Families & Food

Group Head of Healthy & Sustainable Diets, Sainsbury’s Ltd

Nilani Sritharan is a Registered Nutritionist with over 20 years’ experience of leading health strategies for the food industry. She has held a variety of roles in nutrition, regulatory and external affairs for Unilever, Nestle and then a cereals Joint Venture, working at a national (UK), regional (Asia/Oceania, EU) and global level. 

Since 2018, Nilani has led a team of nutritionists for Sainsbury’s, the UK’s second largest food retailer, with a particular focus on helping everyone to eat better whilst driving for food systems transformation. Nilani has driven a series of initiatives to adapt food environments, support product reformulations and use loyalty card data to help unlock opportunities to drive healthier sales. She also works in partnership with the academic community, policymakers and other food system stakeholders to independently evaluate initiatives and as a member of the Food Data Transparency Partnership for Health to improve data transparency and reporting. 

Beyond her role at Sainsbury’s, Nilani is an Independent Advisor for Nesta (an innovation think tank) and a Board Trustee for Greater Change (a charity tackling homelessness through cash-first initiatives). She also regularly mentors purpose-driven mid-career nutritionists and individuals from diverse communities.

Founder & Chef, Sorted Foods

Ben is one of the co-founders of Sorted Food. A chef, public speaker and educator. With a passion for driving positive change across a digital generation, it’s entertainment and inspiration first and foremost… Accompanied by good levels of reliable accidental education. Food and drink brings people together, millions in an engaged community in the case of Sorted Food, and the conversation about what, where, how and why is the catalyst. 

Editorial Director, Netmums

Louise is the Editorial Director of the UK’s influential online parenting community Netmums which has supported millions of families every day since 2000.

Also a mum of three young children, Louise is well versed in the highs and lows of parenting – including family health and feeding children. The Netmums parent community often voice the challenges when it comes to accessing and affording healthy meals for their family. As well as listening to our audience, we work with food experts, retailers and organisations to understand the support and advice modern families need to make better choices for a healthy future and to enjoy parenthood.

Background – two decades experience as a journalist and editor on UK nationals and women’s lifestyle consumer media.

Co-Founder Planeatry Alliance 

Ali Morpeth is an award-winning Registered Public Health Nutritionist (RNutr) working at the intersection of health + sustainability. With experience spanning policy, NGOs, academia, and corporate strategy, she is focused on driving systemic change across the food system.

Ali is the Co-Founder of Planetary Alliance, shaping a better food future for people and planet. She serves as a Board Member of ReThink Food, an advisor to leading NGOs, and an Affiliate on major food systems initiatives, including FixOurFood and AgriFood Network+.  She is also recognised as a World Health Organisation health influencer.

Food Entrepreneur & Cooking with Kids founder

Nessie Welschinger, a Singaporean-Egyptian entrepreneur, is the founder of the award-winning Chelsea Cake Company, one of London’s leading bespoke cake designers. 

Her career began in investment banking, where she honed her strategic and analytical skills over a decade. These abilities later became the foundation for her success in transforming a passion for food into an internationally recognised brand.

Nessie’s creations have become synonymous with excellence, serving a global clientele that includes celebrities, royalty, and five-star hotels such as Claridge’s and The Ritz. Among her career highlights is being entrusted to create the 90th birthday cake for the late Queen Elizabeth II, an honour that underscores her unparalleled expertise and attention to detail.

In addition to her business acumen, Nessie is a passionate advocate for family nutrition and food education. Her appearance on Bake Off: The Professionals showcased her talent to millions and solidified her influence within the food industry. She has since expanded her reach, conducting school workshops and community events to emphasise the importance of balanced diets and engaging children in the kitchen.

Through her platform, Cooking With Kids, Nessie empowers families to reconnect over meals, providing practical tools and inspiration to make cooking accessible and enjoyable for all. Her vision aligns with modern health priorities, focusing on how family mealtimes can drive better nutrition, stronger relationships, and healthier futures.

Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Loughborough University

Dr Hannah White is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Loughborough University. Hannah’s research area focuses on disordered eating and mental health among young people. Most of Hannah’s research is family-based, focusing on interactions and family contexts, with particular expertise in family mealtimes. Her PhD explored aspects of family mealtimes in relation to adolescent and maternal psychopathology. She is a mixed-methods researcher with 15 years’ experience of conducting eating-focused research with adolescents, young adults and parents within both community and clinical groups. Her research helps to promote understanding of the different emotions and experiences related to mealtimes, and the different ways families interact in relation to eating, body shape and weight and physical activity.

Health and Sustainable Diets Associate at IGD

Elisha works in IGD’s Social Impact (Health) team, where she collaborates closely with industry partners and contributes to the Behaviour Change Trial Programme. Her focus is on making healthy, sustainable diets accessible to all. With a Master’s degree in Obesity and Clinical Nutrition from University College London, she brings a deep understanding of the complex relationship between nutrition and health, with particular expertise in addressing obesity.