MEET THE TEAM
CARL WALKER
Carl Walker is a community psychologist at the University of Brighton, a councillor on Worthing Borough Council and a community development and engagement consultant. He co-founded the Worthing Food Foundation and his interests include multi-stakeholder action research around social and income inequalities and community food support.
STEF LAKE
Stef Lake is a passionate advocate for community-led responses to food insecurity that centre dignity and challenge stigma. With nearly a decade of experience in the sector, they specialise in facilitating collaborative, holistic approaches to food justice, grounded in equity, empowerment, and social connection.
Stef is currently Communications Manager at Alexandra Rose Charity, where they support the organisation’s mission to increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables for families on low incomes through strategic communications, storytelling, and advocacy.
Alongside this, Stef works as a freelance community engagement specialist and facilitator, supporting organisations across the UK to develop inclusive, values-driven food strategies, deliver lived experience engagement work, and build strong cross-sector partnerships rooted in trust and shared purpose.
RONALD RANTA
Ronald Ranta is an academic, food scholar and former chef. His research focuses on food insecurity and the intersection between food and politics, society, and culture. This research is informed by his experience of working as a chef, being a trustee of a community food support project, and volunteering with community food support groups for the past several years.
Ronald’s trustee and volunteering work have given him first-hand exposure to the issues and challenges facing community food support projects, and the scale and gravity of the food insecurity crisis faced by many in our society.