Team
Mark Drewell
Executive Chairman
His agriculture and land management experience includes seven years chairing a 35,000-hectare mixed farming, conservation and tourism enterprise in South Africa as well as co-owning a 700 hectare farm and conference centre where he applied regenerative farming to restore degraded land and improve economic performance. He has also served in the UK as a director of the Biodynamic Land Trust which owns and manages farms for ecological outcome. In a wider conservation context, he has chaired the largest local environmental NGO in Southern Africa which pioneered techniques of working with farmers to improve conservation and social impacts while simultaneously making them more economically productive.
Educated at Oxford University, Mark’s business career included a decade on the executive committee of a South African multinational with operations in 30+ countries including across Europe. As the executive responsible for investor relations in two listed companies, he has worked extensively with investors worldwide. He has served in numerous leadership roles in society including Founding Chair and CEO of the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative – 100 global companies and business schools transforming leadership development at the world’s 20,000 business schools. He has served advisory boards at The University of Pretoria, South Africa, The University of Cumbria, UK and The Business School of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Professionally, Mark is also a brand and communications expert and served on the board of the 14,000-member International Association of Business Communicators, also chairing their world conference. In thought leadership, he is co-author of The Rise of the Meaningful Economy. Its ground-breaking insights explore how meaning has become a new currency changing our economic choices in terms of what we buy, where we work, how we invest and how we run our organisations.
Marcus Link
CEO
At Riverford Farm Foods (which is the market leader in organic vegetable box schemes in the UK), he was instrumental in scaling up the meat box home delivery side of the business from a small local scheme to a major national player. He has established a Masters programme Researching Agroecology at Crossfields Institute and led the planning and bid phase of a biodynamic community-supported agriculture scheme (CSA) on the Dartington Hall Estate in Devon. He recently co-authored for the national Food, Farming & Countryside Commission a substantial research piece on the economic dimensions and bankability of agroecological approaches with regard to the creation of an Agroecology Development Bank in the UK.
Marcus brings a deep for-purpose mindset and an entrepreneurial drive to New Foundation Farms. He has developed his skills in a series of business opportunities in new technologies and emerging industries at executive and board level. His experience covers start-up, high-growth and turnaround situations across food and farming, digital platforms, renewable energy, education and cultural organisations.
In his early career, Marcus co-founded the vertical online marketplace windpoweronline.com and the ecommerce development and digital marketing agency Vu Online Ltd.
From 2012 to 2019, first as chairman of the board then as chair of the executive leadership team, Marcus led the restructure and turnaround of an alternative co-educational independent day and boarding school.
Marcus studied philosophy, religious studies and business. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).
Wayne Gibbins
COO / CTO
Wayne spent three years as a Venture Capitalist at Notion Capital examining companies in the space of B2B SaaS, Enterprise Software, Artificial Intelligence and Developer Tooling. He was Chief Commercial Officer at Wercker and supported its fundraising, growth and final sale to Oracle Corporation.
Following a sabbatical period where he researched such topics as community, permaculture and regenerative agriculture he has retargeted his career to focus on Agriculture and brings scientific rigour, technological understanding and an innovation mindset to the industry.
He is digging deep into scientific and technological solutions to accelerate the transition of farming to regenerative including current participation in an MSc Agricultural Technology & Innovation at the Royal Agricultural University and working closely with AgriFood Tech businesses through his advisory work. Throughout the last 10 years he has advised a variety of companies on topics such as technology, strategy and operations, both directly and through a variety of leading business accelerators.
Whilst his Masters’ degree is in Agriculture he holds a Bachelor’s Degree, Software Engineering (BEng) from Manchester, and brings a broad knowledge of technologies and approaches to their utilisation to solve industry problems.
He has particular interests in Soil Science, Artificial Intelligence, AgTech, the Future of Food and the Future of Agriculture and brings those interests together for New Foundation Farms as our Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer COO/CTO designate, ensuring farming operations are conducted efficiently and effectively by the appropriate use of science, technology and ecologically centred processes.
Wayne is a member of international networks Global Regeneration CoLab & Top Tier Impact and is a student member of the Institute of Agricultural Engineers (IAE), British Society of Soil Science and the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants.
Associate Regenerative Farm Planner & Designer
Edmund Sutcliffe
Associate Regenerative Farm Planner & Designer
Edmund Sutcliffe MChem (Oxon) brings a great deal of practical experience which comes from living and working on a family farm, managing a suckler herd of Aberdeen Angus X cattle. An internship with Richard Perkins gave him experience of managing small-scale, intensive, regenerative enterprises and provided him with training in Keyline Design, financial planning and farm design.
Edmund has used this training and the REX course offered by Darren Doherty as a base from which to develop further skills in whole farm planning and design.
