Power, policy and accountability in food: who really shapes change?
July Expert Event for Members
Thursday 9th July, 2026
10:00am - 11:00am GMT | Online
The pressure on food businesses is no longer only coming from inside the business. It is increasingly being shaped by policy signals, investor expectations, public scrutiny, activism and the wider standards by which accountability is now judged.
That is what makes this moment harder to navigate. Not every issue moves at the same speed, not every pressure carries the same weight and not every organisation has equal power to shape the conversation.
Many of the forces shaping the future of food are no longer controlled by individual businesses. Investor expectations, policy interventions, public campaigns, media scrutiny and shifting definitions of corporate responsibility are increasingly influencing the decisions organisations can make and the licence they have to operate.
For senior leaders, understanding these dynamics is no longer a public affairs issue. It is becoming a strategic leadership capability.
This is the focus of Future Food Movement’s July Expert Event, where we will bring together perspectives from policy, investor engagement, responsible investment and systems leadership to explore a live question for the sector: who really shapes change in food, and how?
Joining the conversation are:
Ana Cuddeford, Head of Investor Engagement, Inside Track, working with investors and industry leaders to navigate long-term food system risks and opportunities.
Catherine Howarth, Chief Executive, ShareAction , one of the world's leading voices on responsible investment and corporate accountability.
Hannah Brinsden, Head of Policy and Advocacy, The Food Foundation , shaping some of the UK's most influential food policy debates.
Polly Mackenzie, CEO, Zinc Innovation Partners , CEO of Zinc Innovation Partners and former Director of Policy to the Deputy Prime Minister, bringing deep expertise in how ideas move from innovation to policy and system change.
Hosted by Future Food Movement founder Kate Cawley, the discussion will examine where influence sits across the food system, how power is exercised, why some issues gather momentum while others do not and what this means for leaders navigating trust, responsibility and growing external pressure.
Together, the panel offers a rare opportunity to understand how change is shaped from multiple angles including policy, capital, innovation, public pressure and corporate influence.
The leaders best positioned for the future are often not those with the strongest sustainability strategy or communications plan. They are the leaders who understand where influence sits, how decisions are shaped and which signals are most likely to become tomorrow's commercial reality.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of where influence sits across the food system, which external forces are likely to shape business priorities over the coming years and how to navigate an increasingly complex landscape of accountability, trust and stakeholder expectations.
This session is designed for leaders working across sustainability, strategy, communications, brand, corporate affairs, public affairs and investment, and for anyone trying to make sense of a more contested and fast-moving environment.
Future Food Movement Expert Events are a member benefit. If you are not currently a member and would like to discuss membership, please contact hello@futurefoodmovement.com.