Sam Phillips is Director of Programmes at Chefs in Schools, a fast-growing, solutions-focused charity transforming school food and food education across the country. The charity works hands-on in schools to train kitchen teams to cook from scratch, reaching tens of thousands of children every day.

Sam leads programme strategy and delivery, ensuring high-quality training and smooth implementation across diverse school settings. Since joining the charity in 2023, Sam has overseen the rollout of the Membership Programme, launched Chefs in Schools’ annual School Chef Training Conference, and led the national expansion of the charity’s training offer, helping more school chefs gain the skills and confidence to serve fresh, nutritious and exciting food.

Before joining Chefs in Schools, Sam spent 15 years in premium hospitality, driving operational improvements and building partnerships that raised food standards and enhanced guest experience.

Sam regularly works with partners across education, health and food systems, and speaks on topics including school food culture, workforce development and practical strategies for whole-school change. The mission is simple: to ensure every child enjoys great food, every day.