Global Cooksafe Coalition

Our Team

Monica Burns

Director

Monica is the Director of the Global Cooksafe Coalition. She brings a wealth of experience managing strategic communications and advocacy at not-for-profit organisations, intergovernmental organisations and social enterprises. In past roles, she has led on engaging major stakeholders on their sustainability strategies, most notably in the food and beverage sector. She also brings a deep understanding of health communications, having led a behavioural change campaign with a public health focus and contributed to the development and marketing of a women’s health app. Before taking on the role of Director in June 2025, Monica worked with the GCC on digital engagement and campaign development.

Evie Calder

Head of Communications

Evie Calder is the Head of Communications at the GCC, where she leads the coalition’s communications strategy and manages its communications team. With over a decade of experience across the non-profit, academic, and sustainable business sectors, she brings extensive expertise in media, strategic communications, research dissemination and campaigning, with a focus on advancing climate justice, equality, and public health.

Jilly Middleton

Australia Programme Manager

Jilly is Australia Programme Manager for the GCC. She works with chefs and cooktop industries to reduce barriers to commercial kitchen electrification. She has eight years of experience working as an organiser, educator and advocate across food, agriculture and conservation sectors. Advocacy in food came as an extension of over ten years of regenerative farming, supplying leading Australian restaurants.

Tushar Nair

Europe Programme Manager

Tushar drives the coalition forward in the UK and Europe, working alongside and expanding our network of members, partners and government supporters. Tushar has over ten years of experience specialising in network-building and policy advocacy. He has worked extensively with policymakers, multilateral agencies and civil society organisations at national and global levels. His work has largely focused on public health policy and advocacy aimed at regional governance bodies such as the G20, G7, ASEAN, and APEC.

Sophie Weiner

Communications Manager

Sophie is responsible for Cooksafe’s social media, digital platforms and digital strategy, as well as assisting with other communications work. She works to highlight our coalition members, chef ambassadors and advocacy work online and in the media. She has over ten years of experience in digital communications, campaigning, marketing, social media, journalism and digital project management at both nonprofit and for-profit organisations across the US and Australia.

Olatz De Solaeche

Chef and Media Engagement

Olatz engages with chef-ambassadors and media across Spain and France. She is a communications professional with expertise in shaping campaigns at the intersection of sustainability, social justice and food systems. Her experience spans managing advocacy and media strategies for international initiatives, leading communications in the cultural and gastronomy sector, and designing public engagement around global food challenges. She has also co-created a documentary series exploring sustainable food production and new models of rural life.

Aurelie Faugier

Senior Programme Associate (Europe)

Aurélie advances the coalition’s European partnerships, leveraging extensive experience leading international solidarity programmes and facilitating cross-sector collaboration. She served as Managing Director of a Uganda-based NGO supporting rural young women, and as a consultant, she has advised mission-driven organisations on strategy design, programme effectiveness and impact evaluation. She brings a strong track record of working with diverse teams, donors, civil society organisations as well as corporates.

Andrea Au

Andrea is the Australia Programme Manager for the Global Cooksafe Coalition, collaborating with partners to enable electrification at scale. With more than a decade of experience, she has led large-scale sustainability programmes and built high-impact partnerships across sectors. Andrea has worked closely with leaders to embed sustainability and mobilised thousands to take meaningful climate action.