Meet 20 women who are trailblazers in the plant-based food movement.
Image: Ron AI
As the world grapples with climate change and food insecurity, many women are driving efforts to transform food systems through plant-based solutions.
This International Women’s Day, we recognise 20 women who are making significant contributions to sustainability, nutrition, and ethical food choices.
Madeleine Olivia
Social media influencer Madeleine Olivia is a full-time content creator with a mission to make plant-based living easy and accessible for everyone.Through her YouTube channel, which has over 550,000 subscribers, and her presence on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, she shares recipes, sustainable living tips, and personal stories that encourage her audience to take action.
Evanna Lynch
Irish actress Evanna Lynch, known for playing Luna Lovegood in “Harry Potter”, advocates for animal welfare and plant-based diets. She narrated “Sanctuary”, an animated short film based on the real-life rescue of two pigs on their way to slaughter.
Melanie Joy
American psychologist Melanie Joy coined the term ‘carnism’ to describe society’s selective compassion towards animals. Her best-selling book “Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows” has influenced many to rethink their food choices. As founder of Beyond Carnism, she campaigns for a more ethical food system through public talks and media campaigns.
Sonalie Figueiras
Founder and editor-in-chief of “Green Queen”, Sonalie Figueiras is a key advocate for social and environmental change. “Green Queen” is a leading media platform for alternative-protein news, providing critical insights and inspiring innovation in the food system.
Shreya Ghodawat
Shreya Ghodawat is a vocal advocate and podcaster in India, ensuring that voices from the Global South are central to global climate discussions. At the UN climate summit COP29 in Azerbaijan, she advocated for gender equality in climate leadership. Her award-winning podcast, “Sustainable Tea with Shreya”, has over 11 million views on YouTube.
Juliette Tronchon
As Head of UN Affairs at ProVeg International, Juliette Tronchon engages with policymakers at major global forums, including the UN’s COP climate summits, to integrate plant-based solutions into international food policies.
Danielle Nierenberg
Danielle Nierenberg is co-founder and president of “Food Tank”, an organisation dedicated to safe, healthy, and sustainable food systems. Through Food Tank’s summits, she brings together thought leaders and activists to drive meaningful change. With sold-out events and millions reached through live-streamed talks, she connects global experts to push for better food policies.
Greta Thunberg
Internationally recognised climate activist Greta Thunberg has drawn attention to the role of food systems in driving climate change. She continuously promotes plant-based diets and systemic food reforms as key solutions to combatting the climate emergency.
Dr Nanine Wyma
Based in South Africa, Dr Nanine Wyma is the Managing Director of the Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN) South Africa. She oversees national campaigns, research, and outreach, speaking at conferences and universities about plant-based nutrition. She also represents PAN at key international events, including UN climate summits.
Matilda Ho
Matilda Ho is co-founder and Managing Director of China’s first food-tech venture capital company, “Bits X Bites”. Her investments in innovative startups are helping to reduce the cost of precision fermentation and cultivated meat technology, shaping the future of sustainable food in Asia and beyond.
Jennifer Stojkovic
Canadian-born Jennifer Stojkovic is the founder of the “Vegan Women Summit”, an event that brings together thousands of women each year to foster innovation in the alternative-protein industry. She is also the author of “The Future of Food is Female”.
Indy Kaur
Through her organisation “Plant Futures”, Indy Kaur unites plant-based businesses, NGOs, and retailers to develop strategies that accelerate the shift toward sustainable diets.
Genesis Butler
Genesis Butler made headlines with her TEDx talk as a 10-year-old discussing how to heal the planet. Now 18, she leads “Genesis for Animals”, a movement highlighting the impact of factory farming and advocating for plant-based diets.
Rahmina Paullette
Kenyan climate activist Rahmina Paullette, also 18, is the founder of “Kisumu Environmental Champions”, an organisation focused on wildlife conservation and climate advocacy. She has campaigned for plant-based meals at UN climate summits.
Tia Blanco
Professional surfer Tia Blanco, a two-time gold medallist at the World Surfing Games, promotes plant-based living via social media. She is also co-founder of “Dear Self Skincare”, a vegan and cruelty-free skincare brand.
Jessica Almy
As Senior VP of Policy and Government Relations at the “Good Food Institute”, Jessica Almy works to shape policies that support the alternative-protein sector. She pushes for public investment in sustainable food technologies and challenges attempts to restrict alternative-protein products.
Sue Gajathar
Better known as “The Vegan Chef”, Sue Gajathar runs award-winning vegan restaurants in Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal. A frequent media presence, she promotes plant-based diets through cooking demos and industry events. She won the “2024 Best of Joburg” award in the Best Vegan category.
Dotsie Bausch
American Olympian Dotsie Bausch won silver in track cycling at the London 2012 Olympics. She founded “Switch4Good”, an organisation advocating for plant-based nutrition. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she represented “Switch4Good”, which successfully influenced US food policies and pushed Starbucks to remove surcharges on plant-based milk.
Sonal WhiteCub
Sonal WhiteCub is the CEO of “WhiteCub”, a pioneering Indian company that introduced dairy-free ice cream to the market. The company has since expanded to plant-based butter and curds, helping to make dairy alternatives more mainstream in India.
Lisa Feria
As CEO of “Stray Dog Capital”, Lisa Feria leads a venture capital fund that invests in plant-based startups. A triathlete and passionate vegan, she also serves on the boards of organisations like “Mercy for Animals” and “Miyoko’s Creamery”, working toward a more ethical food system.
These women are shaping the future of plant-based food, driving change in the fight for a more sustainable and ethical world.
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