Event Timings

8.00 am	Arrival, Refreshments and Networking
8.45 am	Seated Breakfast
10.00 am	Overview of the Healthcare Sector
10.15 am	Panel discussion with audience Q&A
11.15 am	Refreshments and Networking
12.00 noon	Guests Depart

The Event

Our speakers are:-

Philip Shelley, Senior Operational & Policy Manager – Soft FM, National Lead for Food, NHS England 

Rob Jepson, CEO Health and Care UK & Ireland, Sodexo

Leanne McDowell, Head of Dietetics & Nutrition, ISS Healthcare

Saachi Avis, Head of Dietetics (Healthcare), Compass UK&I

At this event, guests in attendance will experience the following:-

Inspiring insight:  the event will begin with an interesting overview of the healthcare sector presented by Phil Shelley from NHS England.  

Panel Discussion ‘The Importance of Healthcare Catering’: The healthcare sector is constantly working to improve catering quality for patients, staff, and visitors nationwide within healthcare facilities.  Our expert panel of speakers will explore how food quality, nutrition, service delivery, innovation, challenges and opportunities are impacting the healthcare catering sector.

Topics up for Discussion include:-

• How are caterers within the healthcare sector balancing nutrition, cost, sustainability and patient choice when it comes to menu design 
• The importance of balancing commercial performance with wellbeing and sustainability goals within healthcare retail outlets
• What are the key relationships for successful healthcare catering e.g. dietetics, nursing, finance, procurement, 
• How are caterers working with suppliers to enhance the catering offering
• How have contract catering providers evolved from service suppliers to strategic partners within the NHS
• How are caterers improving the patient experience through different menus
• what's in store for the future of the healthcare catering sector

plus much more!
 

Seated Breakfast:  Guests will enjoy a Continental and English Breakfast within the Sofitel’s Westminster Suite.

Plus there will also be plenty of opportunities to network with customers and industry colleagues.

Tickets are strictly limited to 100 guests so book early to avoid disappointment.

Meet Our Speakers

Philip Shelley, Senior Operational & Policy Manager – Soft FM, National Lead for Food, NHS England

Philip leads Soft FM operations at NHS England, driving policy and service improvements across healthcare facilities. Current responsibilities are to progress all areas of Soft FM, within the structure of operational and policy leadership. The roll out of improvement following the national healthcare cleaning standards and national healthcare food standards is continual and Philip is also responsible to add portering standards in future months as well as leading on Food as part of the Greener NHS Programme.

Philip chaired the NHS Food Review, commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care after the 2019 Listeria outbreak. He continues to collaborate with the Department of Health & Social Care, having responsibility for the National Standards for Food & Drink in Healthcare.

Having served as National Chair of the Hospital Catering Association, he proactively drives collaboration between fellow organisations such as the British Dietetic Association, Health Estates and Facilities Management Association and Malnutrition Task Force, with the aim to strengthen a holistic approach to catering services for patients, staff and visitors in healthcare across the 4 nations.

His contributions have earned him the Hospital Catering Association’s Outstanding Service Award (2020), the Public Sector Alliance Chairs Award 2025, the Lifetime Achievement Award for the Public Sector 2025 and the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Food Service Catey’s 2025.

As an ambassador for Love British Food, WRAP’s Guardians of Grub and Sophie’s Legacy, he looks to integrate these principles when working across all healthcare sites.

Rob Jepson, CEO Health and Care UK & Ireland, Sodexo

Rob has more than 25 years of facilities management experience across healthcare, retail, education, and corporate real estate. A recognised national leader in estates and facilities, he has led one of the largest and most complex estates portfolios in the NHS as Group Director of Estates & Facilities at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. With experience in wider support services such as clinical engineering and retail optimisation, he has been able to combine strategic insight, operational expertise and commercial acumen to drive growth and support client priorities for safe and reliable services.  He is passionate about people development, particularly championing apprenticeships to develop the workforce at all levels.

Leanne McDowell, Head of Dietetics & Nutrition, ISS Healthcare

Leanne is Head of Dietetics & Nutrition for ISS Healthcare and an HCPC registered dietitian with a specialist background in oncology. Driven by a strong belief in the power of food, Leanne leads the organisation’s nutrition strategy, enhancing patient recovery, wellbeing, and mealtime experience across NHS hospital settings. Leanne plays a pivotal role in connecting clinical teams, catering operations and organisational leadership. She works collaboratively to develop food and nutrition solutions that elevate the patient experience, empower staff with a better understanding of the food‑health link, and embed sustainable, prevention‑focused practices across the system.

Leanne brings extensive expertise in therapeutic nutrition, recovery after illness, and the role of food in prevention and long‑term health. Her work strengthens evidence‑based hospital food services and drives innovation that supports the NHS’s shift toward more prevention‑focused, digitally enabled, and seamless care. Aligned with the priorities of the NHS 10‑Year Health Plan, Leanne champions prevention‑led nutritional care, advances technology‑enabled approaches within food services, and develops strategies that improve continuity of care from hospital into the community. Her leadership helps ensure that nutrition plays a central role in improving health outcomes, reducing avoidable illness, and supporting a more modern, connected healthcare system. Alongside her role at ISS, Leanne serves as Secretary of the British Dietetic Association’s Food Services Specialist Group, contributing to national standards and best practice across the dietetic profession.

Saachi Avis, Head of Dietetics (Healthcare), Compass UK&I

Saachi leads the Compass UK & I Healthcare Dietetics Team, ensuring that food and drink consistently meet legislative requirements, essential standards, and evidence-based guidelines. Her team plays a crucial role in safeguarding the safety and wellbeing of patients, residents, staff, and visitors. They oversee the nutritional and therapeutic aspects of service delivery, driving continuous improvement in food quality, nutritional care, and the overall dining experience. Saachi is deeply passionate about elevating food standards across healthcare and creating positive, memorable mealtime experiences.

With 12 years of experience as a Food Service Dietitian, Saachi began her career as a clinical dietitian in the NHS, specialising in oncology. During that time, she particularly valued collaborating with diet chefs to design bespoke meals for patients recovering from stem cell transplants - an experience that sparked her interest in the catering side of dietetics.

Saachi is currently the Chair of the British Dietetic Association’s Food Service Specialist Group and has contributed to several key BDA publications, including the Nutrition and Hydration Digest, the Mental Health Supplementary Guidance, and the Care Home Digest.

Meet Our Panel Host

Nicola Knight, Head of Away from Home, IGD

Nicola specialises in providing insight on global strategic developments in the away from home and food to go sectors for clients such as Sysco, Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola, Compass and Greggs.

With over 20 years’ experience, she is one of the creators of IGD's away from home market forecast and unique total consumption view of the UK food and drink market.

IGD brings together stakeholders from across the food system, fostering action on critical challenges through a broad cross-section of forums. Through evidence-based insights, credible research, and thought leadership, IGD guides businesses to make informed decisions that not only benefit their operations but also contribute to the collective good of society.