Lisa Winnall is an accomplished Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner with over two decades of experience in both governmental and academic sectors. She earned her BSc (Hons) in Environmental Health from the University of Wales Institute Cardiff in 1997, followed by an MSc in Food Safety, Hygiene & Management from the University of Birmingham in 2004. In 2018, she completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice in Higher Education at Coventry University, underscoring her dedication to educational excellence.
Lisa began her career as an Environmental Health Officer at Bromsgrove District Council in 1998, where she honed her skills in food safety and health & safety inspections. She later joined Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council as a Senior Environmental Health Officer, gaining extensive experience in enforcement, health promotion, and public education. In 2006, she founded Winnall Training & Eden Food Safety Consulting, providing specialised training and consultancy services to both public and private sector clients.
Transitioning to academia in 2007, Lisa served as a Teaching Fellow in Food Safety at the University of Birmingham, where she led courses accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. She then joined Coventry University in 2017 as an Assistant Professor, playing a pivotal role in curriculum development and course accreditation. Here she was promoted to a leadership role as an Associate Professor and an Associate Head of School for Quality & Accreditation and was instrumental in maintaining high academic standards and securing professional accreditations in the senior management team in the School of Life Sciences.
In 2022, Lisa returned to the University of Birmingham as an Associate Professor and Head of the Food Safety Group. In this role, she oversees the portfolio of food safety courses and Continuing Professional Development offerings, including the MSc in Food Safety Hygiene Management and the CertHE in Food Safety & Food Legislation. Her research interests encompass the effectiveness of hygiene interventions, allergen control in the catering sector, food fraud and issues around food chain security.
Lisa is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (MCIEH). She actively contributes to the academic community through mentorship, participation in committees such as Athena SWAN and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, and collaboration with professional bodies such as the FSA and the food industry. Her commitment to advancing food safety education and practice continues to make a significant impact in both academic and professional circles.