In 2024 we appointed six Champions with a wealth of expertise spanning the agri-food system, from hands-on farming to wider industry, academia and the public sector. Each Champion led one of six research themes, identified by our members during The Big Tent 2023. Our Year Two Champions remain engaged with the Network but see our Year 3 Champions for the current focus of activity.
Year 2 Champion Circular Food Systems
Charlotte has worked in the agricultural sector for the past decade, as a farmer, in academia, and currently for Pasture for Life, where she established their regional farmer knowledge exchange groups.
Year 2 Champion Land Use and Land Management
Georgie is the Land Use and Countryside lead at the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, focusing on how a Land Use Framework can support better food systems and the transition to net zero.
Year 2 Champion Healthy and Sustainable Diets
Saher is a Researcher at the Food Systems Transformation Programme with the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute and an Environmental Change Research Fellow with Reuben College.
Year 2 Champion Food Security and Trade
Jude was brought up on a smallholding in Derbyshire and read Animal Science at the University of Leeds. She started her career at Tesco, and subsequently worked for Marks and Spencer, Booker, as a consultant, and for the 2 Sisters Food Group.
Year 2 Champion Behaviour Change
Amy has spent most of her life working in and around farming: on farms, as trainee auctioneer and cattle breeder, and in agricultural public relations – including four years as head of communications at the dairy levy board.
Year 2 Champion Land Productivity
Caeli discovered her passion for agriculture while working on a dairy farm in Canada. She broadened her practical experience on a local swine and cash- crop operation before gaining a global perspective of on-farm challenges.
