, then collectively we can make a big impact. That is the power of ‘we’.
Tell us your story – how did you get here?
When I first started out, I was just doing fun things based on my passions and realising my dreams. I would say I’m still doing that, but now with a higher purpose to combine these good times with a mission to do good for the planet too.
One of the biggest problems we are facing as a planet is waste. I realised this about five years ago when I was surfing with my kids. We were paddling through an ocean full of plastic and at that moment, it occurred to me that I had a responsibility as a father and as a human being to do something about it.
Hospitality is one of the most wasteful industries, so by making small but significant changes to the way we operate, we hope that we inspire other businesses in and beyond our field to do the same.
The aspiration for Potato Head has always been to go from a hospitality brand to a lifestyle brand. This has been a plan 10 years in the making. Whether people are spending a few minutes, hours, or days with us, they will be inspired by the rich culture of Bali. It’s a relaxed but upbeat island, and the tropical lifestyle is a core part of our DNA.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Convincing our stakeholders that following a zero-waste philosophy could be profitable. I feel extremely proud that we’ve achieved that.
Over the past six years, we’ve built our sustainability production lab, hugely reduced our energy usage and implemented new waste management processes across the board.
Serving around 2,000 people daily whilst managing to reduce our waste to landfills from 50% in 2016 to only 3% now, being the first carbon-neutral hospitality company in Southeast Asia, partnering with the United Nations, and opening the first zero-waste restaurant in Indonesia… All of this is more than I could ever have expected to achieve when we set out on our path.
On top of this, we have just been included in the first edition of “The World’s 50 Best Hotels awards”, and to be recognised by the industry as an independent organisation still in the early stages of our journey is truly humbling.
What impact have you made in Bali?
I don’t see it as making an impact, but more about inspiring. If a lot of people feel inspired and make small changes to the way they live and work, then collectively we can make a big impact. That is the power of ‘we’. So I guess if we inspire one guest after visiting our Desa, we are already achieving something big.
7 years ago, we committed to be a part of the solution instead of the problem. Over the years, our sustainability research and development team at the Waste Lab have worked alongside creatives to give new life to waste, repurposing it into beautiful products.
And now we are ready to open our first collective effort between Bali-based businesses, aimed at reducing what we send to the island’s overflowing landfills, a waste centre, to reduce everyone’s waste from 50% to 3%.
What does the future look like for you?
I am now working on a new path forward for Bali: regenerative hospitality.
A new kind of tourism, a commitment to inspire and model change for the entire hospitality industry, a way of being and experiencing a destination that enriches both the destination itself as well as the visitor. The exciting part about our version of regenerative hospitality is that we’ve made sure that every part of your stay or visit is fun above all else.
What do you love most about Bali?
We have a magical island, where we live in the clash between cultures, traditional and modern, craft and recycled materials, and rich but healthy food offerings. It is a unique place and we should be taking care of it. Bali is our home and inspiration for Potato Head’s “Good Times, Do Good” motto.
What do you do whenever you're struggling for inspiration?
I meditate a lot, even if sometimes I am really not sure if I am making progress. It’s not an instant help, more of an ongoing process. Even though you might not always notice the day-to-day improvement, I do believe that practising every day makes a long-term difference.
Mindfulness is a lifelong journey. We are constantly chasing and trying to be better, but I really do feel awake when I am in stillness. This is when I can truly see what is in front of me, this is when I can truly embrace the moment.
Who is your Local Legend and why?
It is impossible to choose only one. I have been so lucky crossing paths with amazing people who keep inspiring me everyday! There’s my always-mentor, John Hardy at Green School, my friend and partner Will at Room4Dessert, and of course my forever friend and talented Daniel Mitchell at Space Available.
I am also glad to meet incredible people that are making this new Bali a creative place for everyone, like Melati of Youthtopia and Gary of Sungai Watch.
Also, on my journey towards regenerative hospitality, I have crossed paths with an incredible mind following that same idea: Tim from Astungkaraway and his work towards regenerative farming for Bali.