Engage 2026: A hybrid education program for tertiary

food science students

Engage 2026 is an opportunity for tertiary food science students to come together to connect and learn from industry and academic leaders from across the agrifood industry. The program is delivered in a hybrid format across 10 x 2hr sessions hosted by a different university each time. Students will have the opportunity to attend in person or virtually.

The aim is to enhance your current academic program and networks, building on your current skills and challenging your knowledge through critical and reflective thinking to better prepare you for the practical, real-world need for food science and your potential place within the agrifood industry. This program is intended to ‘jump start’ your industry readiness.

The course will be run over 10 x 2hr sessions. Nine of these sessions will be held face to face at university campuses around Australia and recorded for all registered participants. The final session, Careers, will be a Zoom session. These sessions will be delivered from March 2026 to October 2026. Please note dates & times are subject to change and confirmation of dates and session times will be emailed to all participants prior to the session.

Engage 2026 Program:

5 March 2026 – Session 1 University of Queensland (COMPLETED)

Topic: Indigenous Food

27 March 2026 – Session 2 Deakin University (COMPLETED)

Topic: Food Safety

30 April 2026 – Session 3 University of New South Wales (COMPLETED)

Topic: AI, Data and Digital Transformation

14 May 2026 – Session 4 Monash University (COMPLETED)
Topic: Innovation

16 June 2026 – Session 5 RMIT University (COMPLETED)
Topic: Research & Development

20 August 2026 – Session 6 University of Melbourne
Topic: Sustainability

9 September 2026 – Session 7 University of Sydney
Topic: Health and Nutrition

1 October 2026 – Session 8 Adelaide University
Topic: Food Processing & Manufacturing Futures

TBC October – Session 9 QAAFI, Queensland
Topic: Sensory & Consumer Science

TBC October 2026 – Session 10 Online
AIFST Career Event Online - Engage 2025 Wrap Up

This program is designed to help tertiary food science students grow their confidence, expand their networks and build practical, real-world skills alongside their academic studies. 

AIFST and FaBA - Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator are looking forward to delivering this program for our student and graduate members.

Sharon Natoli - Speaking for influence: How to be heard and land your message.

This redesigned, interactive online course is designed to help ALL food science professionals across the industry communicate with clarity, confidence and influence—so their ideas are heard, valued and acted upon.

The format is 3 x 90 minute online sessions. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays - 9 June, 23 June and 7 July 2026. 

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Understand and Strengthen Your Influence

• Articulate why influence is a critical professional capability in scientific and technical roles
• Recognise the key ingredients that underpin influential communication
• Understand your personal communication style and identify areas for growth

2. Communicate to Influence Outcomes

• Tailor your communication style and content to different audiences, including technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Adapt your messaging to suit the context, environment, and level of influence required
• Build stronger connections and engagement through intentional communication choices

3. Communicate with Presence

• Use body language, posture, and voice to enhance influence and authority
• Apply practical techniques to ensure key points are heard and remembered
• Navigate challenging dynamics to gain and hold the floor

Pricing:

AIFST Members: $400 

Non Members: $500

ABOUT YOUR PRESENTER:

Sharon Natoli helps individuals, teams and leaders find their voice, grow their presence and ignite their influence by speaking up with confidence.

Sharon has 30 years of experience in one-on-one counselling, communication, media and spokesperson roles, and as an advisor to organisations in the food sector, assisting brands find their voice through key message development. Her professional experience is complemented by her personal understanding and empathy about the internal barriers that hold people back from speaking up and sharing their thoughts, ideas and opinions with confidence.

Sharon’s philosophy is that speaking up is a critical ingredient for demonstrating leadership readiness and making the career contribution you'd like to make.

Build your confidence in the science behind food in the virtual short course.

AIFST’s Food Science Fundamentals is designed for professionals working across the food industry who want a practical understanding of the core principles of food science and how they apply in real-world settings.

Delivered virtually across four interactive sessions, this course brings together industry experts to explore the topics shaping today’s food sector, from food safety, microbiology and allergens through to nutrition, sensory science, innovation, sustainability and the future of food.

