Steven Alton

NRPBS

Steve Alton is the CEO of the BII, joining the independent membership organisation in September 2019 after previously being a member of the Trustee board.

In addition to his role as CEO, he sits on the board as a Trustee of the Skills and Education Group – a leading national awarding organisation, and a Director of Best Bar None, an accreditation scheme supported by the Home Office and drinks industry that aims to improve standards in the evening and night time economy.  

He is also a Trustee for the industry charity, Only a Pavement Away, which was set up to help vulnerable people who have experienced or are at risk of homelessness including, ex-service personnel and ex-offenders, into long-term stable employment within the hospitality industry.

Someone who enjoys getting involved, Steve is fully immersed in his own local community in rural Derbyshire, where he is a Trustee of the village hall, and also the licensee of the bar throughout the year for community events.

In 2022 he was one of 26 riders ‘Pedalling for Pubs’, in an endurance cycling challenge in Jordan last June supporting 2 key industry charities, the Licensed Trade Charity and Only a Pavement Away, raising nearly £280,000. In 2023, he is fundraising again, leading the ‘Pedalling 2 Pubs’ UK Edition, taking 50 riders to tackle the Yorkshire Wolds.

Jo Lynch

NRPBS

Jo brings over 20 of years of hospitality experience to KAM, across agency, operator and supplier businesses within the industry. Building her expertise across multiple projects and disciplines including research and insight, marketing and PR, sales driving, guest experience and operationally focussed projects.

Jo joined KAM at the end of 2022 in the role of Account Director, to help the support the team with their plans for the future development of the business, and work closely with our existing and future clients.

She is an accomplished conference presenter and panel host and is regularly seen on stage at industry events.

Niamh Noone

NOFS

Niamh Noone is Head of Marketing & Communications at Soil Association Certification – over the past eight years she has supported client businesses to grow by executing dynamic marketing campaigns like Organic September as well as developing messaging around the benefits of organic food and farming, building consumer insights, supporting retailers to position organic and leading key projects which straddle partner collaboration across the business, charity and external stakeholders.

Working closely with Soil Association’s Standards and Policy teams, Niamh has helped develop impactful statements based on peer-reviewed research and navigated the complex regulatory space around making environmental and health claims about organic.

Nicolas Gaillot

LNS

A commercially driven senior executive with over 25 years of international leadership experience across hospitality, retail, and franchise businesses in the UK, Ireland, and France. Brings a proven track record of scaling multi-site operations, leading market entry strategies, and delivering business transformation with a focus on sustainable growth, operational excellence, and profitability.

Successfully led the launch of Paris Baguette into the UK market, establishing the governance, operational infrastructure, and franchise model to support long-term expansion. Previous executive leadership roles with Vagabond Wines, Le Pain Quotidien, La Bottega, and Villandry included responsibility for businesses with revenues of up to £41 million and teams of more than 1,000 employees.

Recognised for strategic thinking, commercial acumen, and a collaborative leadership style, with extensive expertise in governance, business growth, operational transformation, franchise development, and building high-performing teams. Passionate about supporting organisations through growth, change, and long-term value creation.

Brett Parker

LNS

I’m a Property, Facilities & Sustainability leader with 20+ years’ experience turning growth plans into high-performing, compliant, customer-ready spaces across retail, workplaces and hospitality. I lead acquisitions, negotiations, and end-to-end fit-outs through opening, while keeping large estates running efficiently and balancing standards, safety, cost, and pace without losing sight of the experience on site.

At GAIL’s, I helped deliver 150+ new bakery openings and managed maintenance across a 187-store portfolio, alongside ongoing lease events, supplier tendering and operational improvements. My focus is always the same: create environments that work operationally, protect the brand, and scale sustainably without overcomplicating the solution.

I’ve supported brand and concept growth across projects including Heidi, Blackbird, and TeeGo, delivering calmly under pressure and managing stakeholders from boardroom to site level. Outside of work, I volunteer as a Community First Responder with the London Ambulance Service, which keeps me grounded in teamwork, clarity, and making the right call when it matters.

Mark Machin

NOFS

Mark joined Soil Association Certification in 2002 to deliver our flagship Food for Life Served Here certification program. Having worked across the food system; as a chef developing rural supply chains for small organic growers, then in fast moving fresh fish supply chains direct selling to the hospitality sector.
He now supports ‘fast riser’ organic brands to navigate the organic market and build an organic market for the future; an organic market for all.

Bharti Radix

LNS

Bharti Radix is the founder of BloomsYard—and is the kind of leader who brings people, purpose and brilliant ideas together.

With over 20 years in hospitality, Bharti has worked with some of the UK’s most well-known food and drink brands, helping scale operations, build high-performing teams, and launch products that customers love.

Bharti knew there had to be a different way of doing things. A more human way. And so, BloomsYard was born. BloomsYard is a Café Wine Bar concept and has seven sites in London.

Today, Bharti leads BloomsYard with heart and intention—creating spaces that feel good and do good, from the coffee in your cup to the culture behind the counter.

Through her personal brand, Hospitality B she mentors hospitality founders, provides CFO and NED services and speaks on panels about inclusive leadership, sustainable growth and what it really takes to build a business that lasts.

Gavin Rothwell

LNS

Gavin’s focus is on helping businesses enhance their food-to-go proposition, working with clients across Europe to deliver this, often through his retail & food-to-go safari solutions. A core part of this is tracking innovative and inspirational food-to-go concept development. Prior to founding Food Futures Insights in 2019, he established and led IGD’s food-to-go insight and retail safari programmes.