FOOD systems expert Dr Tamsin Cooper is stepping into the role of Co-Chair at Chefs in Schools, the charity has revealed.
Dr Cooper, Managing Director of leading advisory business, the Forward Institute, will take the role alongside the existing chair, Henry Dimbleby.
Chefs in Schools works to transform child health through the power of great school food and food education.
The charity works hands on in school kitchens, offering in-depth training which transforms the food and food education on offer to pupils. It also offers shorter training courses and workshops that teach school chefs how to make food education a part of any visit to the dining hall.
To date, the charity’s work has reached over 100,000 children, laying the foundations for a life-long love of nourishing food.
Tamsin steps into the new role as the charity accelerates its mission to train up thousands of chefs in the coming years.
The former lead civil servant on the National Food Strategy will bring extensive experience as a political strategist and policy advocate on climate and agriculture issues to the charity.
In April 2022 Cooper was named as one of the 10 most powerful women in food, drink and grocery by The Grocer. Tamsin is driven by an ambition for school food to be delicious and to have a positive impact on children’s health.
Tamsin has served as a trustee at the charity since 2023 and hopes this new role will further her ambition to have a positive impact on children’s health through delicious, good-quality food.
Commenting on her appointment, Dr Cooper said:
“It’s a great privilege to co-chair Chefs in Schools alongside Henry Dimbleby. I first came across the charity through the National Food Strategy when I ate a delicious lunch alongside pupils and teachers at a primary school in Hackney. Colourful plates, happy children, no waste. It always fills me with hope when I receive photos of the food our dedicated chefs are serving in schools across the country. Changing our food system is possible.”
The announcement comes during a busy period for the charity, which has now transformed food and food education in 130 schools and provided workshops and training for 160 more. In total, the charity has reached over 100,000 children across the country, focusing on schools with high levels of deprivation.
Naomi Duncan, Chief Executive, said:
“We’re so pleased that Tamsin is taking on the role of co-chair to share advice and insights that will guide us as we continue to grow. Transforming food and food education in schools requires constant innovation and a solutions focussed approach and it is vitally important to get right. Every day in the dining hall is an opportunity to educate children about varied diets and a chance to ensure they have the fuel they need to learn.”
Cooper will be stepping up to co-lead the board of trustees, alongside current chair and co-founder, Henry Dimbleby – reviving a partnership that created the ambitious National Food Strategy for DEFRA in 2021. Dimbleby, who recently launched Bramble Partners to turbocharge improvements in the food system, welcomes his former colleague into the joint role.
He said:
“I am enormously excited to work again with Tamsin to support this trail-blazing charity. Having worked together on the National Food Strategy, I have every confidence that Chefs in Schools is in great hands and together, we can continue the charity’s essential work to fuel the future.”
By 2027, Chefs in Schools wants its influence felt across the whole of the UK, Ireland and beyond.
As well as providing high quality, impactful training in schools, the charity works with campaigners and Government to achieve lasting reforms.
Its toolkits are free to download from the website for any school. Schools requiring in-depth help should enquire about the training on offer. All of this work aims to ensure every child, regardless of age, income or location, experiences exciting, nutritious food in school.
To find out more about Chefs in Schools, please visit: chefsinschools.org.uk.
