Rob Zielski
Rob is a Category Manager specialising in drinks strategy, category development and consumer insight. With experience across hospitality, FMCG and market research, he helps shape category growth and guest experiences for one of the UK's largest pub and restaurant groups, with expertise spanning soft drinks, wine, innovation and commercial strategy.
Craig Sams
Craig Sams founded Seed Macrobiotic restaurant in 1967 which introduced foods like miso and brown rice to English diners. Co-founded Whole Earth Foods and with his wife Josephine Fairley founded Green & Black's organic chocolate. Former chair of Soil Association and of Slow Food UK. Chair of Gusto Organic drinks, Chair of Carbon Gold Ltd
Niamh Noone
Niamh Noone is Head of Marketing & Communications at Soil Association Certification – over the past eight years she has supported client businesses to grow by executing dynamic marketing campaigns like Organic September as well as developing messaging around the benefits of organic food and farming, building consumer insights, supporting retailers to position organic and leading key projects which straddle partner collaboration across the business, charity and external stakeholders.
Working closely with Soil Association’s Standards and Policy teams, Niamh has helped develop impactful statements based on peer-reviewed research and navigated the complex regulatory space around making environmental and health claims about organic.
Mary Allen
Mary is the Founder and President of Natural Brand Works LLC and serves as the North American Brand Agent for Brand Organic Ltd. in the UK. She helps natural food, beverage, health, and wellness CPG brands grow globally. Mary supports brands exhibiting at the London and Malmö Natural & Organic Products Trade Shows in her role as an exhibitor sales agent. Her previous roles include Vice President of Merchandising for a major U.S. department store and brand owner.
By attending major international trade events, she provides real-time trend insights and market intelligence to help brands stay ahead of the curve and succeed globally.
Mark Machin
Mark joined Soil Association Certification in 2002 to deliver our flagship Food for Life Served Here certification program. Having worked across the food system; as a chef developing rural supply chains for small organic growers, then in fast moving fresh fish supply chains direct selling to the hospitality sector.
He now supports ‘fast riser’ organic brands to navigate the organic market and build an organic market for the future; an organic market for all.
Lee Holdstock
Benefiting from over 25 years of experience, Lee is a trusted expert in sustainability, responsible business, and organic trade who manages a range of trade and regulatory projects for Soil Association Certification - the UK's biggest organic certifier. By helping hundreds of businesses build commercial capability and navigate the changing regulatory landscape, Lee is part of a team at Soil Association Certification that actively supports the growth of an organic market, now worth almost £4 Billion a year.
Simon Wright
Simon has worked in the world of sustainable food and drink for his entire career ,supporting manufacturers, retailers, NGOs and government. He drafted the UK's very first organic legislation and I am currently working with Defra as part of EGOP (Expert Group on Organic Production) to help narrow the gap between UK and EU organic legislation. Simon also sits on the board of the Fairtrade Foundation and the Standards Board of the Soil Association. And he sells chocolate. More here www.ofplus.com
Andrew Goodacre
Andrew Goodacre has been the CEO of Bira since 2018 and is passionate about working with the high street and supporting small businesses.
Mr Goodacre has a strong background in retail and hospitality, and since taking up the role, has been integral in pushing forward independent retailers and showcasing their importance of them being at the very heart of every good high street throughout the UK and a vital part of life and the economy within local communities.
Rachel Rutherford
Rachel Rutherford is a Senior Buyer at Waitrose, where she leads several specialist food categories, including Deli Counter, Rotisserie and Made in Branch. With over a decade of experience spanning buying, category management and supply chain roles, she has built expertise across fresh produce, deli and food-to-go categories, delivering growth through innovation, supplier partnerships and customer-focused commercial strategies.
Before joining Waitrose, Rachel held a number of buying roles at Co-op, managing categories and leading projects that delivered significant margin improvement, cost savings and operational efficiencies. She is passionate about using data and customer insight to shape category strategies while balancing commercial performance with long-term sustainability goals.
Outside of work, Rachel is an accomplished endurance athlete, having won her age group at Ironman Lanzarote and represented Great Britain at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. Her drive for continuous improvement, both professionally and personally, underpins her approach to leadership and the evolving challenges facing the grocery industry.