Henry Dimbleby MBE

Henry Dimbleby MBE is a businessman and cookery writer who is a co-founder of Leon Restaurants – alongside John Vincent – and the Sustainable Restaurant Association. He was appointed lead non-executive board member of the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs in 2018.

Before founding Leon, Henry worked at Bain & Company, working on private equity transactions and helping large companies to develop their strategies. He also has experience working as a journalist at the Daily Telegraph and a commis chef at the Michelin-starred Inn on the Park restaurant in London.

He is also the author of the Sunday Times bestseller Ravenous: How to Get Ourselves and Our Planet Into Shape, published in 2023.

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Type Of Speaker

Business & Finance Health & Wellbeing Hospitality, Food & Drink Leadership & Teamwork Speaker Sustainability Sustainability

More About Henry Dimbleby MBE

Henry Dimbleby MBE, John Vincent, and Allegra McEvedy launched Leon restaurants in 2004; it was so successful that it won Best New Restaurant at the 2005 Observer Food Awards. Leon now has over 30 restaurants throughout the UK with plans to open more.

As well as his restaurant career, Henry is passionate about creating a fairer and more sustainable environment for the hospitality industry. In 2009 he launched the Sustainable Restaurant Association. The SRA assesses behaviour, measures action and celebrates progress. It connects businesses around the world to accelerate change towards a hospitality sector that is socially progressive and environmentally restorative.

In 2014, Henry published the School Food Plan, an independent review for government written with John Vincent. Among other things, it led directly to the introduction of Universal Free School meals for all infants and cookery lessons for all children up to the age of 14. He was awarded an MBE the following year for his work on improving school food.

In 2018, he founded Chefs in Schools with former Ottolenghi chef Nicola Pisani and Hackney headteacher Louise Nichols. The charity recruits restaurant chefs to work in schools, improving both school lunches and food education.

Then in 2020 he published the National Food Strategy, an independent review of the food system for the government. This directly led to the country-wide roll out of the Holiday Activity and Food programme, and an increase of Healthy Start vouchers which provide free fruit and vegetables to less affluent families with young children.

After selling Leon in 2021, Henry launched Bramble Partners, an investment and advisory firm that allocates capital and knowledge to accelerate the transition to a healthier and more sustainable food system.

Henry Dimbleby hire Co-Founder of LEON speaker book at agent Great British Speakers.

Henry Dimbleby | Books

Henry is the author and co-author of several bestselling books, including:

– Naturally Fast Food (2010)

– Leon: Baking and Puddings (2011)

– Leon: Fast Vegetarian (2014)

In 2023, he published Ravenous: How to Get Ourselves and Our Planet into Shape. The Sunday Times bestseller won the Andre Simon Food Book Award 2023 and was shortlisted for the Guild of Food Writers Awards 2024.

Henry Dimbleby | Speaker

Henry is now a highly sought-after speaker at conferences and to company boards, covering topics including:

Creating a Purpose-Led Business: Drawing on Leon’s war stories and expansion from one site in Carnaby Street to a £100 million business.

Creating a Better Food System: Drawing on The National Food Strategy.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book Henry Dimbleby MBE for your next live event or corporate video.

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Testimonials

Henry, Thank you for joining us at todays 10,000 Small Businesses UK Graduation ceremony. Your conversation with Lisa was fantastic and our graduates were effusive about the insights you shared. We really appreciate you for participating and glad we were able to engage you with this special group of entrepreneurs.
Jon Foster, 10,000 Small Businesses Graduation

Henry chaired Bigger than the Lunchbox: The Food Debate Goes to Work in May 2019 at the V&A for BaxterStorey. He went above and beyond in terms of corresponding with all the panellists ahead of the evening itself and had clearly done a great deal of research on the topic. From the get go, panel and audience were extremely engaged and energised. His questioning style was challenging which led to a very interesting discussion and some heated debate. However he also listened carefully to the panel and floor, ensuring everyone was comfortable and felt involved throughout. We’d definitely use him again for chairing future debates.
Ailana Kamelmacher, Story PR

We worked with Noel Gay Associates to bring Henry Dimbleby to Keele University, talking about the food system transition. We couldn’t have been more pleased with the talk or with the team at Noel Gay, who were thoroughly helpful, efficient and professional.
Professor Tim Lustig, Director, Keele Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences

One of the most prominent names in sustainability, Henry recently delivered an authoritative and thought-provoking keynote presentation on ‘Regenerative Outcomes and their Impacts on Society’. Truly inspiring and more than met our expectations. Convincing, motivational, and insightful, underpinned by practical, grass-roots perspectives on the current challenges faced by today’s farmers and wider society. Drawing on real life examples, he offered nuanced, fresh thinking around the tools and tactics needed to meet our climate and biodiversity goals for a more sustainable agricultural and societal future. If you are planning an event and want an expert speaker who has depth of knowledge but also a personable, engaging nature, book Henry Dimbleby. You will not be disappointed.
Daisy Wood, Linking Environment And Farming