White Oaks appoints a dietitian to enhance its food offering
Valentina Giannelli joins White Oaks after relocating from Sydney, where she has spent the last ten years supporting age care organisations in Australia
White Oaks, the senior living division of Compass Group UK & Ireland, has appointed Valentina Giannelli to the position of dietitian, to support and collaborate with teams on all elements of nutrition and hydration.
Laura Tighe, business director at White Oaks said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Valentina to the White Oaks family where she will be further expanding and strengthening the team with dedicated knowledge and expertise. She brings fantastic experience, enthusiasm and passion, and we know she’ll be a real asset, helping to support our clients and their residents with nutritious menus that nourish and promote vitality, while creating meaningful dining experiences.”
Giannelli joins White Oaks after relocating from Sydney, where she has spent the last ten years supporting age care organisations in Australia, delivering high quality nutrition and foodservice. She has held roles ranging from clinical dietitian to food project lead and most recently, acting director of nutrition and hydration for a group of care homes in Sydney.
Giannelli holds a Dietetic Degree and achieved a Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Sydney. She has also recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership.
She will support White Oaks with ongoing development of menus, which meet the specific requirements of residents and tenants, offering quality, choice and flexibility. She will work closely with chefs, operations, care teams and clients to provide information on best practice, training, updates on regulations and processes, as well as driving innovation across menus.
Commenting on her new role, Giannelli says: “I’m really excited to be continuing my work in this vital area with the White Oaks team. I’m looking forward to getting involved and supporting nutrition and hydration for older adults in partnership with our clients. This is a great time to be joining the business as it evolves and grows.”
She will report to Saachi Avis, who leads the dietetics team within Compass’ Healthcare division and was recently announced as the chair of the food services specialist group within the British Dietetic Association.





