People

Sabine Appleby
Sabine Appleby

Sabine started her career as a public health nutritionist after studying for masters in International Public Health Nutrition at University of Westminster. Her passion for nutrition education led her to a variety of roles, delivering nutrition sessions in schools with the aim of tackling childhood obesity. She joins School Food Matters as a Project Officer working on the Healthy Zones programme.

Eve Blair
Eve Blair

Having spent over a decade supporting charities to better plan and evidence their work through training, consultancy, and research, Eve has a wealth of experience in practical evaluation. As a long-term Lambeth resident with two small children at local schools, she is perfectly placed to join the team as the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager for the Healthy Zones programme.

Georgie Branch
Georgie Branch

Georgie has a background in marketing and a masters degree in nutrition and public health. She joined School Food Matters as a volunteer to get hands-on experience improving food education for children, knowing the many benefits that come with eating a healthy diet. Georgie is our Healthy Zones Programme Manager.

Antonia Braun
Antonia Braun

Antonia has a passion for both food and nutrition, with a BSc in Food Science, an MSc in Nutrition and a Diploma in Plant-Based Culinary Skills. She has over 10 years experience working for a variety of charities with a focus on improving children’s health and wellbeing all over the world. Antonia is our Project Coordinator for Healthy Zones in Tower Hamlets.

Sharon Conrad
Sharon Conrad

After several years living in Italy, Sharon returned to the UK with a huge love of food and cooking. Her interest in healthy eating led to a degree in nutrition and whilst learning about the increase in diet-related illness, particularly in children, she decided to enter the world of food education. Sharon brings a wealth of experience in both teaching and cooking to her role as Food Teacher at School Food Matters.

Rachel Copus
Rachel Copus

Rachel spent more than ten years as an editor for BBC Books where she worked primarily on cookery and gardening titles. After a career break to spend time with her two children, she worked in an Early Years setting, where she particularly enjoyed being involved with their first forays into preparing and sharing good quality food. Rachel is our Partnerships and Programmes Officer.

Ayanna Deane
Ayanna Deane

Ayanna has a strong background in nutrition with a masters in Global Public Health Nutrition. She has over 15 years’ experience working in the NHS in a variety of roles. Her early childhood was spent in Guyana (South America) where she benefited from a national school feeding programme. With a passion for better childhood nutrition she joins as a Project Officer on the Healthy Zones programme.

Kathy d’Apice
Kathy d’Apice

Kathy joined School Food Matters in June 2022 and is our Project & Evaluation Officer. Prior to this, she completed a social innovation fellowship with Year Here, where she worked in a school and a social enterprise that focuses on bridging the climate literacy gap. She is driven by a motivation to tackle food inequality and maximise youth engagement with social issues.

Mariana Esparis Rodriguez
Mariana Esparis Rodriguez

Mariana has a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Her passion for public health started after taking a social internship in Kenya developing a health and nutrition project for schools in the Kibera Slums.  Since then, Mariana has worked around South America in different charities and government organisations to promote health, nutrition, and wellbeing for disadvantages communities.  Mariana joins School Food Matters as a Healthy Zones Project Officer.

Jane Fitch
Jane Fitch

Jane is our Finance/Administration Officer & Volunteer Coordinator. She joined us in 2019 then took six months out to work in a secondary school. She returned to School Food Matters in November 2022. Jane has a background in marketing and finance and, while taking a career break to bring up her three children, was Chair of the Parents and Staff Association at Christ’s Secondary School and a volunteer with Age UK.

Dela Foster
Dela Foster

Dela started her career as a strategy consultant, but her passion for food led her into the restaurant world. She opened and ran Bermondsey Kitchen in London Bridge for many years. Her long-standing desire to make good, sustainable healthy food available to all brought her to School Food Matters in June 2014. She is now our Development Manager.

Awil Mohamoud
Awil Mohamoud

Awil joined School Food Matters in July 2021 as Press and Communications Officer. Previously he worked as a health reporter for a trade publication, mainly covering the Covid pandemic. He has experience working with young people in a secondary school, and within the charity sector as a content writer. He loves writing and sharing impactful stories with the world.

Sarah Mountcastle
Sarah Mountcastle

Sarah joined School Food Matters in April 2015 as Finance and HR Manager. Sarah was Co-Chair of the PTA at East Sheen Primary School and an active parent helper in the classroom, with a particular interest supporting lessons in the school's teaching kitchen. Before taking a career break to spend time with her children, Sarah was a Financial Analyst for Vodafone Head Office.

Leoca Powell
Leoca Powell

Leoca joined School Food Matters in April 2022 as Project Officer for the Healthy Zones programme. She brings to SFM experience of project co-ordination and a keen interest in food education and food equity gained from volunteering at Food Cycle and Sustainable Food Trust.

Stephanie Slater
Stephanie Slater

Stephanie is Founder and Chief Executive. After 20 years working in film production she took a break to enjoy time with her two children. In 2007 she set up School Food Matters and in 2012 was invited to join the School Food Plan's expert panel, tasked by the DFE to create an action plan to help head teachers improve school food. Stephanie is Vice-Chair of Sustain and a trustee of Alexandra Rose Charity.

Sean Turner
Sean Turner

Sean joined School Food Matters in February 2021 and is our Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer. He has a Masters in Mathematical Physics and went on to study Social Science in China. He was twice elected as President of Liverpool Guild of Students and brings skills in policy and campaigning. Sean enjoys bouldering and music, and is passionate about tackling inequalities.