PANEL ONE

Professor Eric Holub (University of Warwick) - Chair
Eric is a food systems scientist in Life Sciences and a fellow of Warwick Institute of Engagement. A kitchen has become his laboratory for research using UK registered beans (URBeans) named Capulet, Godiva and Olivia, which he developed on the university research farm (Warwick Crop Centre). As co-founding Director of Food Diversity for a new social enterprise Nurtural Limited, he is leading efforts to stimulate feedback between agents of change in kitchens (cooks and bakers) and innovative UK farms .

Christine Eade (Pod)
Christine is the manager of The Pod in Coventry. The Pod as a secondary mental health service believes that recovery and regeneration are totally intertwined – the people are the City, the City is its people. Rooted in the City The Pod founded Food UnionLink opens in a new window a social activism programme that builds community and solidarity through collective food growing, and, Time UnionLink opens in a new window a citywidetime bank in 2014, and to further reach into the city opened The Pod CafeLink opens in a new window in 2017 and has since won numerous awards and accolades for its ‘soil to table’ plant-based menu.

Greg Muldoon (Pod)
Greg is Food Union’s full time Food Union Coordinator and co-manages our one-acre CV5 food growing space while collaborating with musicians, artists and eco-activists to deliver a wide range of environmentally focused projects that celebrate Coventry’s food growing heritage. Working alongside their always growing membership, Greg and the members of Food Union have grown tons of chemical free fruit, vegetables and flowers for The Pod Café, strengthening the organisations soil to table ethos. During his five years with the project Greg has worked alongside many Coventry institutions to design new growing spaces that encourage gardeners of all experience to congregate and share through the communal language of food.

Rachel Kelly (Foleshill Community Centre)

Dr Nor Aziz (Uniting Communities, Canley)

Nor leads grassroot movement to tackle anti-social behaviour and use foods and heritage to make a difference in Canley. Bringing key stakeholders together to leverage resources and creating a collective action, she organises and delivers quarterly Pop-up cafes and the annual community big lunch. These are much-needed neutral spaces that bring local residents, students and local partners together to change the narratives about Canley.

Ben Thomas (University of Warwick)
Ben is the new Head of Food & Beverage Product for Warwick Food Group (WFG) and will be leading on the development and production of new menus and propositions across the campus in line with the Universities new Food & Beverage strategy. This includes championing fresh, seasonal, local produce and food and beverage that is healthier for people and planet.

PANEL TWO

Professor Helen Wheatley (University of Warwick) - Chair
Helen is Director of the Warwick Institute of Engagement and an experienced leader in public engagement and delivering research impact. She has led and participated in a variety of projects that take research out of the university and into our wider communities, and co-chairs the Fairer Green Futures pathway of the Coventry Climate Change Board. Helen is also Professor of Film and Television Studies and co-founder of the Centre for Television Histories.

Dr Lopa Saxena (Coventry University)

Lopa is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for Agroecology, Water & Resilience (Coventry University) Her current research is on sustainable and resilient food systems, with a particular focus on community-led food initiatives and their intersection with nutrition, health, culture, gender, agriculture, and the environment.

Rosanne Maguire (University of Warwick)

Rosanne is currently a Research Fellow on ‘BeanMeals: mainstreaming UK-grown beans in healthy meals’, a transdisciplinary project funded by the UKRI Transforming UK Food Systems programme. She will be applying her systems-thinking insights from the project as Community Innovation Director of a new start-up social enterprise Nurtural Limited.

Andrew Ward (Roy Ward Farms)

Andy is an arable farmer in Lincolnshire who hosts twice weekly public updates on British farming from his YouTube channel WardysWaffleLink opens in a new window. Recent episodes of significant public interest include the controversial ‘greening’ of Red Tractor label, and looming impact of flooding on 2024 harvests. He is the lead farmer for producing UK registered beans (URBeans) developed at the University of Warwick.

Rhian Palmer (Coventry City Council)

Rhian Palmer is Strategic Lead for Green Futures at Coventry City Council, responsible for development and delivery of the city’s Climate Change Strategy. Rhian is working with colleagues and stakeholders to develop a Community Growing Network across the city.

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