CIEH Food Safety Conference

Andrew Quinn, Head of National Food Crime Unit, Food Standards Agency. Andrew Quinn is Head of the National Food Crime Unit within the Food Standards Agency. In October 2018 he joined the NFCU as Deputy Head, responsible for the Investigations Command and its operations into serious fraud allegations within food supply chains. He previously served 30 years as a Police Officer specialising in criminal investigations and from 2003 served in the National Crime Squad, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the National Crime Agency where his final position was the Regional Head of Investigations responsible for the Midlands, Wales and West region where he led on national and international serious organised crime investigations across a variety of crime threats.

Anthony Baldock CEnvH FCIEH, Director of Health and Wellbeing, Ashford Borough Council. Anthony joined Ashford Borough Council in 2021 to set up the new Port Health service based at Sevington. He has been an Environmental Health Practitioner since 1987. Anthony worked in Local Government prior to the formation of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and has extensive experience in the meat industry including fresh meat inspection at processing plants. He also worked for Hastings Borough Council where he was responsible for the fish market and overseeing the largest shore-based fishing fleet in the UK. He was the strategic lead at Crawley Borough Council where he was responsible for operations at London Gatwick Airport (LGW). He worked on the implementation of controls concerning imported food not of animal origin in 2009, along with products of animal origin and infectious disease controls related to Swine flu, Ebola and Covid-19. Whilst at Gatwick, he was responsible for two audits for the EU Food and Veterinary Office. He attended numerous EU Training missions concerning imported food and also acted as Chair of the Airports Committee for the Association of Port Health Authorities

Christina Hill, Head, Shared Regulatory Services. Where she provides strategic leadership across a multidisciplinary service delivering regulatory, environmental health, and public protection functions. With extensive experience in local government and regulatory services, Christina is responsible for shaping high-performing, collaborative teams that protect communities, support businesses, and drive continuous service improvement.

A dual-qualified Environmental Health Practitioner and Trading Standards Officer, Christina brings a unique breadth of expertise across regulatory disciplines, underpinned by strong academic credentials. She has a proven track record of delivering high-profile, complex projects and transforming services through innovation, data-led decision making, and strong governance.

Christina is an experienced leader of shared services, recognised for building effective partnerships across local authorities, national regulators, and stakeholders. Nationally, Christina plays a key role in shaping regulatory policy and practice. She co-chairs the HSE/Local Authority Liaison Committee.

Known for her inclusive, energetic, and values-driven leadership style, Christina is passionate about innovation, workforce development, and delivering high-quality, customer-focused services. She is committed to protecting public health, promoting fairness, and supporting thriving communities.

John O. Warner OBE MD FRCP FRCPCH FMedSci FERS. Emeritus Professor, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London and Hon. Professor Paediatrics University of Cape Town since 2006. Previously, Professor of Paediatrics and Head of Department, Imperial College (2006–2019); Professor of Child Health, University of Southampton (1990–2006); and Senior Lecturer then Reader in Paediatrics, University of London (1980–1990). Academic activities include over 500 publications in medical and scientific journals. Extra-mural appointments have included Head Paediatric Assembly, European Respiratory Society (1993–1997); Editor in Chief, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (1998–2010); and President, Academic Paediatric Association (GB and I) (2009–2014). Awards include the BSACI William Frankland Award (2005), the Pepys and Morrow Brown Lectures (2011 and 2014), the Lifetime Achievement Award of the European Respiratory Society (2009), and an OBE for services to food allergy research (2013). Research interests include inhalant and food allergy, allergy prevention, asthma, mechanisms of airway and gut inflammation, artificial food additives, developmental origins of Health and Disease, integrated care pathways, and paediatric long-COVID.

Lindsay Milner, Food Control and Health & Safety Enforcement Manager,
Blackpool Council. Lindsay is an experienced Food Control Manager with a degree in Environmental Health. She has worked for Blackpool Council for 14 years, starting as a student. She is responsible for protecting public health and ensuring compliance with food safety legislation. Lindsay leads a team of officers, oversee inspections, enforce regulatory standards, and manage food hygiene rating outcomes for food businesses across the Town. The team investigate complaints, respond to foodborne illness incidents, and support local businesses through guidance and education. With a strong commitment to robust, proportionate enforcement, we balance compliance and support while maintaining public confidence, protecting residents and visitors, and contributing to the council’s values and objectives.

Martin D’Agostino, Ph.D, MRSB, FIFST. Dr Martin D’Agostino is a highly experienced Food Virologist with over 35 years of expertise in laboratory-based research, specialising in the transmission, detection, and prevention of foodborne viruses within food supply chains. As Director of ViroSafety Ltd, Martin provides bespoke training, crisis management and consultancy services, working closely with clients across the food industry, government agencies, and academic institutions.

Previously, Martin served as Principal Virologist at Campden BRI, where he established the UK's first UKAS-accredited laboratory for the detection of norovirus and Hepatitis A virus in fresh and frozen produce. He has led significant national and international research projects, contributes extensively to scientific publications, and plays a key role as an expert advisor on ISO/CEN committees. Martin is a member of the Royal Society of Biology and a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology.

Megan Kirton, Senior Project Officer, Fidra. Fidra is a UK environmental charity working to influence positive change through evidence-based, collaborative approaches. She leads work on chemical and plastic pollution work, including projects addressing PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and intentionally added microplastics. Megan has a background in Marine and Freshwater Biology, and experience in managing, delivering and evaluating environmental and climate change projects at a local level.

Sarah Knight, Founder, The Allergy Team. Sarah is Founder of The Allergy Team, a leading UK organisation specialising in allergy safety training and compliance for schools. As the mother of two boys with serious food allergies, Sarah brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. A former senior BBC producer, she co-produced the statutory allergy guidance with the Department for Education and has helped train over 17,000 school staff across more than 750 schools. Sarah is passionate about making every school a safe and inclusive place for children with allergies.

Sterling Crew, Public Health Advocate. Sterling is a food safety advocate with 40 years’ experience working in food safety, security, authenticity and global supply chain governance. He is a trustee of CIEH and sits on the CIEH Food Advisory Panel. He also chairs The Food Authenticity Network, and is Immediate Past President of the Institute of Food Science and Technology. And has recently joined the board of the Saudis Food and Drink Administration. Sterling holds a number of food related board positions, and acts as an independent scientific and regulatory advisor. Sterling started his career in government before a successful track history in retail, manufacturing and the branded world. His experience as a regulator, retailer, brand owner and food manufacturer has given him a unique perspective on the challenges of the global food supply system.

The British Lion is the UK’s most successful food safety scheme and only Lion marked eggs are approved by the Food Standards Agency to be eaten runny by pregnant women, the elderly and children. All eggs that carry the British Lion mark have been produced under the stringent requirements of the British Lion Code of Practice which ensures the highest standards of food safety. The code covers the entire production chain and ensures strict food safety controls including the guarantee that all hens are vaccinated against Salmonella and a ‘passport’ system ensuring that all hens, eggs and feed are fully traceable.

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