Speakers

Diane is an executive development chef on the food platform team at Sodexo. She is always looking at trends and innovation. She is a chef with over 25 years' experience gained in South Africa and the UK across a range of restaurant styles. Working at all levels of the kitchen, including head chef, in corporate dining, fine dining, in private members club and catering for conferences and events in the hotel industry. Prior to working at Sodexo, she was the senior development chef at Reynolds’, a leading Foodservice fresh produce supplier, where she worked closely with other development teams across a wide range of foodservice offers to deliver meaningful and relevant menu solutions. She has competed in national and international cookery competitions; from the South African Culinary team, entering the Culinary Olympics, to representing South Africa at the Bocuse d’Or. She also made it to the finals of the National Chef of the Year. Making her the first development chef from a foodservice supplier to make the finals. In 2016 Diane was award the title of Development Chef of the Year at last year’s prestigious Craft Guild of Chefs Award.