Henry Dimbleby

Henry Dimbleby MBE is a British entrepreneur, food policy advocate, and cookery writer known for his work in food systems, nutrition, and sustainable business. Dimbleby began his professional career as a commis chef under Michelin-starred chef Bruno Loubet before moving into journalism at The Daily Telegraph and later joining Bain & Company as a strategy consultant. At Bain, he met John Vincent, and together with chef Allegra McEvedy, they co-founded Leon Restaurants. The first Leon location opened on London's Carnaby Street with a focus on providing seasonal, high-quality fast food. Leon was named Best New Restaurant in Great Britain at The Observer Food Monthly Awards and expanded into an international business.

Dimbleby has contributed to the food industry beyond Leon by co-founding the Sustainable Restaurant Association and the charity Chefs in Schools, which aims to improve food education by bringing professional chefs into school kitchens. He co-authored the School Food Plan with Vincent, a government-commissioned report that led to the introduction of universal free school meals for infants and made practical cooking and nutrition a mandatory part of the National Curriculum for children up to age 14.

Dimbleby served as Lead Non-Executive Director at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and authored the independent National Food Strategy, which addressed issues such as farming, ultra-processed foods, food security, and public health. His book "Ravenous: How to Get Ourselves and Our Planet into Shape," co-authored with Jemima Lewis, expanded on these themes and received recognition including the André Simon Food Book Award and a shortlist spot for the Guild of Food Writers Awards. He also co-authored "Nourishing Britain," a political manual focused on improving national health.

Dimbleby was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for his contributions to school food and has received honorary recognition from Newcastle University and the Royal Agricultural University. He is the co-founder and managing partner of Bramble Partners, an investment and advisory firm supporting food businesses that promote food security, health, and environmental sustainability. Dimbleby is a regular keynote speaker at conferences and to company boards, sharing insights on building purpose-led businesses and advancing a healthier, more sustainable food system.