Robyn Black
Robyn Black is head of content at Fleet Street, where she works with c-suite individuals, organisations, and businesses across the food, drink, and hospitality industries.
A former journalist and editor on national, regional, and trade titles, including The Guardian, The Grocer, The Moening Advertiser and Imbibe Magazine, she works across a portfolio of operators, suppliers, and organisations, providing consultancy and strategic advice on corporate comms, media relations, issues management, campaign strategy, and stakeholder engagement.
Ayesha Kalaji
Ayesha Kalaji is Executive Chef and Owner of Queen of Cups in Glastonbury, a contemporary Arabic restaurant housed in a historic 17th-century coaching inn. With deep roots in North Wales and Jordan, Ayesha merges her heritage with locally sourced ingredients to craft a distinctive approach to Arabic cuisine.
Ayesha has garnered widespread recognition, including maintaining a Michelin Bib Gourmand for three consecutive years, the first and only in the area, and has appeared on both Great British Menu and MasterChef: The Professionals. Amongst many other accolades she won Best Chef at this year's Trencherman Awards, she’s a part of Code’s Top 100 Most Influential Women of the Year and was recently voted Chef of the Year at this year’s Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs.
Kate Harvey
Kate Harvey (she/her)
Kate brings experience across hospitality, FMCG and the third sector to her role at The SRA. She manages complex global partnerships to grow uptake of the Food Made Good Standard and support a more socially progressive, environmentally restorative hospitality sector. Before joining The SRA, Kate led ESG strategy at THE PIG hotels and previously worked in Twinings’ Social Impact and Sustainability team, improving quality of life in tea‑growing communities.
Tas Gaitanos
Tas Gaitanos is co-founder of Brother Marcus, the East Mediterranean all-day dining group he launched in 2016 with school friend Alex Large. What began as a brunch café in Balham is now eight London restaurants and a cocktail bar, employing more than 300 people, with a workplace catering arm in Canary Wharf. Of Cretan and Cypriot heritage, he grew up working in his father's taverna; today he leads the company vision, brand identity, menu development, and restaurant design. He is the author of Brunch with Brother Marcus, and shorlisted for the 2026 Catey Restaurateur of the Year (Group),
Two things I left out that you might want swapped in depending on the audience: the 2026 Catey shortlist for Restaurateur of the Year (Group), and the fact the estate doubled in the last 18 months. Say the word and I'll cut the heritage line to make room.
Nick Mackenzie
Nick became CEO of Greene King in 2019, leading one of the UK’s largest pub, restaurant and brewing businesses. Prior to joining Greene King, he spent 17 years at Merlin Entertainments holding MD roles in Theme Parks, Midway Attractions as well as Property and Development. Earlier in his career Nick held executive roles in pubs and hospitality businesses Bass PLC, Diageo and Allied Domecq as well as being a non-executive director of Daniel Thwaites. Nick was also Chair of the British Beer & Pub Association from December 2023 to June 2026 and is currently a non-executive director of Workspace PLC and is a member of the WiHTL Advisory Board.
Matthew Smith
Matthew is Head of Operations at Red Engine, overseeing Flight Club and Electric Shuffle venues across the UK. Having been part of the journey as both brands have grown and evolved, he works closely with teams to deliver spectacular guest experiences, build high-performing cultures and drive strong commercial results.
Steve Alton
Steve Alton is the CEO of the BII, joining the independent membership organisation in September 2019 after previously being a member of the Trustee board.
In addition to his role as CEO, he sits on the board as a Trustee of the Skills and Education Group - a leading national awarding organisation, and a Director of Best Bar None, an accreditation scheme supported by the Home Office and drinks industry that aims to improve standards in the evening and night time economy.
He is also a Trustee for the industry charity, Only a Pavement Away, which was set up to help vulnerable people who have experienced or are at risk of homelessness including, ex-service personnel and ex-offenders, into long-term stable employment within the hospitality industry.
Someone who enjoys getting involved, Steve is fully immersed in his own local community in rural Derbyshire, where he is a Trustee of the village hall, and also the licensee of the bar throughout the year for community events.
In 2022 he was one of 26 riders ‘Pedalling for Pubs’, in an endurance cycling challenge in Jordan last June supporting 2 key industry charities, the Licensed Trade Charity and Only a Pavement Away, raising nearly £280,000. In 2023, he is fundraising again, leading the ‘Pedalling 2 Pubs’ UK Edition, taking 50 riders to tackle the Yorkshire Wolds.
Amber Wood
Having spent the last 20 years in multi site hospitality management Amber is a change and turnaround specialist, with a people focussed management approach.