Lizzie Vann Foundation
Meet the Team
Lizzie Vann Foundation
Lizzie Vann
The Lizzie Vann Foundation is being established in 2025 as the first UK based charity to solely focus on additives and contaminants in food and drink which could damage the health and well-being of families. The charity will have a particular emphasis on ensuring evidence based information is provided to all those who support the health of children and pregnant women. The charity is being established with funding from Lizzie Vann, a long-time campaigner and funder of work in this area.
Dr Helen Crawley
Director
Ella Sparks
Research Assistant
Vanina Popova
Research Assistant
Director
Dr Helen Crawley
Helen is a public health nutritionist with forty years experience working in the food world across Government, academia, research and the third sector. Helen has worked across the lifespan supporting better food and nutrition for all age groups, focusing particularly on pregnancy and the early years in her work setting up and running First Steps Nutrition Trust. Helen supported and advocated for the Action on Additives campaign and has written reports on colours, flavourings and non-nutritive sweeteners.
With this new project Helen hopes to create a credible, evidence-based space for everyone to find out more about the additives and chemical contaminants in food which may damage health.
Research Assistant
Ella Sparks
Ella has a degree in veterinary science and a strong interest in promoting good food and sustainable farming practices. She lives in Aberdeenshire, where she runs Muchalls Kailyard, growing organic produce and supporting local food systems.
With over ten years’ experience in organic food production, Ella has developed a broad understanding of agriculture and the relationship between soil health, environmental sustainability and the quality of food reaching consumers. She is particularly interested in the importance of good nutrition for all, especially for young children and women during pregnancy.
Through her work as a research assistant with the Lizzie Vann Foundation, Ella has gained new insight into the potential impacts of additives and contaminants in food and drink, and the vital importance of protecting the health of families and young children.
Research Assistant
Vanina has a background in genetics and medical sciences, specialising in crop and food contaminants. Her work has focused on mycotoxins, exploring the molecular and environmental processes behind their formation and their impact on human and animal health. She has a particular interest in natural toxins, nutrition, and sustainable food systems, and in understanding how food production can better support both human health and the environment. She is especially interested in bridging scientific research with real-world food and agricultural practices.
Diana Hawdon
Trustee
Jennifer Powell
Trustee
Professor Erik Millstone Trustee
Trustee
Diana is a retired registered public health nutritionist and dietitian with experience in a wide variety of public health settings, clinical, community, academic, Government and voluntary sector organisations, most recently The Soil Association. She has a strong food related background from being a qualified chef and chef trainer and is an experienced academic nutrition researcher with considerable depth of knowledge about food and health and food preparation. In recent years, extensive experience supporting and training staff in a wide variety of early years and schools enabling them to meet current food and drink guidelines leading to award and accreditation schemes. Diana is currently volunteering at food initiatives in her local area.
Trustee
Jennifer Powell
Jennifer is an accountant living in the New Forest with her family of 3 children (Cameron, Emily and Ryan), husband John, horse Monty, and working springer spaniel Luna, as well as numerous other animals. She has worked on child health issues with Lizzie Vann for over 16 years but when not taking care of her family or working, will be found riding Monty in the New Forest.
Trustee
Professor Erik Millstone
Erik Millstone is an Emeritus Professor of Science Policy at the University of Sussex. He has been researching into the causes and consequences of technological change in the agricultural and food industries since the mid-1970s. His research has covered, for example, food additives, pesticides, Mad Cow Disease and GM foods. He has also critically analysed the structures and operations of food safety policy-making institutions in numerous countries as well as international organisations.Â
