Meet the new faces at Alex Makes Meals

We’re gearing up for a year of growth at Alex Makes Meals, and we’ve onboarded some incredible new team members to help make it happen.

With our new director of operations, Jen, and our community coordinator, Stef, we’ll be able to ramp up production, feed even more people, and amplify our impact in 2026.

Introducing Jen

The fabulous Jen Shaw is an experienced chef and events manager, and also brings deep operations experience in the food relief sector, including at Free to Feed and Two Good Co.

Jen is passionate about nutrition and the power of a well-balanced diet. She works closely with head chef, Heather, carefully co-designing recipes around what’s in season, while ticking every nutritional box (carbs, protein, healthy fats, fresh veg and vitamins) and ensuring scalability.

According to our recipients, their recipes are pretty tasty, too.

“A properly nutritious meal should support both physical and mental health," Jen says.

“Not only does a good diet support our learning and development but it also helps us to maintain energy and strength.

“Well-considered food relief helps to break the cycle of poverty by providing people the nutrition they require to enable them to make decisions to help them get back on their feet, back into work or school.”

Introducing Stef

With a background in journalism and communications, Stef Palmer-Derrien has built a career based on good chats.

She’s a staunch believer that positive social change starts with connection and community; with shared stories, experiences and perspectives.

At Alex Makes Meals, Stef is reaching out to our donors, volunteers and partners (if you haven’t heard from her yet, it won’t be long!) She’s strengthening existing relationships and building new ones.

“Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have for raising awareness and generating change. And great stories come from great people.

“My goal is to build genuine connections throughout the Alex Makes Meals community, including with our donors, volunteers, community partners and supporters. Already, I’m learning so much about what our mission means to people.

“By platforming those stories, we can show just how much impact a fresh meal can have. We can show what we’ve already achieved and, more importantly, what’s possible still.”

You can reach Stef directly by email: stef@alexmakesmeals.com.

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