Introducing our Champions

The AFN Network+ team will include nine Champions – each responsible for one of the nine themes across the agrifood system. Every year, we’ll appoint a new cohort of Champions (running from October to September). Each new cohort will bring fresh energy and expertise. We’ll also review the nine Champion themes every year, to make sure that they’re evolving in line with our work and priorities. 

Champions are at the heart of the Network. They’re responsible for ensuring systems thinking, co-production and solutions-orientation in delivering Network activities. We’ll use inclusive practices and co-creation to build consensus within and across Communities of Practice. 

Prof Stefan Kepinski is our Champions’ Coordinator. He provides oversight to ensure interdisciplinarity across Champion roles and continuity of work from year to year. 
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We’re hugely excited to announce our first cohort of Champions, who are in post from 1 October 2022 and will have the opportunity to shape the work of the Network over the next year. 

Parag Acharya: Champion for New Approaches to Supply Chains and Consumption. 
Heiko Balzter: Champion for Systems Interactions in Sequestration. 
Robert Costanza: Champion for Systems Interactions in Production
John Ingram: Champion for Systems Interactions in Supply Chains and Consumption. 
Jacquie McGlade: Champion for Behaviour Change in Sequestration. 
Richard Pywell: Champion for New Approaches to Sequestration. 
Simon Willcock: Champion for Behaviour Change in Production.
Anna Macready: Champion for Behaviour Change in Supply Chains and Consumption.
India Langley: Champion for New Approaches in Production.

Our Champions will galvanise activities in their area and, working as groups, engage in the planned Network activities to deliver Network objectives. They’re responsible for planning the majority of stakeholder engagement activities, engaging with different Communities of Practice in different fora; they’ll also collaborate with other Champions to build relationships within – and across – communities and sectors. Champions will plan an average of eight events each year.
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We’re excited to be able to work with our Champions, who each bring a wealth and breadth of experience, expertise and energy to the Network. And we know just how enthusiastic they are about building up the Network, and engaging with partners across the agrifood system to build up our Community of Practice. 
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If you’d like to know more about getting involved, or you have ideas about events that you’d like to see planned (or even better, help us to plan!), then please get in touch with any of the above Champions.