Who we are

Rebecca joined the Food Foundation in January 2020, leading on the Peas Please initiative. These days she manages our business and investor engagement team, with oversight of our work engaging food businesses, investors and policy-makers with the need to transition the UK towards a more sustainable and healthy food system. This includes our Peas Please and Plating Up Progress projects.

Chloe joined the team in August 2020 as Global Food Systems Project Manager, leading on The Food Foundation’s international work in the run up to the UK hosting COP26 and the UN Food Systems Summit. She is now the Business Engagement Manager, working with food businesses to encourage them to improve the healthy and sustainability of their portfolios. Before joining us, Chloe worked for the National Trust within the External Affairs team. During her time there she set up a knowledge sharing network for climate change professionals called 'Fit for the Future'. She also spent a year managing an organic farm and sustainability centre.

Jo joined The Food Foundation as Head of Communications in April 2018. Jo is passionate Media & Campaigns Executive specialising consumer health and public advocacy campaigns with over 20 years’ experience working across all areas of Broadcast, Digital and Print Media. In the past 11 years Jo has held leadership positions in the Jamie Oliver Group driving growth for the media group, overseeing all television production and distribution of over 300 hours of programming, creating the global digital strategy and setting up the hugely successful Multi Channel Network Food and Drinks Tube. She launched the SUGAR SMART campaign for the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation and played a pivotal role in delivering the UK and global advocacy campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of sugar to long term public health and lobbying the Government to urgently introduce a Childhood Obesity Strategy and Sugar Tax. In October 2017 Jo launched RISING TIDE FILMS, an Independent Production Company based in Brighton and set up the Brighton Production Hub to connect production talent and broadcasters across the city.​

Dan has worked in marketing and advertising for 25 years for many of the world’s largest food brands. As Chief Executive of Veg Power he now uses that experience to encourage kids to eat more vegetables.

As Bold Bean Co’s "Beanologist”, I work closely with supermarkets and to grow the beans category while also leading our health and sustainability initiatives. In a typical day I’ll be analysing consumer behaviour and shopper data to identify trends and uncover growth opportunities for beans. Before joining Bold Bean Co, I led Commercial and Category teams at health-focused brands Deliciously Ella and BOL Foods, and began my career at Kantar Worldpanel.

Beth works across the food system to join the dots across policy, practice, relationships and networks, building equitable food futures with ethics and care. She is co-chair of the Belfast Sustainable Food Partnership, co-founder of Carrick Greengrocers and deputy director of the Food Ethics Council.

Josiah Meldrum is co-founder of Hodmedod, a Suffolk company whose aim is to encourage us to grow and eat a wider range of British grown pulses, grains and seeds – creating healthier and more diverse diets and farming systems. 15 years ago he and two colleagues realised that growing and eating pulses offered answers to almost all the critical questions we face; from biodiversity loss and climate change through to diet related ill-health and inequalities in food access. Working with farmers Hodmedod has pioneered ‘new’ crops for the UK, such as lentils and revived long-forgotten staples, like fava beans. Finding engaged markets to support primary production has been central to this work.

Laura is a PhD researcher at the UK Food Systems Centre for Doctoral Training at the Centre for Food Policy, City St George’s, University of London. Focusing on food system transformation for improved health and environmental outcomes, her research brings together her experience in sustainability and nutrition. Laura's PhD focuses on the opportunities for increasing the production and consumption of beans, peas and other pulses in the UK, with a particular emphasis on the role of the retail sector.

Dr Monika Zurek is a titular associate professor and Lead of the Food System Transformation Group at the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford, UK. For more than 25 years she has worked on food systems change, environment and development interactions with foresight methods in research, international organisations and in the consulting and the philanthropic sector. Prior to joining ECI in 2015, Monika worked with Climate Focus, a consulting firm focusing on climate change mitigation and land use issues. Before that, she was part of the Agricultural Development Team of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation managing grants to improve the environmental sustainability of agricultural systems and risk management in agriculture. She also served as an economist at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and supported the Scenarios Working Group of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Monika started her career as a researcher at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), working on agricultural sustainability projects in Costa Rica and Mexico. She was also a lead author for various environmental assessments such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, AR4), the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD). Monika holds degrees from the University of Hohenheim (MSc equivalent/Diploma in agricultural biology) and Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany (PhD in agricultural economics).

Roger has been CEO at the Processors and Growers Research Organisation since 2012/13. As the UK's centre of excellence for peas and beans, the PGRO has a long and highly valued track record of providing authoritative, up to date information and project work based on solid, reliable research. The PGRO is a non statutory levy body supported by our grower members, the UK trade and also by a substantial amount of outside funding for our research work. This is carried out both on our own and in partnership with UK, European and worldwide research and commercial organisations. We are proud of our stability and consistency over the years. As a forward-looking organization, the PGRO team will continue to develop our services to the benefit of our levy payers as well as our research-based and commercial partners.

