Members of the ACSS

The ACSS comprises an independent chair and nine independent members.

The members of the ACSS are:

Ms Julie Hill (Chair)

Julie Hill Julie Hill has a background in environmental policy and politics. She has been Executive Director of Green Alliance (a leading UK NGO), Deputy Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (which led the public debate on GM crops), a board member of the Eden Project and of the Environment Agency for England and Wales. She has also recently been Chair of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), and an Independent Board Member of the Consumer Council for Water. She is presently Chair of the Institution of Environmental Sciences and a Non-executive Director of the Office for Environmental Protection.  She has written extensively on environmental issues, including a popular book ‘The Secret Life of Stuff’. 

Professor Julie Barnett (Deputy Chair)

Julie Barnett is Professor of Health Psychology and Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research at the University of Bath. Julie is a social and health psychologist with research experience and interests around risk perception and risk communication, loneliness and social connection and experiences of managing food hypersensitivity.

Professor Dan Rigby

Daniel Rigby is a Professor of Environmental Economics at the University of Manchester, and also holds a position at the University of Western Australia. He has been undertaking research in food and agriculture for over 20 years with his work increasingly focused on food and food safety.

Professor George Gaskell

George Gaskell Emeritus professor social psychology and research methodology.  At the London School of Economics, he co-founded the Department of Methodology and was Pro-Director Planning and Resources (2007-2014).  External roles include vice-chair of the European Commission’s Science and Society Advisory Committee for the 6th FP (2003-2005) and membership EFSA’s Advisory Group on Risk Communication (2005-2012).  He was awarded the Gago Medal for lifetime contributions to European Science Policy (2017).  He is a member of LSE and Partners Consortium on Behavioural Science, conducting studies in support of European Commission policy making. 

Dr Hannah Lambie-Mumford

Hannah Lambie-Mumford is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Sheffield and a Co-Director of SPERI. She has undertaken research on food insecurity, food charity and public policy responses to food access issues for funders including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the British Academy. 

Dr Seda Erdem

Seda Erdem is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Stirling. She has a background in behavioural science and food economics.

Professor Spencer Henson

Spencer Henson is a Professor at the University of Guelph in Canada and Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in the UK. He is recognised internationally for his expertise on food safety and quality.

Professor Charlotte Hardman

Charlotte Hardman BSc PhD FHEA is a Professor of Psychology of Eating Behaviour at the University of Liverpool. She has over 20 years' experience of conducting research on the psychology of food-related behaviours (>90 peer-reviewed publications), and brings a wealth of methodological skills, knowledge and networks in healthy and sustainable food choices. She leads research teams in major interdisciplinary projects funded by UKRI’s Transforming UK Food Systems Strategic Priorities Fund, and the European Commission’s Horizon 2020-funded SWEET consortium. She is a founding member of the Liverpool Food Growers Network and a trustee of Feeding Liverpool. 

Professor Fiona Gillison

Fiona Gillison is a Professor of Health Psychology and Deputy Director of the Centre for Motivation and Health Behaviour Change at the University of Bath. Her research interests include the design and delivery of behaviour change interventions, particularly related to the promotion of a healthy weight, and the application of health communication theory. 

Dr Naomi Maynard

Naomi Maynard is the Good Food Programme Director at Feeding Liverpool, leading Liverpool’s food alliance and Good Food Plan. Previously Naomi has worked as the Food Insecurity Lead Executive at Together Liverpool, and a Senior Researcher at Church Army’s Research Unit, leading qualitative and participatory research.  Since 2010, Naomi has conducted research and consultancy for a variety of voluntary and faith organisations, focusing on food insecurity and poverty. Naomi recently co-authored Dignity, Hope, Choice, an impact evaluation of the Your Local Pantry network. Naomi’s doctorate was in Human Geography at Newcastle University, with a focus on participatory methods and youth activism. It was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Naomi volunteers at her local food pantry in Everton.