
Our Story
Our mission is to strengthen the connection between organisations, the community and the environment through bees.
Rooftop Bees brings sustainability and engagement together by connecting people with nature through bees. Operating in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, we specialise in bringing bees to commercial buildings to help companies increase tenant satisfaction and engagement, earn green building credits, and monitor real estate’s impact on nature and biodiversity.
Rooftop Bees was founded in 2019 by John Prince. Following a 16 year corporate career, a series of life changing events led John to the bees. In 2024, Rooftop Bees acquired the beekeeping and honey operations from The Urban Beehive making Rooftop Bees the largest and most trusted urban beekeeping business in Australia managing bees for over 50 leading organisations.
Being the custodian of bees is a great honour. There are so many powerful lessons we can learn from bees. Bees keep us grounded. Bees strengthen a community's connection to nature. Bees highlight bigger sustainability and environmental issues and challenges. Bees are the catalyst for change.
"We're not saving the bees, the bees are saving us" (anonymous).
Meet the team
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John Prince
Co-Founder & Executive Director
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Renata Gilbert
Co-Founder & Account Director, Melbourne
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Sonia Seneviratne
Head of Education & Account Director, Sydney
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Craig Newns-Smith
Head of Operations
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Hugo Betrand
Head of Beekeeping
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Nicola Watts
Beekeeper, Sydney
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Amber Stone
Beekeeper, Brisbane

World's Most Important Insect
Bees are Mother Nature's most precious story tellers. According to the United Nations, bees have been declared the world's most important insect; pollinating 71 of the top 100 food crops that feed 90% of the world. For centuries, there has been a symbiotic relationship between bees and humans. Not just for honey, but for their incredible healing power.