Who We Are

Co-founder and Chair of Chefs in Schools. In 2014, restaurateur and campaigner Henry Dimbleby co-wrote the School Food Plan for Government, which led, among other things, to the introduction of new school food standards and Universal Infant Free School Meals. In 2021, Henry authored the Government commissioned National Food Strategy, which sets out wide-ranging reforms needed to improve the UK food system. Henry also co-founded the Sustainable Restaurant Association.

Co-founder and Patron of Chefs in Schools. As Executive Headteacher of LEAP Federation, Louise has been involved from the get-go, and her passion and enthusiasm for improving the health and nutrition of all children is a driving force behind the progress we’ve made in such a short space of time

Co-founder and Executive Chef of Chefs in Schools: our all-round whirlwind. Always coming up with ideas of what we can try next and (officially) terrible at saying no to everyone else’s hair-brained schemes – so the owner of the fullest diary and longest to-do list. But somehow squeezes it all in and is still always happy to take time out and cook for people.

Founder Leiths Cookery School and former Chair of The School Food Trust.

Everyone’s favourite GBBO Judge (sorry Paul), a national treasure and a prolific and highly renowned restaurateur, chef, caterer, television presenter/broadcaster, businesswoman, journalist, cookery writer and novelist. Prue has been a champion of food education for many years

Founder of Magic Breakfast

Founder of the amazing charity Magic Breakfast, Carmel discovered that many pupils arrive at school too hungry or malnourished to learn. Fast forward 18 years and today Magic Breakfast provides healthy breakfasts to around 167,000 children in England and Scotland during normal term time, in over 960 primary, secondary and Special Educational Needs schools, plus Pupil Referral Units.

Co-owner of Ottolenghi and Nopi, Food Writer, The Guardian

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when the world became Ottolenghi obsessed, but it’s easy to see why. The Israeli-born British chef, restaurateur, and food writer has achieved recognition for his recipes that help to create a sense of belonging, generosity and love around your own table, in your own home.

Former London Food Chair

Rosie is a prominent journalist, having headed up The Independent and the Independent on Sunday, as well as the men’s magazine Esquire and The Daily Express. Rosie is an incredibly passionate food campaigner who in 2008 was appointed chair of ‘London Food’, which aimed to improve Londoners’ access to healthy, locally produced and affordable food.

Food Editor of The Sunday Times and Code

Lisa, a journalist, has worked as an editor and commissioning editor for publications such as The Independent and The Independent on Sunday and Conde Nast, and is now the Food Editor of The Sunday Times, after working as an editor for restaurant platform CODE Hospitality and training as a chef at (Prue) Leiths School of Food and Wine in 2017-18.

Chief Executive: At a small, fast-growing charity that means doing everything! Advising government reviews, meeting ‘revolution ready’ Headteachers, linking up with food campaigners, developing strategies and obsessing about font usage. When she’s not doing that, she’s normally whatsapping Nicole for cooking advice and restaurant recommendations.

Co-founder and Executive Chef: our all-round whirlwind. Always coming up with ideas of what we can try next and (officially) terrible at saying no to everyone else’s hair-brained schemes – so the owner of the fullest diary and longest to-do list. But somehow squeezes it all in and is still always happy to take time out and cook for people.

Head of Communications: working on raising our profile, making sure our campaigns reach the widest audience possible and overseeing our social media feeds. Danielle works from home on a smallholding in Norfolk and is occasionally seen chasing escaped turkeys.

Head of Development: Polly leads our fundraising work, brings new schools on board and looks after our growing network of supporters. She ensures the charity can grow sustainably. Polly is, almost constantly, working her way through the latest Ottolenghi cookbook. The calm, cool-headed centre of Chefs in Schools operations.

Finance and Office Manager: Leading our financial management, Anna enables the team to focus on developing our programmes, partnerships and campaigns for growth and maximum impact. Anna loves to travel – she’ll be venturing on her motorbike whenever she can to explore somewhere new.

Fundraising Manager: Working alongside Polly and across the team, Anne focuses on engaging with individual donors and other philanthropic partners to understand the impact their support is making with an eye to building our fundraising pipeline.  She is happiest when she’s cooking with friends, meeting new people, listening to great music and having a dance, preferably all at the same time.  

Operations Manager: Working alongside Nicole and the Chef Trainers, Sreshta supports our schools with optimising their operations. She works closely with school business managers and catering staff, reviewing things such as food costs, and how the kitchens are running, so our schools feel confident and in-control of their catering operations.

Procurement Manager: Nassim joined Chefs in Schools in 2023, having previously worked in procurement for over 15 years Nassim will be looking to identify leading ethical supply partners to work with the schools we support.

Co-founder and chair of Chefs in Schools. Entrepreneur and cookery writer Henry Dimbleby is co-founder and chair of Chefs in Schools. Henry authored the Government commissioned National Food Strategy, which sets out wide-ranging reforms needed to improve the UK food system. Henry has played a key part in the development of Chefs in Schools over the last 3 years. He is a fierce champion and supporter of our work. Without him the charity would not exist.

Louise is the Executive Headteacher of the Leap Federation of Schools in Hackney and co-founded our charity. For Chefs in Schools, LEAP is where it all began. These three schools in Hackney were the building blocks for our work. Louise has been involved from the get-go, and her passion and enthusiasm for improving the health and nutrition of all children is a driving force behind the progress we’ve made in such a short space of time

Tamsin was the lead civil servant on the National Food Strategy, working alongside Henry. In April 2022 she was named as one of the 10 most powerful women in food, drink and grocery by The Grocer. She has held a variety of roles in government and in the charity sector. She is driven by an ambition for school food to be delicious and to have a positive impact on children’s health.

Co-founder of Wahaca, Masterchef winner, and food writer for The Guardian. Thomasina is an English chef, writer and television presenter. She is the co-founder of the hugely successful and popular Wahaca, and the winner of Masterchef 2005. Not only is she a world renowned chef but also a phenomenal campaigner, successfully working to raise awareness about the core issues we at Chefs in Schools are trying to tackle on a daily basis.

Melanie has professional experience as a chartered accountant, helping set up the Bridge Academy in Hackney as part of her work with UBS. She sat as Chair of the Finance and General Purpose Committee, and on the Governing body of the Academy, spending 8 years as a trustee in the education sector. Melanie loves a classic Sunday roast, shared with family and friends.

Jaz is the treasurer at Chefs in Schools and is the co-founder and managing director of Ellora, an accountancy and business advisory practice. The name Ellora originates from India and represents honesty and integrity, two of the company’s guiding principles, and ones that closely align with the core principles that drive our work and mission