- Alex Angus
- Alexia Antikides
- Allison Smith
- Andrew Evans
- Anjali Potter
- Bas Bungish
- Charlotte Campion
- Chris Hughes
- Elena Attanasio
- Gemma Courtenay
- Hannah Pike
- James Cooke-Priest
- James Goode
- Jason Leopando
- Jayne Harvey
- Justin Clarke
- Louise Kelly
- Mark Hutchinson
- Mark Wilderspin
- Melissa Barry
- Neil Levene
- Nicola Meadley
- Rachel Allebon
- Rita Eid
- Rowena Ellis
- Rowland French
- Sara Gilli
- Si Flanagan
- Stephanie Nantes
- Tess Willmott
- Toby Sperryn
- Tom Perkins
The immortal words of Brand Events’ MD Chris Hughes as he ‘invited’ me to take on my next high flying career challenge will never leave me. “You’re quite posh and you like food and restaurants and stuff. Come and do some research on an event I might launch…” Here I am five years later, now the proud Editorial Director of Taste of Festivals, having stayed slightly more than my initial three week contract to launch the first Taste of London at Somerset House as part of a newly fledged but ambitious and excited team in September 2004.
Since then the event has not only grown in scale and status in London, but has had been the inspiration and model for many more fabulous Taste events across the UK and the World.
My background in hotel, restaurant and leisure PR which spanned London and Hong Kong over several years stands me in good stead for this role which has given me the amazing opportunity to meet almost every talented chef and restaurateur in London.
The future? I’m looking forward to the development of Taste of London in particular; there’s so much potential to grow what we’re doing with the event right now; celebrating one of the world’s most vibrant, diverse and successful restaurant scenes. And because that wasn’t quite enough, filling in the ‘gap’ at the latter end of the year, development of Taste of Christmas is a new and exciting part of my role; especially following our fantastic launch in December 2008.
At home I have two of the loveliest people on the planet waiting (albeit usually very impatiently) for me every evening under the watchful but caring eye of Fifi, the latest live-in. Max and Daisy are my bright and funny children with whom I spend as much time as possible when I’m not working. Whether it be Saturday morning touchline action; reading the latest Charlie Higson or Daisy Meadows; listening to beginner’s violin practice (slightly less enthusiastically I admit); trailing behind them on the ski slopes, enjoying a Sunday roast or just spending time together at home; as good company they’re hard to beat.