Jessica Sansom

Jessica Sansom is a sustainability leader specialising in food systems transformation, recognised for her ability to turn environmental ambition into measurable business impact. With over 20 years' experience at major brands including Huel, Innocent Drinks, and McDonald's, she has shaped sustainability strategies across global supply chains and influenced industry standards at scale. As Chief Impact Officer at EIT Food, Europe's largest food innovation community, Jessica now unites start-ups, corporates, academics, and policymakers to accelerate sustainable innovation. Her sessions equip leaders with practical tools to embed sustainability into core operations, drive cross-sector collaboration, and build food systems that nourish both people and planet.

Jessica Sansom has transformed how some of the world's most recognised food brands approach sustainability, turning environmental responsibility from an aspiration into a commercial reality. Over more than two decades, she has led sustainability strategies at Huel, Innocent Drinks, and McDonald's, working across global supply chains to embed sustainable practices into every stage of the food value chain. From responsible sourcing and packaging innovation to animal welfare and sustainable agriculture, her work has consistently challenged industry norms and demonstrated that environmental action and business growth can advance together.

Her career reflects a rare combination of strategic vision and operational delivery. As Sustainability Director at Huel, she developed programmes that aligned nutrition, health, and environmental impact, ensuring the brand's rapid expansion was matched by rigorous sustainability standards. This included forging partnerships with mission-driven organisations such as Tony's Chocolonely to source cocoa responsibly through the Open Chain initiative. At Innocent Drinks, she shaped the company's approach to responsible sourcing and stakeholder engagement, earning recognition including the Guardian Sustainable Business Award, the Community Big Tick Award, and the Rainforest Alliance Frog Award. Her earlier role at McDonald's saw her initiate sustainable supply chain programmes and environmental management systems across UK, European, and global operations, influencing standards at unprecedented scale. Forbes and Ethical Corporation have both acknowledged her leadership in sustainable business, cementing her reputation as a practitioner who delivers measurable results.

As Chief Impact Officer at EIT Food, Europe's largest food innovation community, Jessica now leads efforts to build a future-fit food system through innovation, entrepreneurship, education, and public engagement. She convenes academic institutions, start-ups, corporates, and policymakers around a shared mission to produce healthy, sustainable food for all. Her speaking engagements equip leaders with practical frameworks to embed sustainability into core operations, navigate complex supply chains, and drive cross-sector collaboration. Audiences leave with actionable strategies to challenge the status quo, align commercial success with environmental responsibility, and create lasting positive impact. Jessica's work demonstrates that building a food system which nourishes both people and planet requires ambition matched by action, and her sessions inspire organisations to turn intention into tangible change.