Dr Ian Noble
Simon Devaney
Simon Devaney
Sustainability Director, PepsiCo
Simon has over 25 years of Supply Chain Experience holding senior roles in Manufacturing & Logistics. In his current role he is responsible for the delivery of PepsiCo’s Positive Value Chain delivering decarbonisation and packaging circularity in ways that support the wider goals of the PepsiCo UK&I (the Walkers Snacks & Quaker Oats Businesses).
PepsiCo has committed to eliminating virgin fossil fuel plastic from its packaging by 2030 and to a SBTI target to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030 and Net Zero by 2040.
Al Overton
Al Overton
Partner, Wonderland Ventures
Al is a strategy consultant advising businesses and brands within the health and wellbeing sector. He headed up the buying function at Planet Organic from 2012 to 2022, evolving them from an organic focused supermarket to a retail leader at the forefront of wellbeing innovation and new health foods. He also supervised Planet Organic’s own label development, drove their sustainability agenda and was the launch-pad partner to hundreds of small brands and international brands entering the UK for the first time. He has worked with start-up incubators supporting and advising new brands from concept to shelf and has spoken at national and international conferences on wellness trends, sustainability initiatives and the changing retail landscape.
Ruben Brunsveld
Ruben Brunsveld
Dpt. Director EMEA, RSPO
Ruben has a background in human rights, multilateral diplomacy and responsible business. He joined the RSPO in August 2021 to lead the market transformation division for Europe, Middle East & Africa. He has both the supply and the demand side of the value chain within his remit and engages with members, policymakers and other stakeholders to promote sustainable palm oil production and uptake. He is also a highly experienced moderator and speaker on various sustainability topics.
Ruben uses his broad international personal experience, as a Colombian-born, Indonesian bred, Dutchman living in Sweden, and professional background to connect with stakeholders throughout the sustainable palm oil value chain.
Linus Pardoe
Linus Pardoe
UK Policy Manager, Good Food Institute Europe
Linus Pardoe is the UK Policy Manager for the Good Food Institute Europe – an international
non-profit organisation working to create a more sustainable food system by catalysing the
transition to sustainable proteins. Linus works with UK policymakers, funding bodies,
businesses, NGOs and other stakeholders to accelerate the development of plant-based and
cultivated meat.
Prior to joining GFI Europe in 2022, Linus was a researcher at the Social Market Foundation, a
cross-party think-tank in London. He holds an MSc in Social Policy and Social Research from
University College London and a BA in History from the University of Warwick.
Patrick Holden
Patrick Holden
Founder and CEO, Sustainable Food Trust
Patrick is the founder and CEO of the Sustainable Food Trust, whose mission is to work internationally to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable food and farming systems. He was Director of the Soil Association, the leading British organic farming organisation, from 1995 to 2010, where he played a leading role in developing the UK organic market. He trained in Biodynamic farming at Emerson College and has a mixed organic dairy holding in Wales. He received a CBE for services to organic farming in 2005 and in 2022 was awarded an honorary doctorate for international work in sustainable agriculture from the University of Wales Trinity St David.
Saasha Celestial-One
Saasha Celestial-One
Co-Founder & COO, OLIO
Saasha Celestial-One is Co-Founder & COO of OLIO, a free app harnessing the power of mobile technology and the sharing economy to provide a revolutionary solution to the problem of food waste. OLIO is growing quickly, empowered by 100k+ volunteers. Since 2016, 7m OLIOers have shared over 110m portions of food in 62 countries. Before OLIO, Saasha founded London’s first pay-as-you-go high street childcare provider, and prior to that she spent 13yrs at Morgan Stanley, McKinsey & American Express. Saasha was named one of the UK’s “Coolest Female Founders” by Business Insider, has an MBA from Stanford, is mum to 10-year-old Nolan, and is the proud daughter of hippy entrepreneurs.
The 21 most extraordinary women of 2021 – You Magazine
14 women who are changing the way we eat and drink in 2021 – Time Out Magazine
Who are the Top 32 ESG pioneers in the UK? – Business Leader
30 to Watch – The UK’s Top Funded Female Founders (#9) – Financial Times
Nina Prichard
Nina Prichard
Head of Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing, McDonald’s UK and Ireland
Nina is Head of Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing for McDonald’s UK and Ireland. Her role involves embedding sustainability throughout the business, with a focus on agriculture, environment and the sustainable sourcing of food and packaging which contributes to annual supply chain spend exceeding two billion a year. Nina oversees Plan for Change, McDonald’s sustainability and brand trust strategy and has been with the business since 2011.
Nina received the McDonald’s Global President’s Award in 2021 and was recognised by The Grocer in 2023 as one of the top 10 female sustainability leaders in the UK. Prior to McDonald’s, Nina worked for the Welsh Government as Senior Research and Development Adviser.
Nina has been the Professional Adviser for Harper Adams Agricultural University and is currently a Fellow of the Forward Institute and a member of the RSA.
Hannah Pearse
Hannah Pearse
Nutrition Business Development Manager, Morro – A Xampla Brand
Hannah Pearse is a registered nutritionist with over 15 years’ experience of leading new product innovations, strategic collaborations and driving consumer behaviour change with some of the world’s leading food and drink companies.
In January 2023 Hannah joined Xampla, a Cambridge based technology B-Corp, as Nutrition Business Development Manager. She works collaboratively with brands to identify new product development opportunities in the nutrient microcapsules and plant-based edible flexible film arena. A strategic nutrition thought leader, she keeps her clients ahead of the competition by identifying applications to fortify food and beverages and replace some of the most polluting plastics.
Staying ahead of the public health challenges and emerging consumer trends, she works with customers to deliver evidence-based solutions that make a positive impact for both health and meeting business needs