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 (COMPLETED)

Topic: Sustainability

9 September 2026 – Session 7 University of Sydney

Camperdown Campus

Lecture Theatre 175, Carslaw Building,
Eastern Avenue, Camperdown

Topic: Health and Nutrition

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

8 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.

AIFST New Member welcome and orientation webinar

If you are a new member to AIFST or joined a while ago and would like to know how to navigate our website, we would love for you to join us for an introduction on how to get the best from your membership.

As a valued member we are committed to you having an enriching and rewarding experience as a member of AIFST.

Member Orientation is designed as just that – an informative webinar where we walk through the key things you need to get the most from your AIFST membership.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Webinar: Sensory & Consumer Research in the New Product Development Process – Open Forum Discussion

Join us for a webinar on what Sensory & Consumer Science Research is and its purpose or benefits in new product development (NDP).

Where does it fit within the NPD cycle, and what questions can it help answer? What approaches can we explore?

Followed by an open forum discussion.

Presenter:
Jodie Hill, Research Director – Sensory Solutions

Panellists:
Heather Smyth - UQ

Cathy Gair - tgarage

Soumi Paul Mukhopadhyay - Charles Sturt University

Julia Low - RMIT

Jodie started her career as a Food Technologist and Research Scientist at the CSIRO studying off-odours and taints in food packaging.  Moving into the commercial world, Jodie took a role as a leading member of a Sensory and Product Guidance Team in a global FMCG environment.  Here, she gained sound experience and understanding of the requirements for guiding a cross-functional team from concept research to final consumer research, including the use of in-house sensory panels within the product development process.  

With a keen interest in current and cutting edge research techniques and a passion for extending the boundaries of sensory research, Jodie has gone from working within an FMCG environment, to designing and managing consumer research for major FMCG companies from an external perspective.  It is this thorough understanding and wealth of experience, combined with a real-world focus, which makes Jodie such a success in the development of quantitative and qualitative consumer research.  

Jodie has been with Sensory Solutions since 2003 and is certified as a Qualified Professional Researcher (QPR) which is peer group recognition by the Market Research Industry’s peak body.  Jodie is also a long term member of AIFST and involved with both the NSW branch and the Sensory & Consumer committee and is a Fellow of the AIFST. 

Workshop: Presentation skills for food scientists
How to Plan and Deliver a Clear and Engaging Workplace Presentation

Length: 3 hours

Workshop outline:

Food scientists and technical professionals regularly present information in meetings, as part of project updates, customer presentations and other workplace settings. Whether sharing research findings, explaining a technical issue or recommending a course of action, an effective presentation requires more than strong technical knowledge. It also requires the ability to plan a clear message, select the most relevant information and keep the audience engaged.

This practical three-hour workshop will help participants plan, structure and deliver presentations that are clear, relevant and easy to follow. Participants will learn to manage presentation nerves, distil technical information into a strong key message, use evidence effectively and engage diverse audiences.
The workshop will include practical exercises, opportunities to practise key skills and constructive feedback to help participants apply what they learn in their workplace.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Apply practical strategies to manage presentation nerves and appear calm and confident.
• Analyse an audience’s needs, knowledge and priorities and adapt a presentation accordingly.
• Develop a clear presentation plan built around a central message, relevant supporting evidence and a desired audience response.
• Select and organise technical information without overwhelming the audience.
• Use practical techniques to strengthen presentation delivery.
• Adapt their presentation style for online and in-person settings.
• Deliver a short presentation segment and use feedback to identify opportunities for improvement.

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.

CPD Recognition:

AIFST members will earn 3 points towards the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program for attending this workshop.

NOT SURE WHAT'S NEXT? LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

Navigating Career Transitions: Staying Competitive, Connected and Future-Ready

Changing direction, returning to work, or just ready for what's next — AIFST Queensland's Careers Night brings market insights from Osborne Richardson, an expert panel including experienced food industry professionals and the recruiters' view from Evolve Scientific, and a full hour to network with people who get it.

What's on the agenda?

Understanding Your Market Value Natasha from Osborne Richardson on the current job market, salary benchmarking, negotiation, and positioning your experience to land.

