Our Ambassadors

British Chef & Owner - Adam Handling Restaurant Collection

Adam Handling MBE is the Michelin-starred Chef Owner of the Adam Handling Collection, operating venues across the UK, and is fast becoming one of the best-known chefs in the country. Adam is passionate about British food, sustainability, and fighting food waste.

His Cornish gastropub, The Tartan Fox, was added to the Michelin Guide just five months after opening, and in 2025, Adam unveiled Ugly Butterfly 2.0, relocating his acclaimed Cornish restaurant to a stunning new home at The Headland in Newquay – a bold evolution of the original, with a flexible, produce-led menu that reflects his deep connection to the region. Also in 2025, Adam became the first British Michelin-starred chef to open a luxury chocolate shop, just around the corner from Frog in Covent Garden.

Adam has made numerous global television appearances including Saturday Kitchen Live, The One Show, and as a judge on Top Chef, MasterChef, and MasterChef: The Professionals.

CEO -Institute of Hospitality

Robert Richardson FIH MI is the Chief Executive Officer of the award-winning Institute of Hospitality (IoH), the world’s largest professional body of almost 16,000 hospitality professionals worldwide, and a registered charity. IoH is dedicated to driving the recognition of the hospitality profession and uplifting its membership through lifelong learning, mentorship, and network-building.

A long-time member of IoH, Richardson built his career in the hospitality industry. Working his way up through the ranks from hotel floor staff to hotel General Manager, and now as CEO of IoH, he has a deep belief in making the hospitality industry open, inclusive, and accessible to all who seek to join it. In 2021, Robert led the Institute to win the Chartered Governance Institute UK&I “Diversity & Inclusion Strategy of the Year” award in recognition of these efforts.

Managing Director - Cedabond

Lee Donkin became Managing Director of Cedabond in late 2024, following senior roles at Fagor Professional and Hobart. With a strong background across both supplier and dealer sides, he has quickly set about modernising the organisation.

His early initiatives include introducing an automated reporting system to streamline operations, expanding training and dealer engagement days, and strengthening supplier and member relationships. Lee has also been driving more collaboration across the Cedabond network through webinars, touchpoints, and direct engagement.

Looking ahead, his focus is on sustainable growth, digital innovation, and increasing Cedabond’s industry presence, including leading the Cedabond Village at HRC 2026.

Managing Director - MEIKO UK LTD 

Paul Anderson joined the foodservice industry over thirty years ago, progressing into professional kitchen equipment and has been leading Meiko UK Limited as Managing Director since April 2017.  He also just held a two-year prestigious position as Chairman for the largest trade body in our industry, the Foodservice Equipment Association (FEA). 

Paul is widely recognised within the industry, helping others to drive hospitality forward with membership of the Craft Guild of Chefs, Fellow status of the Institute of Hospitality and awarded a Doctorate of Food Service Equipment by the North American Federation of Equipment Manufacturers in 2023, a globally recognised leading affiliation. 

Additionally, he has further notable achievements publishing reports targeted at the foodservice industry, including ‘Can a Cup save the Planet’ and ‘Carbon in the Kitchen’, highlighting the best use of all resources within the professional kitchen marketplace. 

Director and Head of Hospitality & Leisure Sector - 4C Associates

Katie is a dynamic and adaptable Procurement Leader, who shares a passion for the Food and Beverage industry, and is committed to achieving success. Bringing 18 years of proven success in the Procurement and Supply Chain domain with the majority from within the Hospitality and Leisure sector, including a significant 6-year tenure as the Head of Procurement for a leading contract catering company.

Katie’s extensive background encompasses the development and implementation of strategic initiatives within transformative programs, change management, supply chain enhancement, and profit margin amplification.

Principal Consultant - Macintosh Foodservice Consultants, Podcast Host - Kitchen Curiosity, Award Winning Commercial Kitchen Designer

Radford has worked in the hospitality industry for over 30 years, having started his culinary career as a chef in the British Army with the Catering Corps and winning the 'Silver Award’ at the Salon Culinaire during Food, Drink and Hospitality Week, followed by a career of outstanding recognitions.

Radford has specific expertise in catering, operational, and performance reviews, business strategy outlooks, competitive tendering and evaluations, expansive kitchen and bar design as well as catering equipment audits and assessments. 

Radford is the host of a highly successful podcast ‘Kitchen Curiosity’, interviewing some of the industry's top chefs, consultancy leaders, board members, suppliers and manufacturers discussing everything from menu planning to AI technology.

Director of Culinary - Aramark

Paula O’Neill is an accomplished culinary leader with more than three decades of experience shaping innovation, operational excellence, and high-performing teams within the food and hospitality industries. Beginning her career as a chef at just 16, she went on to build her expertise with leading global brands such as Hilton, White Rabbit Projects, and Sodexo Live, before progressing into senior Culinary Director roles, including at Vacherin London.

Throughout her career, Paula has been recognised for her ability to deliver transformation at scale—overseeing complex culinary operations, driving impact, and building strong, resilient teams. Her breadth of experience spans sectors as diverse as luxury hotels, independent restaurants, super yachts, and major corporate and event catering, making her widely respected as a specialist in fast-paced, high-profile environments.

Today, as Director of Culinary and a member of the Executive Leadership Team at Aramark UK & Global Offshore, Paula champions the company’s “Food and Planet” strategy—placing craft, innovation, and sustainability at the heart of the business.

Founder & Director - The Future Plate

Julian founded The Future Plate in 2021. It’s a culinary village bringing together leading Black chefs of our time, culture carriers & makers of change. They are inspired by and draw from their culinary ancestors, paying homage to the traditional dishes but cooking and presenting them with the culinary verve they are fast becoming known for.

They cater & curate events for the world’s most famous brands, private individuals and corporates, creating memorable experiences with the sole purpose of sharing culture through food.

Beyond their commercial endeavours they are building a creative hub for the exploration and development of African & Caribbean dishes, developing a scholarship for Black chefs, launching a conference and working closely with Made By Humans to unearth our food stories and tell them before they lose them through film, books, exhibitions and podcasts.

CEO - British Institute of Innkeeping

Passionate about pubs, Steve has led the BII since late 2019. He has previously led a range of technology businesses for nearly 30 years and had formerly volunteered as a Trustee of the BII prior to being selected as CEO. He is actively involved across the sector as Director of Best Bar None, a Trustee of Skills and Education Group, a Trustee for the charity Only A Pavement Away and also a member of the Government Hospitality Sector Council.

Chief Executive -British Beer and Pub Association

Emma has been the Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association since 2019 and was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) award for her exceptional services to the hospitality industry.

A passionate beer and pub lover, Emma is the voice for the beer and pub sector leading them through the pandemic, interfacing with Government and stakeholders to secure vital grant support and economic stimulus to aid the recovery of the Sector. Protecting the future of the Great British Pub and our world-renowned brewers.

Prior to joining the BBPA, Emma served as a Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands for 10 years. As a true beer lover, she also served as Vice President of the European Parliament Beer Club during this time. She has also held posts including Chairman of the Commonwealth Forum and Director of Global Policy for the Sports Integrity Global Alliance and is currently Chair of the Worldwide Brewing Alliance, Chair of the Tourism Alliance Board and a Director of the Ivors Academy.