“Living and working in Greece during the financial crisis for many years, I experienced food insecurity firsthand. These experiences showed me how external shocks can impact people’s ability to maintain healthy diets, even when they’re working hard to make ends meet. This personal insight drove my passion for building resilient food systems and understanding how unexpected crises – whether financial, COVID-19, or Brexit – affect communities’ access to nutritious food, which in turn can significantly impact their physical and mental health.
My unconventional journey through 12 years of military leadership and 4 years in operations at Amazon has shaped my ability to solve complex problems. In the military, I learned the critical importance of robust supply chains and efficient resource distribution, as well as the importance of efficient stakeholder management. At Amazon, I developed my skills in operational excellence and large-scale logistics management. This diverse 16-year career has enhanced my interdisciplinary approach to complex problem-solving and stakeholder engagement.
My academic foundation includes a BSc in Geography and MSc in Operations, Project and Supply Chain Management, complemented by published research in health inequalities and supply chain management. This interdisciplinary background has equipped me to address complex food system challenges through both theoretical and practical lenses, utilising GIS, geographical analysis and spatial modelling to solve real-world problems.
Currently, my project I am working on is investigating how supply chain disruptions in fruit and vegetable distribution affect diet quality among disadvantaged populations. My research combines quantitative analysis of supply chain networks and diet modelling with stakeholder engagement in Southampton, serving as a detailed case study. Using spatial data science, network optimisations, simulations, forecasting, consumer purchasing behaviour analysis and collaborative approaches with the local city council and local businesses, I will work to identify strategies that enhance dietary resilience through improved supply chain design.
What drives me is the belief that everyone deserves access to healthy food, regardless of circumstances. Through evidence-based approaches and innovative solutions, I aim to create sustainable changes in food systems that benefit vulnerable communities. With my experience bridging theory and implementation, I’m always eager to collaborate with others who share this vision of creating more equitable and resilient food systems. Please feel free to get in touch if you want to connect and discuss future research ideas or potential collaborations in addressing food system challenges.”