Meet our team

Chris Speirs

Chris joined as Capital Growth Coordinator in 2017 and in 2018 started working with The Royal Parks to manage the Allotment in Kensington Gardens. Chris leads on programme development and delivery and has been focused on building the sustainability of the network. Chris previously worked with The Conservation Volunteeers, developing the Green Gym programme in London. He is passionate about wildlife-friendly growing, promoting biodiversity and protecting growing spaces for people and nature. Chris is also a Director at Edible Landscapes London and in his spare time an enthusiastic forager, runner, climber and walker.

Julie Riehl

Julie joined Capital Growth campaign in 2011, initially focusing on engaging volunteers with the project. She now runs the project's show garden in London’s Regent’s Park and focus on helping schools to grow food. She also work as a consultant on various growing projects accross London and is pationate about organic growing techniques. Before joining Sustain, Julie travelled in Australia where she studied mangrove bird communities in Darwin, grew sweet potatoes on a farm in Bundaberg and worked as a chef in a local café. She studied Ecology & Sustainable Development Project Management in Strasbourg, France.

Janelle Conn

Janelle joined as Capital Growth Project Officer in 2017, supporting the network and delivering programmes such as Learning School Gardens and Growing Culture events. For the last five years, Janelle has also been working as a grower on several rooftop gardens across London maximising the food growing potential of urban spaces and providing food for restaurants and pubs. She is also a community gardener who has worked on several projects in the city, working with volunteers, delivering workshops and sharing skills and knowledge about sustainable urban food production, nature conservation, and gardening for health and wellbeing.

Sarah Williams

Sarah Williams joined the team in November 2009. Previous roles have included support and development of various community groups and projects in London, particularly at Groundwork East London where she was involved in  environmental regeneration projects. Most recently Sarah was the Strategic Manager of a Food Access Partnership, where she coordinated implemented a Food and Nutrition Strategic Plan, influencing local decision-making, developing food projects and setting up local networks. Sarah has a Masters in Leadership for Sustainable Development, achieved through the Forum for the Future’s Masters Programme. She is also an unpaid director at Food from the Sky, an innovative food-growing project on the roof of a supermarket in Crouch End.