Richard Franks

LNS

Richard Franks is a hospitality leader with over 25 years’ experience in the industry. Currently UK Business Director at Shake Shack UK, leading the growth across the UK with the latest opening happening this March at Manchester Trafford centre. Richard previously served as Managing Director at HOP, where he helped drive ambitious growth plans for the Vietnamese street food brand. Prior to that he was Managing Director at Mexican fast casual chain Chilango, where he spent seven years overseeing the business through its acquisition by Tortilla, initially as Director of Operations. His leadership is marked by a focus on operational excellence, business transformation, and instilling a people-first culture.

Cyrus Todiwala OBE DL

NRPBS

Professor Cyrus Todiwala OBE DL is one of the United Kingdom’s most celebrated and influential chefs, restaurateurs, authors, educators, and hospitality ambassadors. Widely recognised for his pioneering contribution to Indian cuisine in Britain, he has spent more than four decades championing authentic regional Indian cooking while inspiring generations of hospitality professionals through his commitment to education, training, and mentorship.
Born in Mumbai, India, into a Parsi family, Cyrus studied at Sophia Polytechnic College before embarking on a professional culinary career. He trained at the prestigious Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, part of the renowned Taj Group of Hotels, where he developed a strong foundation in both Indian and international cuisine.
His talent, dedication, and leadership saw him rise through the ranks of the Taj Group to become Executive Chef overseeing all three Taj properties in Goa, a remarkable achievement that established him as one of India’s leading culinary professionals.
In the early 1990s, Cyrus moved to the United Kingdom and, in 1995, founded Café Spice Namasté in London. The restaurant quickly gained acclaim for its bold, authentic regional Indian cuisine, moving beyond conventional perceptions of Indian food and introducing diners to the diversity and richness of India’s culinary heritage. Since its inception, Café Spice Namasté has become one of the UK’s most respected Indian restaurants and has enjoyed long-standing recognition from the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand, reflecting its consistent excellence, quality, and value.
Cyrus is renowned for his distinctive culinary style, blending authentic regional Indian flavours, Parsi influences, traditional techniques, and contemporary innovation. His unique approach to cooking has earned him widespread acclaim both in the UK and internationally. As a result of his reputation for culinary excellence, he has had the honour of cooking for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, members of the Royal Family, numerous heads of state, international dignitaries, and distinguished guests from around the world.
Beyond his achievements as a chef and restaurateur, Professor Todiwala is recognised as one of the hospitality industry’s most passionate advocates for education, training, apprenticeships, and skills development. Throughout his career, he has worked tirelessly to support colleges, universities, professional bodies, and employers in developing future generations of chefs and hospitality professionals.
One of his most significant contributions to hospitality education is the creation of Zest Quest Asia, the prestigious student competition that provides hospitality students with unique opportunities to learn about Asian cuisine, culture, and hospitality. Since its launch, Zest Quest Asia has become one of the industry’s most respected educational initiatives, inspiring and nurturing future culinary talent.
A familiar face on television, Cyrus has appeared regularly on programmes including Saturday Kitchen and co-presented the BBC series The Incredible Spice Men alongside Tony Singh, helping to bring Indian cuisine to a wider audience.
Professor Todiwala is also an accomplished author whose books have introduced countless readers to the flavours and techniques of Indian cooking. His publications include:
• Café Spice Namasté Cookbook
• The Incredible Spice Men (with Tony Singh)
• Simple Spice /Mr Todiwalas Spice Box
• Simple Spice Vegetarian
• Mr Todiwala’s Bombay
• Indian Summer
• Modern Indian: 70 Everyday Recipes (2024)
In addition to his restaurants and books, he has developed a range of food products inspired by traditional Indian flavours and culinary heritage, including pickles, chutneys, sauces, and spice blends.
Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Cyrus Todiwala has received numerous national and international awards and honours in recognition of his culinary excellence, leadership, entrepreneurship, educational work, and services to hospitality. His distinctions include being appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the hospitality industry, serving as Deputy Lieutenant (DL) of Greater London, receiving multiple honorary doctorates, and being recognised with the Indian Restaurant Association Award for Culinary Excellence. He is widely regarded as one of the most highly awarded and respected chefs in British hospitality.
Today, Professor Cyrus Todiwala OBE DL continues to be a leading force within the hospitality industry. Through his restaurants, books, television appearances, product ranges, charitable activities, educational initiatives, and tireless advocacy for training and professional development, he has become one of the foremost ambassadors of Indian cuisine in the United Kingdom and an enduring inspiration to hospitality professionals worldwide.

Olivia Vachon

LNS

Olivia is the Head of Marketing of Eatphoria, the pioneering multi-brand hybrid restaurant group. Eatphoria owns and operates several brands, including its flagship brand Wraps & Wings – Eatphoria owns and operates several brands, including its flagship brand Wraps & Wings – one of the UK’s fastest-growing premium QSR brands. The brand specialises in high-quality craveable comfort food such as hand-rolled wraps, crispy chicken wings and loaded burgers. Alongside this, each site offers several virtual brands that empower franchisees to trade across all day parts and maximise profitability.

Olivia joined Eatphoria from Miscusi, Italy’s leading fast casual pasta brand, where she served as Brand Director and oversaw its national marketing strategy and execution. Before this, she spent nearly ten years at Eataly, the world’s largest artisanal Italian food and beverage marketplace, where she served in a number of roles, including Head of Marketing, and oversaw its B2C and B2B marketing and entry to the UK and Brazil.

Annabel Mackie

LNS

Annabel Mackie is Marketing Director at itsu, leading the brand’s digital, loyalty and customer experience agenda. With over 20 years’ experience in marketing leadership across agencies and brands, she is now focused on making itsu more discoverable, more rewarding, and more distinctive — ensuring the brand stays relevant across digital platforms and in-restaurant experiences.

Jim Cathcart

NRPBS

Jim joined UKHospitality as Policy Director in April 2018. His role is to identify and influence public policy impacting the sector across a wide range of areas. This includes current work around food and health policy, digital platforms, licensing, energy, copyright and competition. Jim has many years’ experience in representing business interests to the UK Government, Welsh and Scottish Governments, local authorities and the European Parliament.