17/11/2019
Victoria Stewart
Victoria Stewart – Freelance journalist, Founder of Hospitality Speaks & Insights Manager at Belazu
![Victoria Stewart](https://www.womeninthefoodindustry.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Victoria-Stewart-Featured-image-720x603.jpeg)
Victoria Stewart is a former Evening Standard food editor & columnist with 10+ years’ experience writing and speaking about the consumer side of the food, drink & hospitality industry. Prior to that, she spent 6 years working as a part-time waitress at events and in pubs.
![](https://www.womeninthefoodindustry.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Hospitality-Speaks-720x597.jpg)
With the help of a small group of supporters and volunteers, she recently launched a new not-for-profit project called Hospitality Speaks.
Through her experience interviewing and researching the industry, Victoria has seen a great deal of operators who respect and protect their staff; she has also heard a huge number of stories of sexual harassment, racial and homophobic discrimination, predatory behaviour, and talented people leaving the industry through exasperation and burnout. She hopes Hospitality Speaks will create a positive turning point for cultural change in the hospitality industry.
![Victoria Stewart Group Shot](https://www.womeninthefoodindustry.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Victoria-Stewart-Group-Shot-1-720x580.jpg)
Alongside writing and research, she is a regular panel moderator and speaker and works on a number of food projects, including her role as Insights Manager at Belazu.
In 2018 she began coordinating AMP (A Meeting Place) along with Anna Sulan Masing and Romy Gill, a digital zine which aims to amplify female expertise in and around the broader discussion of food sustainability.
![Victoria Stewart on food tour](https://www.womeninthefoodindustry.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Victoria-stewart-on-food-tour-720x422.jpg)
Victoria spoke at our The Politics of Food Panel & Debate at City Hall & you would have discovered how her research and food journalism has led to her work on highlighting what isn’t working in the hospitality and food world but also putting a spotlight on better practice and thriving areas. Get a recap of what happened here!