Board of directors, AGM & membership
The work of the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership is overseen and steered by its Board of Directors who are elected at the Annual General meeting by our members.
Membership
Are you passionate about transforming your local food system, and would like to be involved in our mission of providing healthy, fair, and sustainable food for all in Brighton & Hove? Becoming a member of the Food Partnership entitles you to vote in our Annual General Meeting (AGM), where we present our yearly work and accounts, as well as standing for election to our Board of Directors. The Board of Directors meet quarterly to discuss finance, funding, campaigns, services, events, partnership working, membership and strategy, providing input and guidance into the work we do.
To apply to become a member, please fill out this form. To become a member, you need to be living and working in Brighton & Hove, and over the age of 16. Once accepted, you will be added to a mailing list to receive information about the dates for the next AGM, and any other special meetings, and any voting on written resolutions. Membership lasts for three years.
Annual General Meeting
Our AGM takes place yearly in September. They are an opportunity for us to present our annual work and our annual accounts, as well as to decide on any resolutions that need to be passed. Our AGMs generally feature a relevant guest speaker, and at the end there is food provided and the opportunity to meet the team.
The minutes, and presentation, from our previous AGMs are available below. We also share our annual Impact reports online.
- AGM Minutes 2024
- AGM Presentation 2024
- AGM Minutes 2023
- AGM Presentation 2023
- AGM Minutes 2022
- AGM Presentation 2022
- AGM Presentation 2021
Who is on the board
The Board is accountable to members of the Food Partnership. Board members are elected each year at the annual general meeting. The Board is made up of up to nine Food Partnership members elected by the membership to represent the membership at Board level. These elected members are the directors of the company and are supported by appointed and co-opted members who add to the extensive range of skills and expertise on the Board. There is an appointed place for Food Matters (as founders) and for a Councillor from Brighton and Hove City Council.
What the board does
The Board of Directors meet quarterly to discuss finance, funding, campaigns, services, events, partnership working, membership and strategy. There is also a Finance Sub Committee who meet regularly and make recommendations to the Board based on financial reporting and accounts. Management reports are reviewed at each meeting and both the Director of the Food Partnership and the Chair report on recent activity and relevant business.
Find out more about the board’s Annual General Meeting and reports from previous events.
Declaration of Interests
BHFP is committed to ensuring the independence and integrity of our work. We strive, therefore, to be transparent about any interests that our partners and service users might wish to know about. We keep a register of interests for our board of directors and senior managers. If you wish to see this register, please contact us.
Board of Directors – current members
Cllr Mitchie Alexander
Appointed Councillor representative from B&H City Council and community garden leader.
Barbara Hurwood
Brings experience in commercial and procurement law.
Kim Paykel
Brings sustainability, innovation & business management expertise with a passion for food systems transformation.
Julia Stent
Advisor to startups and technology companies, supporting strategy & business development.
Noeleen Keane
Works in the low-carbon energy sector, bringing commercial & governance expertise.
James Woodward
Downland Estate Manager for BHCC. Brings experience of working nationally on sustainable farming.
Fiona Hamilton
Director of Strategic Growth at William Murray PR & Marketing, working with major food brands.
Oliver Sykes
Environment Agency Manager and local Councillor bringing finance & sustainability expertise.