Alex is a gluten free blogger, journalist and mum from South London. She created “The Gluten Free Suitcase” in 2017 to help coeliacs and those following a gluten free diet to find great food in both the UK and abroad. When she’s not travelling, you’ll find her cooking up a fusion of Latin American, US and European dishes at home in Kingston where she lives with her husband, son and dog. She is thrilled to be returning to speak at the Free From Festival again about navigating travel, being a mum and everyday life as a member of the gluten free community.

Ashley is mum to teenager Lily, who was diagnosed with coeliac disease at just 16 months old — the first in their family. For nearly 12 years, Ashley has navigated life alongside Lily, from the early days of limited options and little support to a much more accessible gluten-free world today.

Now, as Lily enters her teenage years, we’re facing new challenges like secondary school, independence, and eating out with friends. Ashley created @thumbsupforglutenfree to share our journey, support other parents, and show that gluten free doesn’t mean missing out. Lily and her older sister also love baking together, creating gluten-free treats we share on Instagram.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim.

Catherine has 13 years clinical experience working with clients on their gut health so come and pick her brains! She’ll be around to chat after the talk.

Deepa Arjan is a mum of 2 girls who are 7 and 9 - her 9 year old, Eva was diagnosed with coeliac disease 2.5 years ago, alongside nut and grass pollen allergies. Being of Indian heritage, there is little awareness of coeliac disease in the community and she is determined to change that by telling Eva’s story and sharing the struggles and wins of being diagnosed at an early age.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim.

Joanne is a content creator and advocate for the wonderful Coeliac disease community. She is a mum to 4 children, and is the only person with coeliac disease in her immediate family. She was diagnosed in 2009, and like many has had lots of ups and downs since her diagnosis. Now, Joanne strives to make living with coeliac disease as enjoyable as possible, and focuses on the positives. She is a volunteer for Coeliac UK, an ambassador for the Allergy and Free From Show, and has even arranged her own Gluten Free Fayre in Hampshire for the community. Raising £552.55 for Coeliac UK. Joanne never wants anyone with Coeliac disease to feel alone, or a problem. Community, understanding and acceptance is everything

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim.

Natalie is a highly specialist paediatric dietitian and supplementary prescriber with over 17 years experience specialising in gastroenterology and dermatology.  Natalie has coeliac disease, as does one of her three daughters, so she has a personal and professional dedication to helping others live gluten free.  Natalie is recognised internationally for her publications, lectures and contributions to her fields of expertise.

Nicki, is mum to 13 year old Annabelle who was diagnosed with coeliac disease when she was 7 years old, in 2020. It was a diagnosis that felt like it came out of the blue. Since then we have navigated two school changes, holidays abroad (including one for just Annabelle with school), playdates, sleepovers and parties. We created @annabelle.glutenfreegirlie 2 years ago at a time when Annabelle was feeling very isolated by her diagnosis. We use it to help find the positives associated with having coeliac disease; to share gluten free food and treats, places we visit and also to get inspiration from others.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim.

Sara stumbled into the supplement world through the back door of academia, armed with an Anthropology MSc and a stubborn belief that our ancestors might've been onto something with their diets. When a loved one received an epilepsy diagnosis, she didn't just dip her toes into ketogenic research—she cannon-balled into the deep end of the biohacking pool.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim.

Sarah is a Devon-based content creator, recipe developer, and cookbook author best known for her platform The Gluten Free Blogger. Living with coeliac disease for over 20 years, she shares accessible, flavour-focused recipes and practical advice to help people enjoy gluten-free food without compromise. She built a large online following through her blog and social media, and is the author of Delicious Gluten Free Meals, a cookbook designed to make everyday gluten-free cooking simple, affordable, and enjoyable.

Shan is beyond excited to return to the Free From Festival this year, bringing her trademark enthusiasm, warmth, and energy back to the Free From stage.

@noglutenshan was launched after navigating the early chaos of Coeliac disease and discovering just how powerful connection and creativity could be. What began as a search for support has grown into an uplifting space where she shares her gluten free journey. As a food‑loving mum to a crumb‑dropping toddler with a serious taste for gluten, she’s on a mission to make gluten free living fun and anxious free all while dodging those toddler crumbs!

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim.