CITY FOOD & DRINK LECTURE ANNOUNCES ALLAN WILKINSON AS NEW CHAIR AHEAD OF 2024 EVENT
City Food & Drink Lecture announces Allan Wilkinson as new chair ahead of 2024 event. The City Food & Drink Lecture is pleased to announce the appointment of Allan Wilkinson as its new Chair, ahead of the 2024 event on Monday March 11th, 2024, at London Guildhall.
Allan brings a wealth of experience to the role with his current tenure as Head of Agrifoods at HSBC UK, where he has been responsible for overseeing food chains and systems since 2015. Allan is actively part of various industry bodies, a trustee of The Royal Countryside Fund and also holds esteemed positions as a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Farmers and a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies.
His dedication to the industry is further evident through his longstanding involvement with the technical and organising committee of the City Food & Drink Lecture. This commitment underscores his passion for ensuring the success of this pivotal industry event, which brings together key figures in the food and drink industry to discuss pressing issues related to food and drink production, distribution, sustainability, marketing, sales, and consumption.
With the event approaching its 23rd year in 2024, the role of the Chair involves embracing the strong legacy and heritage of the event, which has consistently drawn over 600 attendees and is supported by the eight reputable liveries*. What is also key to Allan’s role is that he ensures the event, its content and the discussion on the night, looks to the future to ensure that the City Food & Drink Lecture continues to be a cornerstone in the industry.
This appointment follows the tenure of John Giles, who served as Chair of the City Food & Drink Lecture for 6 years, and prior to that its Technical Committee chair for some 15 years. In acknowledging John’s contributions, Allan aims to further build upon the efforts made during Giles’ leadership, continuing to steer the event towards new heights.
Allan Wilkinson said:
“It is a great honour and privilege to assume the role of Chair for the prestigious City Food & Drink Lecture at the Guildhall in London. This annual event has earned a commendable reputation over the years for its insightful thought leadership, featuring keynote speakers and panels addressing key issues in the UK food and drink sector. The event, held in the heart of London, attracts influential figures from the sector, including our valued sponsors. I express deep gratitude to John Giles for his contributions as the previous Chair and eagerly anticipate upholding the respected traditions of the City Food & Drink Lecture in the years to come.”
