Fungi, Forage and Feast
Thursday 16th October | 6.30-9pm
Join us for an evening celebrating wellness, food, and discovery through the fascinating lens of fungi.
Meet pioneering fungi experts and start-ups, enjoy mushroom-inspired canapés, and connect with a community of fungi enthusiasts.
The evening features keynote talks by three extraordinary leaders in the fungal world:
Alexandra Lea, renowned medicinal forager and ethnomycologist, sharing how to find and use medicinal fungi to boost wellbeing.
Emma, founder of the Hidden Heroes Campaign, revealing the vital role fungi play in our ecosystems, health, and daily lives.
Vanessa Marx, Executive Chef at Bingham Riverhouse, exploring the culinary and wellness potential of fungi through her sustainable, zero-waste creations
Emma
Emma is the founder of the Hidden Heroes Campaign, a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness of the vital role fungi play in sustaining life on Earth. Her mission: cure fungal blindness and reveal how fungi support our crops, medicines, wellness, and ecosystems.
Emma’s fascination with fungi began through personal experience with illness, leading her to immerse herself in the fungal kingdom and uncover its crucial contributions to daily life.
Professionally, Emma is a Sustainability Director with experience driving impactful change in multinational firms, including setting up sustainable sourcing functions and eliminating single-use plastics. She holds a Master’s in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge and is passionate about helping businesses embed meaningful sustainability practices.
Alexandra
Alexandra, known as The Female Forager, is a biologist and ethnomycologist passionate about helping people reconnect with nature and explore the healing potential of fungi. Specialising in medicinal mushrooms, she combines scientific training with hands-on field experience from leading UK medicinal mushroom organisations.
Through workshops, guided forages, and community programs, Alexandra teaches people to identify and work with edible and medicinal mushrooms and plants. She creates accessible, empowering spaces for groups including those in the mental health sector, helping participants connect intuitively with the natural world.
Her unique approach blends ecological knowledge, traditional wisdom, and modern science, guiding people to the fungi and plants that best support their wellbeing. Alexandra also collaborates with organisations like the Psychedelic Society and Primal, leading immersive educational experiences that deepen ecological awareness and personal connection to nature.
Chef Vanessa Marx
Vanessa Marx is leading a culinary revolution at Bingham Riverhouse. Known for her commitment to sustainable, seasonal, and foraged ingredients, Vanessa creates menus that celebrate locally sourced produce and slow-food principles.
Vanessa is passionate about the growth of the mushroom community and its potential to enhance wellbeing. Her zero-waste approach includes innovative dishes like coffee-grown oyster mushrooms from Wimbledon’s urban Rooftop Farm.
Beyond the kitchen, she champions women in hospitality, standing as a leading voice for equality and sustainability in the industry.
