2026 Speakers

Fiona Gately has extensive experience in the food industry, working across the sector for government, business, advocacy and philanthropy.  Her skills lie in navigating complex networks to develop early stage ideas into viable programmes, advising on policy and  building strategic relationships for effective delivery. 

She served as expert adviser on food to the Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Between 2004 and 2011, she directed campaigns for Jamie Oliver’s on school dinners, cooking skills and obesity in the UK and US, leading engagement with consumers, stakeholders and government.  In 2005, she set up the School Food Trust for the Department for Education to deliver new standards and guidance for school meals and then served on the Board between 2009 and 2011.

Fiona established the award-winning product range for King Charles’ (then Prince of Wales) food brand Duchy Originals, establishing their supply chains and manufacturing partnerships and building consumer awareness of organic food.  

She has just finished a project with the Rothschild Foundation to develop their grants strategy for nature friendly farming and is now establishing an environmental philanthropy network to fund better food and farming systems in the UK.

She also serves as a non-exec board member of the Food Standards Agency.