Hosts and Guests

Michael Beckett

Chief Officer, Colchester Foodbank

Mike Beckett serves Colchester Foodbank charity as Chief Officer, the busiest Foodbank in the East of England. A Chartered Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors (IoD) and awarded the IoD East of England's prestigious Chairs Award Director of the Year 2021. Mike has a career running charities - he has managed a Citizens Advice charity and been Chief Officer of a Mind charity in the past. Mike's life goal is to help people. 

Chiara Saunders

Chief Officer, East Suffolk Citizens Advice

Chiara has been appointed the Chief Officer of Citizens Advice East Suffolk as from 22nd June 2022.  She has a background in commercial and investment banking and in education. She currently runs the Citizens Advice office in Leiston where she initially worked as a volunteer general adviser and then as a money adviser. 

Citizens Advice provides advice on a range of issues covering benefits, employment, health, debt, housing, family matters and consumer rights. The current increase in the cost of living and the effect it is having on local communities is an area of concern and Chiara’s team offers budgeting advice and practical support where possible. 

Emma Crowhurst

Local Chef

Emma Crowhurst has enjoyed a varied career, which has encompassed many years as a chef working at some of London’s most prestigious restaurants.  Emma was Head Teacher at the famous Leith’s School of Food and Wine in Kensington, before co-presenting BBC2’s Food and Drink Programme; appearing on Ready Steady Cook; Celebrity Chef Weakest Link and The Generation Game. 

Emma has continued to enjoy teaching cookery workshops, private lessons and corporate and leisure cooking days. Her cookery workshops are among the most popular in Suffolk.  She is also known for her hosting of the chef’s stage at the highly regarded Aldeburgh Food Festival. 

She works with various organisations to promote healthy eating, reduce food waste and single use plastics.  Moreover, she volunteers with 4YP, a comic relief funded young people’s charity, to encourage healthy eating and cookery skills among young people in Suffolk.  

On teaching young people; she says’ I want the children to understand ingredients and enjoy all aspects of homecooked food. Nutrition and healthy eating are vital for our growing young people. Knowledge is power and being able to cook will last them a lifetime!

Lynn Warner

Engagement Manager

Having enjoyed a career with a FTSE 100 drink company and Ipswich Town Football Club, Lynn joined the Community team at the East of England Co-op in 2013 and is the Engagement Manager.  The Engagement team manage the funding for small donations and sponsorships, attend community outreach events and run the member engagement programme which includes the Annual Members Meeting, How Your Co-op Works (animated video series) and Your Co-op Live.

Helen Raven

Senior Community Manager, East of England Co-op

Helen has over 20 years’ experience in communications and marketing in the public sector and more recently for the East of England Co-op where she supported the Community Team before taking on the role of Senior Community Manager. 

Having started her career at a regional newspaper creating free websites for local good causes and charities to promote themselves and their activities, Helen has come full circle in her role helping local community groups to access funding and support.