Whether you work in operations, quality, marketing, sales, administration or customer-facing roles, this course will help you better understand the language of food science, strengthen cross-functional communication and recognise how food science supports decision-making across the industry.

The course is held over four (4) sessions:

Wednesday 10th June, 1:00pm–4:00pm
Wednesday 24th June, 1:00pm–4:00pm
Wednesday 1st July, 1:00pm–4:00pm
Wednesday 8th July, 1:00pm–4:00pm

Places are strictly limited to 30 participants to ensure an engaging learning experience. Secure your place early!

Science in the Pub: What's Really on Your Plate? The Science Behind Everyday Food

Join food scientists, nutrition experts and industry leaders for an engaging evening exploring food processing, food safety and plant-based foods. Discover the science behind the foods we eat every day and separate fact from fiction.

Come along on Friday June 26th to support your AIFST Branch Committee as they present at this months Science in the Pub! Doors open at 5.30pm.

Free to register via this link: https://events.humanitix.com/science-in-the-pub-what-s-really-on-your-plate-the-science-behind-everyday-food

About Science in the Pub

Science in the Pub Adelaide brings together critical thinkers of all backgrounds in the shared interest of understanding, criticizing, debating, and learning about science.  Monthly Science in the Pub Adelaide gatherings explore hot topics in science, each month we bring together a panel of people with specific scientific expertise to help you form a rational, evidence-based opinion about the topic of the month.

There is no cost to attend and the setting is informal. Each panelist spends about 10 minutes talking about their experience with the topic and presents a summary of the data available, the floor is opened to the audience for questions after all speakers have concluded.  

A raffle draw is held at each event, with prizes kindly donated by our sponsors. The proceeds directly enable Science in the Pub Adelaide to continue to host these gatherings.  All Science in the Pub Adelaide organisers are volunteers. 

You can find Science in the Pub Adelaide at The Adelaide Irish Club, 13-15 Carrington Street, Adelaide, on the last Friday of every month (excluding December) to get your fill of science.

How does the Australian Consumer Law go beyond the Food Standards Code?

Most of the marketing of food products is not prescribed by regulation in Australia. So how can we confidently assess whether our products are “natural”, “vegan”, “good for you”, “sustainable” or “fresh”? The key is being able to assess your risk of breaching the Australian Consumer Law. This half day workshop will enable participants to:

• Identify who their “reasonable consumer” is.
• Assess what their expectations may be; and
• Know how much evidence we need to hold to substantiate our marketing claims.

We will look at recent regulatory actions on emphasising key ingredients, origin claims, sustainability, and packaging claims, and more.

This workshop is suitable for people working in regulatory, marketing, QA, R&D, NPD and legal at food companies, especially those responsible for either substantiating or approving key marketing claims.

Presented by:
Charles Fisher, KHQ Lawyers – Principal Solicitor in Food & Beverage 

Charles is a Principal Solicitor (Food and Beverage) at KHQ lawyers. Charles is one of the leading consultants and trainers on food marketing, compliance, labelling, classification, licensing, safety and food crisis management. He has spent more than a decade staring at Australian and New Zealand FMCG regulations. He has facilitated thousands of innovative food, beverage, cosmetic and health products in reaching the AUNZ market, and have negotiated favourable outcomes with many industry regulators, including but not limited to FSANZ, DAFF, TGA, NSWFA and more.

Please note: Due to long length and interactive nature of this workshop it will not be recorded so please only register if you can attend on the advertised date.

AIFST26 Convention:  Grow, Learn, Connect and Champion

Day 1 only ticket includes Monday 27th July 2026 face-to-face convention sessions, the Networking Event and entry to foodpro.

With the theme Grow, Learn, Connect and Champion, AIFST26 is designed to spark new thinking, strengthen collaboration and drive meaningful conversations about building a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive food system. Held over two days with plenary and concurrent session streams, the convention will feature more than fifty scientific and food industry speakers from across the agri-food sector. Speakers will focus on Food safety, health and nutrition, sensory and consumer science, food security and resilience, sustainability, and packaging among others. 

