The MFB and our wider partnerships

We want Manchester to be a prosperous, healthy, and inclusive city where everyone can thrive.

Our Board and wider partners help anchor good food across the city, to bring about positive and lasting change in Manchester.

MFB Members

Members of MFB include leading decision-makers from across Manchester’s economic, health, environment, housing, farming and social sectors. Find out more about our individual Board members below.

  • Cllr Tracey Rawlins

    Exec Member for the Environment,
    Manchester City Centre
    Chair, Manchester Food Board

    AWAITING BIOGRAPHY

  • Barry Gillespie

    Assistant Director of Public Health
    Deputy Chair, Manchester Food Board

    Barry has worked as a Consultant in Public Health since 2006 in both the NHS and Manchester City Council. He has been involved in supporting and developing the Manchester Food Board since 2018, and sees this as an important element of the city’s economic development and of residents’ health and wellbeing. This is further emphasised by the recovery required due to the impact of COVID-19 on the city.

  • Rich Browning

    CEO, Healthy Me Healthy Communities

    Rich is CEO of Healthy Me Healthy Communities (HMHC), a social enterprise focusing on communities within disadvantaged areas of Central Manchester. HMHC co-produces health and well-being services that empower, educate and inspire the local communities in which they work.

  • Atiha Chaudry

    Chair,
    Manchester BME Network CIC

    Atiha is currently Chair of the Greater Manchester BAME Network, the Manchester BME Network, and the Manchester Equalities Hub. She is also a Board member for Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, the Centre for Local Economic Strategies, the Manchester Partnership, and the Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation. Atiha’s consultancy firm is called Equal Access Consultancy, and she has worked on many commissions locally, nationally and at an international level.

  • Lisa Edwards

    Lancashire County Chair,
    NFU

    Lisa has farmed with husband Simon at Gore House Farm in Lydiate, Merseyside, for the past 23 years, growing cereals and potatoes. In the past, Lisa has also run a B&B and farm shop. Before joining the farm business, Lisa was a marketing executive for The Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) and Assistant Development and Research Officer for Cumbria Tourist Board.

  • Andrea George

    Director of Town Centres and Consumer Brands,
    Bruntwood Works

    Andrea is Director of Town Centres and Consumer Brands at Bruntwood Works. She leads a dynamic team of creative thinkers, curating places that help shape original and interesting communities, and cultivating long-term relationships with customers. Future-facing, she is passionate about disrupting the high street, sustainability, and regenerating places. With over 22 years in the industry, Andrea provides strategic, specialist asset management and leasing advice to pop-ups, independent businesses, and national brands.

  • David Houliston

    Strategic Lead, Policy and Partnerships,
    Manchester City Council

    David studied Geography at the University of Leicester and has worked in local government for 17 years, in Cheshire and in Manchester. Since 2013 he has worked within Manchester City Council's City Policy team leading on economic, social, environmental and international policy work. More recently, he has led the development of the Our Manchester Industrial Strategy and Manchester City Council's Climate Change Action Plan 2020-25.

  • Alex King

    Partnerships Director,
    CityCo

    Alex King is the Partnership Director for CityCo, The City Centre Management Company. Alex’s career has spanned live music and contemporary arts, hospitality and conferencing, food and beverage retail, and operational & resilience planning for over 25 years. Alex now works to support a ranges of business sectors in Manchester city centre, as they meet the multiple challenges and opportunities of a modern thriving city.

  • Rosie Longden

    Head of Community Investment,
    Great Places Housing Group

    Great Places Housing Group provides affordable social housing across the North West and Yorkshire. Rosie was appointed Head of Community Investment in 2019, and previously worked for Onward Homes and Equity Housing Group (now part of Great Places).

  • Haleh Moravej

    Senior Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences,
    Manchester Metropolitan University
    Founder, MetMUnch

    Haleh Moravej is a Senior Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University, and founder of MetMUnch, a student-led programme that sets the standard for sustainability, nutrition, and entrepreneurship across Manchester Metropolitan, local communities, and further afield. Prior to teaching, Haleh was a commercial entrepreneur with her own nutrition clinic.

  • Samantha Nicholson

    Director,
    Manchester Climate Change Agency

    Sam brings more than 20 years’ experience with a proven track record in the climate sector to MCCA. Previously, Sam was Zero Carbon Manager at Manchester City Council, and prior to this, she was Head of Low Carbon and Manufacturing at GC Business Growth Hub.

  • Sean Ruffell

    Managing Director,
    Organic North

    Sean is the Managing Director of Organic North, the largest wholesalers of certified organic produce in the north. Based at New Smithfield’s Market in Manchester, Organic North focuses on local, seasonal produce and is strongly committed to its no-waste model.

Our partners

We work with a wide range of organisations, individuals, and businesses across the city to find ways of working together that support our aims and objectives. These include (but are not limited to):

 

Basilico Pizza

Blossom MCR

Bruntwood

Burton Road Brewing Co

Buzz Manchester

Cinderwood Market Garden

CityCo

Co-op

Cracking Good Food

Dunham Press Cider

EatWell Manchester

Envirolution

FareShare Greater Manchester

FoodStuff

Great Places Housing

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

Groundwork

Healthy Me Healthy Communities

Hubbub

Lune Valley Dairy

MACC

Made in Hackney

Manchester BME Network

Manchester City Council

Manchester Climate Change Agency

Manchester Healthy Schools

Manchester Housing Providers Partnership

Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Urban Diggers

MetMUnch

Milk and Honey

National Vegetarian Society

NFU Lancashire

One Manchester

Organic North

Our Manchester Food Partnership

Rafiki Network

Salford University

Southway Housing

Sow the City

Sustainable Food Places

The Bread and Butter Thing

Too Good to Go

Trussell Trust

University of Manchester

University of Manchester NHS Foundation Trust

Womens Voices CIC

WRAP

Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (WCHG)