The FDF Scotland team

David Thomson, Chief Executive Officer

As FDF Scotland's CEO David is part of the senior FDF management team. David represents the views and concerns of our food and drink members to Scottish and UK governments, other policy makers, politicians and the media.

David is a member of the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership Board and an Honorary Fellow of Abertay University for his work supporting the food and drink industry.

He previously worked at the Scottish Government, including five years as Head of Food, Drink and Rural Communities.

Cat Hay, Head of Policy and Public Affairs

Cat's role is to represent and promote the interests and concerns of FDF members though dialogue with governments, regulators and other external organisations. She liaises with the FDF teams in London to ensure that they are briefed on Scottish policy issues and works collaboratively on areas of joint interest.

Cat is a member of the Scottish Food Alliance Advisory Steering Board, providing industry and business perspective to the Alliance’s research.

Kirsty Tinsdale, Senior Corporate Affairs Executive

Kirsty is responsible for the delivery of FDF Scotland's public affairs, media and communications strategies. This is important in leveraging relationships with politicians, journalists and stakeholders to advocate and influence on key industry issues on behalf of our members.

She is the Secretary for the Cross Party Group on Food.   

Kirsty is the first point of contact for the Scottish media and can be contacted on kirsty.tinsdale@fdfscotland.org.uk.

A Future in Food team

Moira Stalker, Skills Manager

Moira manages FDF Scotland's skills initiative – A Future in Food - which is funded by Scottish Government through Scotland Food & Drink.

Moira promotes careers in the food and drink industry to potential recruits, educators and career influencers. By helping these groups to understand the large variety of careers opportunities available, the progression routes and pathways into the sector and the skills required by industry she aims to make food and drink a Career Destination of Choice.

Prior to joining FDF Scotland, Moira worked with Scottish Enterprise's food and drink team. She also spent a number of years working as an Industrial Engineer.

Reformulation for Health team

Joanne Burns, Reformulation for Health Manager

Joanne manages FDF Scotland’s Reformulation for Health Programme, which is funded by Scottish Government. The programme offers bespoke advice and guidance to SME food and drink businesses who wish to make their products healthier. The Reformulation for Health programme works across the whole food system in Scotland from ingredient manufacturers and food producers to retailers and stakeholders.

Joanne has a wealth of experience relating to product reformulation and has previously worked in the food service industry and most recently with NHS Health Scotland on their Healthyliving Award programme.

Harriet Heath, Reformulation for Health Executive

Harriet works with Joanne Burns on the Reformulation for Health project. She provides support and technical guidance on the reformulation process, working with multiple stakeholders within the food industry. She is passionate about addressing health and social inequalities through improving available nutrition to all.

Harriet has previously worked in food safety and holds an MSc in Food Bioscience.

Net Zero team

Iain Clunie, Net Zero Programme Director 

Iain has over 35 years’ experience working with the Scottish food and drink industry. At FDF Scotland, Iain leads on the delivery of the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership’s Net Zero commitment. This commitment will drive forward progress towards the Scottish food and drink supply chain becoming net zero by 2045. For the previous six years, he was at Zero Waste Scotland, where he led on the Scottish Government Food Waste Reduction target.

Simon McKeating, Net Zero Programme Manager

Simon works alongside Iain Clunie as the Programme Manager for the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership’s Net Zero Programme. For the previous five years Simon was Partner for Food Systems & Bioeconomy at Zero Waste Scotland, leading on industry engagement for food waste reduction. He has over 30 years’ experience in growing, rearing and selling food, across a variety of sectors.

Shona Cherry, Net Zero Programme Communication and Engagement Manager

Shona is the programme's Communication and Engagement Manager. She has a background in communication and engagement, and in recent years supporting organisations with food waste reduction at Zero Waste Scotland and sustainability as an adviser at Opportunity North East.