For all partnership enquiries, please contact Clive Russell on 0407 066 188 or via clive.russell@aifst.com.au.

AIFST26 Convention:  Grow, Learn, Connect and Champion

Monday 27th & Tuesday 28th July 2026 

In Conjunction with foodpro

Full registration ticket includes both days of the conference, the networking event, and entry to foodpro.

With the theme Grow, Learn, Connect and Champion, AIFST26 is designed to spark new thinking, strengthen collaboration and drive meaningful conversations about building a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive food system. Held over two days with plenary and concurrent session streams, the convention will feature more than fifty scientific and food industry speakers from across the agri-food sector. Speakers will focus on Food safety, health and nutrition, sensory and consumer science, food security and resilience, sustainability, and packaging among others. 

For all partnership enquiries, please contact Clive Russell on 0407 066 188 or via clive.russell@aifst.com.au.

For further details on AIFST26, please visit our event website page HERE

AIFST26 FOOD and WINE Networking Evening

A key highlight of the AIFST Convention is the food and wine networking evening and the 2026 event will continue this tradition.

The event is a great opportunity to create new connections and reconnect with your food industry colleagues in an informal setting.

Note -The Food and Wine Networking Evening social function is already included in all Full Convention Registrations and in any Day 1 only Convention Registrations purchased for Monday 27 July 2026 

Tickets:

Thank you to our food and wine networking evening partner: KHQ Lawyers

AIFST26 Convention:  Grow, Learn, Connect and Champion

Day 2 only ticket includes Tuesday 28th July 2026 face-to-face convention sessions and foodpro entry.

With the theme Grow, Learn, Connect and Champion, AIFST26 is designed to spark new thinking, strengthen collaboration and drive meaningful conversations about building a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive food system. Held over two days with plenary and concurrent session streams, the convention will feature more than fifty scientific and food industry speakers from across the agri-food sector. Speakers will focus on Food safety, health and nutrition, sensory and consumer science, food security and resilience, sustainability, and packaging among others. 

For all partnership enquiries, please contact Clive Russell on 0407 066 188 or via clive.russell@aifst.com.au.

The AIFST Rise and Shine: Career Connect Breakfast will be held during the AIFST26 Convention.

This event is open to all students, young members and our 2026 mentors and mentees. 

The AIFST Rise and Shine: Career Connect Breakfast is proudly sponsored by ICS - Integrity Compliance Solutions.

* NOTE You must be a member of AIFST and registered to attend the AIFST26 Convention on Tuesday 28th July to also attend this complimentary event

The opportunities of Standard 1.2.7 and the risks of the food-medicine interface

No matter the category of food product, consumers now expect it to be healthier and better for them. But marketing the health benefits of food products – whether they are true or not – can open up a can of regulatory worms. This half-day workshop will cover the following:

• The risks of a claim re-classifying a product from food to medicine.
• How format can impact on health marketing (i.e. can my food be sold in a pill, tablet, or capsule)?
• How has the regulation of sports supplements changed?
• Distinguishing between high-level health claims, general level health claims and nutrition content claims.
• Knowing whether the Food Standards Code needs to be amended or not.
• How much scientific information is necessary to self-substantiate a health claim.
• Assessing whether your product is eligible to make health claims (i.e. do I need to meet the NPSC and what on Earth is the NPSC?); and
• Identifying pathways to market the health benefits of a product without making health claims.

Presented by:
Charles Fisher, KHQ Lawyers – Principal Solicitor in Food & Beverage 

Charles is a Principal Solicitor (Food and Beverage) at KHQ lawyers. Charles is one of the leading consultants and trainers on food marketing, compliance, labelling, classification, licensing, safety and food crisis management. He has spent more than a decade staring at Australian and New Zealand FMCG regulations. He has facilitated thousands of innovative food, beverage, cosmetic and health products in reaching the AUNZ market, and have negotiated favourable outcomes with many industry regulators, including but not limited to FSANZ, DAFF, TGA, NSWFA and more.

Please note: Due to long length and interactive nature of this workshop it will not be recorded so please only register if you can attend on the advertised date.