Meet our people
These profiles of our staff demonstrate the variety of work available at the Soil Association:
Marketing Manager - Sophie Bolton
Sophie started working for Soil Association Certification in 2002, supporting businesses in going organic. She studied to qualify as a marketer in 2007, and in 2009 moved to the charity as Marketing Manager. She continues to use her experience with the industry to help organic businesses promote the benefits of organic food and farming.
Food for Life Partnership Development Director - Emma Noble
As Food for Life Partnership Development Director, Emma is responsible for co-ordinating the skills and expertise of the Focus on Food Campaign, Garden Organic and the Health Education Trust, in reaching out through schools to give communities access to seasonal, local and organic food. Emma has a background in environmental science and a Doctorate in sustainable development. She helped initiate some of the first Food for Life projects in North Yorkshire and Shropshire. Then, moving to the Policy department she oversaw some key Food For Life policy initiatives and a number of reports, including the Real Meal Deal.
Head of Horticulture - Ben Raskin
Ben is the charity's horticultural representative. He has many years experience as a commercial grower. Previous roles include; running a walled garden in Sussex which supplied a Michelin starred restaurant and working for Garden Organic at their gardens in Kent. Ben also set up and ran the 10 acre horticultural production at Daylesford Organic Farm, before moving to the Welsh College of Horticulture as commercial manager. Ben joined the Soil Association in 2006. As well as his horticultural role, Ben is also passionate about inspiring and training a new generation of organic farmers and growers.
Inspector Manager - Jonathan Troth
Jonathon's job as an organic inspector is varied - one day he could be on a beautiful coastal farm in Cornwall inspecting beef and sheep, the next day in the smart offices of an Oxford Street organic wine importer. He inspects whether businesses are complying with our organic standards, so in effect acts on the behalf of consumers who place a lot of trust in our inspections.