Voices from the CF&DL
To mark the 25th Anniversary of the City Food & Drink Lecture, we invited a selection of past keynote speakers and panellists to reflect on the discussion had when they were on the stage at Guildhall... what has changed to the positive or negative, what still needs to be done, what are the key challenges we are facing and what is the best way forward. We also canvassed their veiws on the role of AI and technology as well as how you, the powerful audience of the City Food & Drink Lecture can make a difference.
Please click on the links shown to hear each interview
All the footage will be edited into a c4 minute clip to be played (all being well ) on the big screen at Guildhall on the 23rd February then available to watch here after the evening.
About our interviewees:
Mr Justin King CBE
Former CEO J Sainsbury plc
(2004–2014);
The City Food & Drink Lecture dynamic Key Note Speaker in 2012 debated : 'UK Grocery Retailing - back to the future'
Currently: a senior business adviser and speaker, and has held various board and advisory roles including Chair of Allwyn Entertainment and Dexters, Non-Executive Chair of Itsu Grocery, and adviser to technology and retail businesses.
A notable past panellist in 2016 when the key note debated ‘What when and how will we be eating in 2025''delivered by Christophe Jouan, Chief Executive, The Future Food Foundation.
Currently: Deputy Chair of the Environment Agency, Chair of MicroSalt PLC, Chair of the Rugby Players Association, Honorary President of the British Nutrition Foundation, and holds multiple non-executive and trustee roles across food, environment and research organisations.
Judith Batchelar OBE
Dr. Louise Fresco
As President of Wageningen University & Research (2014–2022) was our highly acclaimed keynote speaker at the City Food & Drink Lecture in 2020 - her chosen title being ‘Fish nor Flesh or Both? Foods for the future’.
We are so sorry that Louise, due to medical reasons was unable to be with us on stage at CFDL 2026 but we are delighted to have intreviewed her. We wish you well.
Professor Sir Charles Godfray
Our thought provoking Keynote Speaker in 2023 debated : “The shifting challenges in building a just, healthy and sustainable food and drink system.”
Currently: Director of the Oxford Martin School, Professor of Population Biology