Meet the Team
The South Downs Food Festival was launched in 2024, bringing together food enthusiasts, chefs, food writers, campaigners and artisan producers for a weekend of gastronomic delight, stimulating talks, and delicious demonstrations. Since then, the festival has grown into a firm favourite in the culinary calendar.
Whilst the team behind the festival is vast, from content creators capturing the atmosphere of the event to the people behind the scenes maintaining the estate grounds, our Directors build the vision with strategic, financial, and operational oversight to deliver a showcase of the South Down's finest.
The Directors
Aleramo Lanza
Anglo Italian Co-founder and Director of leading global private events company, Lanza & Baucina & Trustee of The Stansted Park Foundation
For 15 years, Aleramo was directly involved in the running of his family's pioneering non-profit art foundation, exhibition space and art publishing house in Milan.
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His events company, Lanza & Baucina are leaders in global event creation, design and management, with experience ranging from royal and celebrity weddings to groundbreaking productions in extraordinary and unchartered locations worldwide.
Fred Duncannon
Founder of Stansted Park Farm Shop & Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Stansted Park Foundation
Stansted Park Farm Shop was launched in 2012 in the old stables on the grounds of Stansted Estate. In 2017, the shop moved into a new bespoke barn with room for a butchery, deli and kitchen which is the beautiful building you see today.
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Fred is an advocate for local produce, encouraging a fresher and more seasonal way to eat which is why his shop supports over 100 local food and drinks producers right here on the doorstep of the South Downs.
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Sam McGrath
Founder of business development and marketing consultancy, Heard About Sam
Having worked with national brands and an extended list of connections in London, Sam has helped businesses to improve performance, enhance strategy, convert leads and generate financial growth. The food, drink and hospitality sector is embedded in Sam’s roots and has led her into exciting opportunities to work with some major players in the industry.
Sam’s expertise and leadership have been paramount to the organisation of the festival; networking with partners and being the driving force to deliver a successful event for the South Downs to be proud of.
Johnny Grey
Renowned British Interior Designer, Author & Educator
Johnny Grey is an internationally recognised designer specialising in custom kitchens and interiors, with a career spanning over four decades. He is the founder of the Unfitted Kitchen Company, a pioneer in kitchen design focusing on furniture as the primary planning principle.
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He is also the nephew of British writer and chef, Elizabeth David, subsequently becoming a trustee and literary executor of the Elizabeth David estate in her legacy.