Whilst studying Chemistry at Oxford, Edmund discovered permaculture which convinced him that the biological sciences were more appropriate for a sustainable agriculture. This led to the study of root exudates and rhizosphere interactions for his MChem, followed by detailed analysis of the incredible complexity of soil.
Edmund is qualified as an Accredited Professional and Trainer in Holistic Management, having completed the training in Holistic Management with Chris and Sheila Cooke. He is also an Ecological Outcome Verification Monitor with the Savory Institute.
International Advisory Group
Expert Advisor
Paul Pizzala
Finance & Investor Relations
Paul Pizzala set up Impact Capital Advisors to bring regenerative enterprises to the market.
He has a 20-year career in finance and investment primarily managing portfolios for senior executives in investment banking, private equity and for professionals and successful entrepreneurs.
Over the past eight years, he completed an MSc in Holistic Science to be a sustainability and regenerative specialist including renewable energy project finance, advising on climate risk and heading business development for one of Europe’s leading impact investors.
Impact Capital Advisors works with entrepreneurs developing regenerative businesses and advises on strategy, marketing and capital raising utilising their extensive network of partners and helps to manage and develop complex projects.
Paul holds a BA Economics, an MA Finance and Investment and an MSc in Holistic Science.
Expert Advisor
Kirsty Saddler
Brand & Enterprise Development
Kirsty is a strategist, marketer and advocate for impact based strategies in business. She has worked for 15 years at creative agencies in London and New York, working on brands such as Unilever, Sony, BBC and Volkswagen to develop award-winning brand, marketing and communications strategies. This was during a time when more and more valid questions were emerging about the purpose of brands and the impact of business, both environmentally and socially. These questions gave Kirsty the added motivation she needed to go and explore this more deeply, through an MSc in Sustainability and Responsibility at Hult Business School.
After establishing an in-agency consultancy to advise clients on their social and environmental impact strategies, leading to projects with the likes of Barclays and BA, this journey got cut short by an introduction to the co-founder and CEO of LEON restaurants. Kirsty joined the Naturally Fast Food business to work as Brand & Marketing Director for three years, overseeing international restaurant expansion, menu development and a range of partnerships. After a hiatus to run a consultancy working with the UN Women Unstereotype Alliance, she has rejoined LEON to focus on Sustainability and the development of a food loving community of change makers.
A passionate believer in the potential of food to help us lead lives that are healthier and happier, Kirsty is really engaged in the challenge of realising that potential, through how we reconnect with the soil we live on, grow food on and ultimately depend on.
Expert Advisor
Christopher Cooke
Holistic Management & Whole Systems Thinking
Christopher is Managing Director of 5 Deep Limited (Incorporated April 2001) a specialist change management company that was established as an experiment to explore the leading edge of the science and practice of complexity-aware organisational and social change.
In 2015, 5 Deep was appointed as the as the sole UK’s hub organisation for the Savory Institute under the brand 3LM. Christopher is both an accredited educator and full field professional with Savory Institute.
A water engineer by background, Christopher is an expert coach, mentor, trainer and facilitator who works at the cutting edge of innovation and change in multiple arenas from technologies to organisational development. He also advises on and delivers advanced training for the owners and trainers of Erickson Coaching International for whom he has recently delivered programmes in China and The Crimea.
Christopher brings a wealth of broad and specialised experience and expertise in his support for New Foundation Farms. His notable past strategic leadership roles have included:
- The implementation of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for the recording of underground assets across Yorkshire (1989 – 2003);
- Board level Change Agent, Yorkshire Water (1992 – 1997);
- Managing Director, based in S E Asia, of a UK Water Company / Australian Mining Conglomerate, Joint Venture in S E Asia (1994 to 1996);
- Large-scale social-change pilots in former coalfield areas in Yorkshire (1997-2000);
- Strategic design and implementation of NHS Health Action Zones across the UK (1998 – 2001);
- The design and implementation of Full Spectrum Thought Leadership training and education (1998 – current);
- Managing Director of a Swiss Research Company (2004-2005);
- Mentor, Strategic Advisor and Practice Manager for a UK Home Building Company (2003 to 2008);
- The strategic redesign, leadership mentoring, and facilitation of the re-creation of a medical school in the Texas Medical Centre, Houston (2004-2007);
- The establishment of large-scale social engagement known as Be the Change in the UK and USA (2004-2007);
- Interim CEO (2008-2012) of a UK Foundation, with two Australian subsidiaries, focused on the recovery and regeneration of soil following the failure of conventional farming methods during profound drought in New South Wales Australia;
- Technical and Regenerative practice advisor in institutional funds placement (2009-2012).
Expert Advisor
Walter Jehne
Soil Microbiology & Climate Science
An internationally recognised Australian climate scientist, soil microbiologist and innovation strategist, Walter Jehne was one of the early researchers on glomalin, mycorrhizal fungi, and root ecology. Walter worked for three decades at CSIRO (the Australian government’s scientific research organization), with the UN, and with NGOs such as Regenerate Earth and Healthy Soils Australia to create global change in food systems and climate response. He is also a member of The Mulloon Institute’s Science Advisory Council.
