LACA chair to take part in ‘Most Influential’ debate at House of Commons
Every year Public Sector Catering Magazine highlights individuals who they believe deserve to be recognised as the most influential in the public sector catering industry.
Currently the head of school meals for Cardiff Council, in her day job Judith is responsible for 113 schools, works with a central catering team of 17 and has the responsibility for about 450 catering staff.
As the new chair of LACA, the school meals organisation, Judith intends to continue the messaging around making free school meals funding fairer across the UK, promoting ‘the great work’ that school caterers do throughout the country, and to work with apprenticeships to attract the catering leaders of tomorrow into the education catering sector.
Judith played a leading role during the recent National School Meals Week (11-15th November), encouraging children to enjoy a hot, nutritious and healthy school lunch.
All of those on the list have been invited to the House of Commons on January 30th to air their views on key industry issues at a roundtable. With no fewer than 13 new faces around the table, there will be plenty of fresh ideas and thinking to inform the discussion.
The Top 20 ‘Most Influential’ in public sector catering will also enjoy a lunch organised by Mark Hill OBE, executive chef at the House of Commons.
Speaking about the 2024 intake David Foad, editor of Public Sector Catering, said: “The Top 20 ‘Most Influential’ people in foodservice have been chosen for 2024, a group of names that truly reflects the sector as a whole, as well as a number of people whose work addresses issues such as health, allergens, the food system and procurement.”
The ‘most influential’ list come from a variety of sectors including schools, universities, hospitals, care homes, prisons and catering colleges. The full list includes:
- Judith Gregory, chair of LACA
- Iain Robertson, chair of HCA
- Amanda Pettingill, chair of TUCO
- Neel Radia, chair of NACC
- Nicky Joiner, chair of ASSIST FM
- Molly Shaher, chair of PACE
- Jayne Jones, chair of PSC Alliance
- Alexia Robinson, founder Love British Food
- Anna Taylor, executive director Food Foundation
- Denise Bean, head of catering at HM Prison Service
- Nadim & Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, Natasha Allergy Research Foundation
- Karen Beech, Crown Commercial Service
- Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers Union
- Phil Shelley, NHS England
- Prof Kevin Morgan, public sector catering academic
- Prof Don Bundy, academic finding the evidence for the benefits of school meals
- Mo Baines, director of APSE
- Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
- Robin Mills, chief executive, Compass Group UK & Ireland
- Katie Pettifer, interim chief executive of the Food Standards Agency