British Nutrition Foundation Trustee Recruitment

Closing date: 11 April 2025

The British Nutrition Foundation is a UK charity committed to evidence-based nutrition science.

Having reviewed and refreshed our Strategy in the last two years, we have recently restated our Purpose to place greater emphasis on public health.

Today, our purpose is promoting health and wellbeing and preventing diet-related ill health through evidence-based nutrition science, and we hope to be a bridge between nutrition science, government, industry, education and people, and a conduit to a healthier, more sustainable food environment for all.

With the retirement of Professor Colin Dennis, a longstanding trustee and former chair of the foundation, and of Luke Stockill, former Commercial Director for Morrisons, having recently located to Australia, we are seeking to recruit two new trustees to help take forward the work of the Foundation.

Trustee roles are unpaid but reasonable expenses are reimbursed.

Person specification (1)

All Trustees of the British Nutrition Foundation must be able to develop a thorough understanding of the charity’s core purpose, the issues it faces over the coming years and the strategy for ensuring our continued development and success, and have an understanding of, commitment to and enthusiasm for nutrition and sustainable food.

All act independently and do not in any way represent their organisations.

In addition, the specific skills required are:

• strategic thinking; able to ensure the Foundation has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focussed on achieving its charitable aims
• knowledge and experience of the food and nutrition ecosystem at a national or local level
• able to take a 3-5-year view of the issues and opportunities facing the British Nutrition Foundation and get above the day to day
• able to act as a sounding board for the Board and senior leadership team of the Foundation (Chief Executive and direct reports) and to advise on strategic issues from time to time, as needed
• a creative thinker who can help the Foundation see and seize opportunities and provide value-driven insights and advice
• able to understand and take on the legal responsibilities of Trustees, and
• a demonstrable commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

In addition:

• Experience at a senior level in public health, ideally a Director of Public Health or former director, or senior expertise in a related field. We see this trustee role as providing a link with the Advisory Committee.
• Excellent knowledge of current issues in public health and food-related ill health, with a specific interest in the role of the food environment in shaping health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations.
• Able to use their knowledge of funding networks to advise the executive team on income diversification.
• Able to be an advocate for the work of the Foundation and from time to time, support or advise on public affairs and/or communications activity.

Person specification (2)

In addition to good experience of consumer or customer health and nutrition considerations, we are specifically looking for an individual with strong commercial and business development experience in a UK consumer food, or food retail environment (in-store, online, out of home or contract catering).

This should include responsibility at a senior level for income and profit targets, and strong commercial insights into the business opportunities and risks associated with the UK public health agenda.

Other general requirements are:

• An understanding of, commitment to and enthusiasm for healthy, sustainable diets.
• Awareness of how the world is changing politically, economically and socially and how these changes may impact the charity and its commitment to help everyone eat a healthy, sustainable diet.
• A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and the Foundation’s values.
• Strategic vision with an ability to focus on practical issues
• Experience of serving on a committee or Board (or the aptitude to be a credible contributor).
• A team player able to debate issues in a constructive and collegiate manner.
• An ability and willingness to be an ambassador for the charity and to represent the charity positively to external audiences, in particular with senior commercial stakeholders.
• Previous trustee experience in a UK charity is desirable.
• Experience in organisations that have a built strong digital engagement with the public, stakeholders and interest groups is desirable.

In addition to Board responsibilities, it is hoped this trustee would be a member of the Foundation’s Finance, Audit & Risk Committee.

Time commitment

The Board meets four times per year online and has one all day strategy workshop in April or July.

In addition, Trustees who are members of either the HR & Remuneration Committee or the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee attend four Committee meetings per year.

Trustees are warmly invited to attend regular all hands meetings, to support Task & Finish Groups, and to attend the Foundation’s Annual Conference in November each year.

For further information about these roles, or to speak to the foundation's Chief Executive, please contact Emma Rowley at e.rowley@nutrition.org.uk.

Please also complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form and send it along with your CV and supporting statement.

Our approach to diversity is simple —it’s about embracing everyone, and everyone is welcome at the British Nutrition Foundation. We are committed to welcoming all applicants with the right skills, regardless of gender identity, orientation or expression, age, race, physical or mental ability, neuro diversity, ethnicity, social background and perspective. Diversity fuels innovation, brings diversity of thought, and connects us more closely to the organisations and people we work with.  If you need any specific arrangements to be made or considerations to be taken during our recruitment and selection process to enable you to perform at your best, please let us know in your covering letter.