Jenny Cousins

Jenny Cousins serves as the director of the Food Museum in Stowmarket, Suffolk, UK, where she has spearheaded a significant transformation. She turned what was originally a regional rural life museum into a nationally acclaimed centre that examines the history, culture, and future of food. Since stepping into this role, she has reshaped the museum’s mission and identity, establishing it as a leader in discussions about food, farming, and sustainability across the UK.

Under her leadership, the museum has transformed from a traditional heritage institution into a vibrant, innovative organisation. Cousins has guided the museum to adopt a model that links people’s daily food experiences with wider social, environmental, and cultural issues. Her vision has revitalised public engagement and secured the museum’s long-term sustainability through creative programming, collaborations, and business growth.

Cousins has led significant enhancements to the museum’s vast collections and historic structures, focusing on preservation while increasing accessibility and relevance for contemporary visitors. Her efforts have resulted in the initiation of a landmark £5 million development project, scheduled to start in 2025, aimed at improving the visitor experience and broadening educational and community programmes.

Jenny Cousins, a recognised leader in reimagining museums focused on rurality and landscape, is developing a new narrative for heritage institutions to address pressing contemporary issues like climate change, food systems, and human-place relationships. Her innovative method merges scholarship with creativity and collaboration, inspiring a new generation of museum professionals.