Jenny is Head of Coolfood, working with the World Resources Institute's Environmental and Behavioural Scientists and the Membership team to offer tailored support to Coolfood members to reduce their food-related emissions, members include global contract caterers, corporates, restaurants, hotels, universities, hospitals and cities. Prior to joining WRI she headed up the Membership and Nutrition areas at Leatherhead Food Research, a global food and beverage consultancy. Running their global membership programme and working on a range of nutrition, regulatory and sustainability related consultancy projects. Jenny is a Public Health Nutritionist and Marketer with both public and private sector experience, having worked for the Health Education Authority delivering the Department of Health’s public health nutrition programme. In addition to being the Health and Wellbeing Marketer and Company Nutritionist at Marks and Spencer and running her own consultancy.

Joanna has a decade of experience working with partners to drive progress on healthy sustainable diets in the UK and beyond. She is currently Director of Partnerships at ProVeg International, where she leverages her significant research, policy and corporate engagement experience to ensure that ProVeg’s activities drive real-world impact. Joanna has a PhD in Sustainability which investigated the role of retailers in enabling more sustainable consumer diets, and she was previously Head of Consumption at WWF-UK where she led the organisation’s work on healthy sustainable diets.

Ali is Co-Founder of Planeatry Alliance, working with organisations across the food value chain at the intersection of health and sustainability. She has worked across the food system for 20 years, from advising global institutions and shaping government nutrition policy, to consulting on Scope 3 emissions and sustainable food baskets for major businesses. Ali is passionate about connecting the dots between health and sustainability, and believes that transforming how we eat - as well as how our food is produced - is one of the most powerful ways to tackle today’s interlinked crises in public health, climate, and nature.

Before joining, Lucy worked in London’s largest food redistribution charity – The Felix Project – managing a capital-wide volunteer programme with 1,000s of volunteers. She also set up and developed Felix’s equity, diversity and inclusion work, and feels passionately about advocating for social justice both within and outside the workplace. Lucy is an avid volunteer (especially when food is involved)! While completing a MA in Gender & Development at the Institute of Development Studies, she started a healthy eating programme at youth homelessness day centre. This time cemented her understanding of the social inequities surrounding access to nutritious food in the UK.

Alyson is a seasoned executive with over 30 years' of experience across the academic, non-profit, and commercial sectors. She is deeply passionate about transforming the food system to nourish the world while addressing the interconnected challenges of climate, nature, and equity. Alyson believes that good food is a cornerstone of health and that the solutions to global food challenges must respect our planet's precious resources, uplift communities, and tackle systemic inequities. Her approach celebrates food not only for its role in sustaining life but also for its unique place in connecting people, cultures, and livelihoods. With a strong commitment to driving systemic change, Alyson leverages systems thinking and leadership to inspire innovation, collaboration, and actionable solutions globally, locally, and on the plate. She focuses on aligning efforts across the climate, nature, and equity nexus - advancing sustainable practices that benefit people, protect the environment, and promote shared prosperity. Alyson is passionate about creating partnerships and enabling conscious change that drives positive impact for the planet, empowers marginalised communities, and ensures a thriving future for all. She is a board member for numerous private and public sector organisations, including Chair of the British Nutrition Foundation Board of Trustees, Director at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Chair of the board of the UN SDG2 Advocacy Hub, and Post Graduate Researcher at the University of Birmingham.

Paul is a strategic innovator and executive leader with 25+ years of expertise managing complex stakeholder relationships, designing campaign strategies, and extensive knowledge of the not-for-profit sector. A skilled communicator with a narrative that entices people to get on board, he starts movements that make global impact and drives change in sustainability and food systems, delivered through consistent and competitive methodologies, strong network development, innovative communications and superior client service and executive presence. Paul founded the SDG2 Advocacy Hub in 2016, a secretariat convened to connect NGOs, advocacy groups, civil society, private sector, and United Nations agencies around Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger.

Shreya is Campaign Officer, Beans is How at the SDG2 Advocacy Hub, working on project planning and implementation, creative activations, strategic communications and public mobilisation. She has a background in Sustainable Development Goal-focused and social impact projects and communications. She has previously worked at UNICEF’s Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, UNESCO and as a journalist. Shreya holds master’s degrees in Global Media and Communications from the London School of Economics and the University of Southern California.

Sarah Newton leads the Food System Team at Birmingham City Council where she has been on a mission to unite the inspiring people behind the city’s many diverse food system projects under the Birmingham Food Revolution movement. Her role involves applying behavioural science and strengthening city-wide partnerships to develop and deliver the co-produced Birmingham Food System Strategy which aims to transform the city’s communities, environment and economy in order to regenerate the food system.

Chloe is a Public Health Officer in the Food System Team at Birmingham City Council. She joined the team in 2022, with a background in nutrition as a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr). Her role in the team focuses on developing resources and tools that support diverse, healthy, and sustainable diets across the city. She is also actively involved in the local Birmingham Full of Beans campaign and related initiatives.

Leticija joined The Food Foundation in January 2023 as a City Food Policy Lead. She is working directly with Birmingham City Council on deployment and implementation of its Food System Strategy with the aim of transforming the local food system. Before joining us she worked as a consultant on number of large transformation programmes across both public and third sector, focusing on service design and improving citizen experience. Leticija also has experience of creating strong social value offering for private sector consultancies who hold public services contracts. She completed MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security at Newcastle University and is particularly interested in regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty. She grew up in Croatia spending summers at her grandparents’ allotments where she developed a passion for small scale organic food production.

Ruth is Programmes Director at the Soil Association. Her role is to lead the charity’s programmes across the breadth of our mission to transform food and farming for climate, nature and health. She has a deep knowledge of the issues and opportunities within our food system, having led our Healthy and Sustainable Diets portfolio of programmes, including the award-winning Food for Life and Sustainable Food Places, for a number of years. Prior to leading our programmes, Ruth’s background is in marketing and communications. She worked for 15 years across the private and third sectors, leading teams ranging from fundraisers to digital marketers and PR, in industries from publishing to events to charity. Ruth is passionate about the natural world and ensuring that our food system is healthy, fair and sustainable.

A single mum who experienced food insecurity in the past (as a young adult and a parent). What helps her to navigate the convoluted food environment are her knowledge in nutrition and budgeting skills. Nevertheless, being a registered Associate Nutritionist while living in a deprived area is not enough - she wants to see less junk food around as both she and her daughter see the impact of it. She would like the school food to be nutritionally adequate, also food lessons in schools to teach practical skills reflecting the current reality, and healthier food to be the cheaper, easier and fairer option.

She finds all pulses tasty especially the humble red kidney beans which can be easily used in savoury dishes or turned into a chocolate cake.

Favourite bean, pulse or legume: red kidney beans

I know what it's like to be in receipt of Free School Meals and this is why I joined the Food Foundation as a young Food Ambassador, campaigning to create a healthier, more affordable and sustainable food system for all. I am on the Barnet Council’s youth board, a Young Conservative and also active in mental health groups across the UK.   

Favourite bean, pulse or legume: Green lentils

I'm adult Food Ambassador based in Edinburgh. I volunteer at a foodbank, and this opened up my interest in what is "good food"? What is "nutritious" and why good and nutritious food is the key for good health. As an advocate, I strive for policies making this food affordable and available, educating the end users (consumers) on the need. 

Favourite bean, pulse or legume: Black Eyed Beans 

As a sole earner I have struggled to afford fresh and healthy food as an adult on a small monthly budget - relying on reduced sections and creative meal planning to get by. I see the same struggle in my community daily. That’s why I’ve spent the last four years as a volunteer cooking free meals with FoodCycle in south London and I’m proud to now be a Food Ambassador, fighting for food justice. Nutritious food should be accessible to all which is a topic I am truly passionate about and breaking down the barrier to elevate this. In addition, I want to spear head food education and how to cook nutritious meals from scratch and an affordable price and minimise food waste. Food waste is a huge issue and one that needs to be tackled head on in the home with the support of Governments. Not just to prevent food to landfill and environment implications but to re-direct this food to those who need it. Everyone deserves access to nutritious food - no matter their income. Food is a right, not a privilege, which we need to stand up together for those in power to listen.

Favourite bean, pulse or legume: Black Bean

Dominic Watters comes from the most deprived blocks of his council estate. He has used his experience of the daily realities of poverty to help inform discussions about fuel and food insecurity in the UK. In this way he occupies the unique position of both being a member of an impoverished community and also an advocate for the same community and too many like it. After many requests to speak about his lived experience, Dominic developed the concept of "living experience" to stress the urgency and tensions of the inequalities faced by so many. Through his campaign and now CIC, Food is Care, he identified gaps in social care frameworks and worked tirelessly to raise awareness of shortcomings towards the most disadvantaged families in society. Dominic's impactful appearances on BBC Newsnight, Sky News, the New Statesman, and Dutch national 6 o’clock news have shown him to use every platform he can access to speak up for the marginalised and often unheard. Now widely regarded as a voice of poverty, Dominic is writing his PhD, whilst also working to influence policy, practice and academic spaces focused on food inequalities.

Favourite bean, pulse or legume: Kidney Bean

As a mother of two from Middlesbrough, I am deeply passionate about the vital role food plays in building strong communities. Growing up, I experienced the challenges of accessing affordable, nutritious food, which inspired me to become a Food Ambassador. Volunteering gives me the opportunity to advocate for food security, sustainability, and food justice while ensuring access to healthy, nutritious and affordable meals for the community.

Favourite bean, pulse or legume: Red Kidney Beans

I’m a nutritionist passionate about making nutritious, affordable food accessible to everyone. With a clinical nutrition and public health background, I’ve worked with underserved communities and led outreach programmes tackling diet-related diseases. Now pursuing a Master’s in Human Nutrition, I joined the Food Ambassador programme to help drive change in the food system and support community-led solutions. I believe that everyone deserves a seat at the table - and a plate filled with good food.  

Favourite bean, pulse or legume: Chickpeas

Ryan is a politically minded campaigner, acting as a former member of the Scottish Youth Parliament and advocating for children in care. He is very strong speaking on the policy changes needed to protect children’s right to healthy and affordable food and wants to make sure the good practice taking place in Scotland in relation to the monitoring of school food is adopted throughout the UK.

Favourite bean, pulse or legume: Lentils