Walter has a remarkable ability to explain complex science and economic paths forward in easy to understand ways, and is passionate about educating farmers, policymakers and industry about the “soil carbon sponge” and its crucial role in reversing and mitigating flooding, drought, wildfires, and searing global temperatures. His message is that we can safely cool the climate and restore essential biodiversity by repairing our disrupted hydrological cycles. We thus return excess carbon to the soils, where it can build a sponge that soaks up water and revives the biosphere.
To cool the planet, Walter argues, we must work with the dominant greenhouse gas: water vapour. CO2 by itself only governs a small percentage of the greenhouse effect. Water and its interactions govern 95% of the heat dynamics of our planet and its role in climate control has been ignored for far too long.
His ideas are influential internationally and, for example, led to a focus on soil in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reporting.
For more about Walter:
Expert Advisor
Michael Boyle
Farm Retail
Michael’s love of food and farming started at an early age. His grandad owned a small plot of land where he reared animals, milked goats and lived off the land, the good life. It stuck with Michael and after some time working within the agricultural sector he made his move into food retail. He began by creating a new farm shop with a close friend in Nottinghamshire over 18 years ago. From there Michael progressed his career and became Head of Retail at one of the largest farm shops in the country. He helped the brand to grow and with his specialist knowledge in fresh food production and retail the business grew to a decent £21m turnover.
During his time working in the industry, Michael also studied Strategic Management and Leadership. All this experience gave Michael the knowledge and expertise to start Fresh Retail Group, 3 years ago. The company has gone from strength to strength and now helps advise clients with a combined annual turnover in excess of £50m. It has also helped to steer new projects with investments in excess of £15m.
Michael believes that great tasting, local, sustainable food, sold by experienced, passionate people is key and his knowledge of how to do this commercially but sympathetically for the farmer, the local community, the team and the customer makes for a better future.
Expert Advisor
Sheila Cooke
Ecological Assessment, Education & Training
Sheila Cooke is the lead Director for 3LM, which acts as the Savory Institute hub for the UK and Ireland. As a Savory Institute accredited educator and Field Professional, she educates and advises farmers and business leaders in Holistic Management: a framework which informs high-quality decision-making, by providing people the insights and management tools needed to work with a full awareness of nature.
She holds an MBA in international business, and a BA in sociology/anthropology, and worked in international business for twenty years, including 5 years as a general manager in Japan. This was followed by a career as a facilitator and educator which led her to become a customer of 5 Deep Limited in 2011.
She is a qualified trainer for the Institute of Cultural Affairs in Chicago, and developed and facilitated courses at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN) in Rome.
Sheila is really inspired by 3LM’s network of producers, brands and retailers, professionals, and consumers who seek, through constant innovation, to change the paradigm of farming from extractive to regenerative.
Through 5 Deep Limited, working with Christopher, she has been developing plans for the large-scale adoption of Regenerative Agriculture across Europe since the development of the 3LM offering in 2014.
Expert Advisor
Misa Lukic
Business Strategy
Misa Lukic is one of the most prominent brand and business leaders in Europe. He is an expert in business design and combines business strategy and creativity together in the ground breaking Business Sapiens approach he has co-created and executes through his company New Startegy.
Misa was previously Chief Executive Officer of Publicis One for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) including the Baltics, Greece, Turkey and some Central Asia countries. For two consecutive years, 30 countries under Misa’s leadership achieved the highest growth and profit, not only within Publicis One Worldwide (95 countries), but the entire Publicis Group (2016 - 2018).
Over the 25 years, Misa has become a “business rockstar” who has led five marketing communications agencies. He is a lecturer, speaker and panelist on numerous international conferences, events and post-graduate courses. He is a philanthropist and humanitarian.
A multi-faceted source of inspiration and expertise, his many public awards include:
- Honorary Ambassador of Knowledge, Life Learning Academia, Slovenia
- Benchmarked with numerous awards from the most recognized creative festivals in the world: Cannes Lions, Cresta, Eurobest, Epica, Moscow Red Apple, FAB awards, EACA Care Awards, Golden Drum
- Ranked among Top 100 Business Leaders of South-East Europe - Summit100
Expert Advisor
Sue Ralphs
Strategy & Organisational Culture
Sue has had a diverse and extensive career as a senior manager and director. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, she led the international finance team in Oxfam at a watershed moment in the organisation’s history before becoming Finance Director at a national women’s organisation.
She went on to join the social business sector with the Ethical Property Company where she was FD, then Managing Director for eight years. She brings a wealth of experience of managing teams, working with boards and leading strategic change, as well as procuring social investment and growing one of the UK’s leading social investment organisations.
Sue holds roles of non-executive Director and Board Chair in the family business and social enterprise sectors.