Mid-Career Recalibration — Live Panel: Real talk from people who've done it and people who advise on it — a return-to-work story, 20+ years of industry perspective, a recruiter's view from Evolve Scientific, and a coach's take on rebuilding confidence and making the leap.

Future-Proofing Your Career: Personal branding, LinkedIn, AI tools, and why CPD matters more than ever.

Light Refreshments & Networking — 1 Full Hour . Where the conversations may lead to your next career move.

If you're a mid-career food industry professional standing at a crossroads, this night is built for you!

Webinar: Environmental Monitoring - the pathogen smoke alarm!

Environmental monitoring is an essential element in food safety & quality programs. Many customers, food safety authorities and auditing bodies expect food companies to monitor their factories for pathogens and want to see an effective monitoring program, supported by a robust response plan when a pathogen is detected.

This means an environmental monitoring (EM) plan is like a pathogen smoke alarm, and when the alarm is triggered, we need to act and find the source.

But how do you know your pathogen smoke alarm is working?

In this webinar, Jack van der Sanden (Senior Food Safety Advisor, bioMérieux) will discuss:

• Why an EM program is essential
• The risks and dangers of looking for pathogens in your factory
• The design principles for a good EM plan and
• How to respond to the EM results

The presentation will show you how to develop and implement an effective EM program and share some useful tips for your EM journey.

Speaker:

Jack van der Sanden, Senior Food Safety Advisor, bioMérieux

      

AIFST & SQF Food Safety Forum: Collaborating to Create Safe Food

The AIFST & SQF Food Safety Forum brings together industry leaders, technical specialists, and frontline practitioners for a series of short, high-impact presentations designed to spark new ideas, share practical experience, and challenge conventional approaches to food safety.

From emerging risks and regulatory change to leadership, culture and crisis management, the program will explore the issues shaping food safety today and the capabilities organisations will need for tomorrow.

Hear practical perspectives on food safety leadership and change management, building a strong food safety culture, crisis response, risk management, environmental monitoring and allergen management, alongside the latest developments in food standards, regulation and biosecurity compliance for global trade.

The Forum will also look ahead to some of the challenges rapidly changing the profession, including food fraud, AI risks and requirements, the future of auditing and compliance, and developing the next generation of food safety leaders.

With case studies, practical learnings and perspectives from across the food sector, the program is designed to help participants move beyond simply identifying risks to understanding what effective food safety management looks like in practice.

The Forum concludes by bringing industry experts together to tackle the big question: what’s next for food safety, and how should industry prepare?

The program will include a keynote presentation by Deon Mahoney "The food safety landscape – current and emerging challenges and opportunities", followed by presentations:

• Food safety leadership and change management
• Food Safety Culture Case Study
• Practical learnings from crisis management
• Food standards and regulation
• Food safety risk management
• Biosecurity compliance for global trade
• Allergen management
• Food fraud
• AI risks and requirements for food safety
• Next-gen food safety leaders
• Food safety auditing project wrap-up
• Future of compliance
• Panel discussion

Visit our website page for further details: https://aifst.asn.au/AIFST-SQF-2026-Food-Safety-Forum

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:
Wednesday 14 October 12:00pm–1:30pm (AEDT)
Wednesday 28 October 12:00pm–1:30pm (AEDT)
Wednesday 11 November 12:00pm–1:30pm (AEDT)

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.

AIFST Member Update: Year in Review & What’s Ahead

Join the AIFST Board and Team for our upcoming Member Update — a one-hour online session designed to keep members informed, connected and involved.

This interactive update will reflect on key achievements from the past year and show how our work aligns with the 2025–2027 Strategic Plan.

Members will also have the opportunity to ask questions directly to the Board and AIFST team.

What to expect:

• A snapshot of the year in review 
• Live Q&A with the AIFST Board and Team

Whether you’re a long-standing member or newly joined, this is your chance to stay across what’s happening at AIFST and what’s coming next — all in under an hour.

The AIFST SA Branch is holding a Trivia night and you are all invited!

It's time for the battle of the brains! Get your colleagues together and form a team, or come along on the evening and join one to compete against others in the industry.

The trivia night provides attendees with a casual, social environment for food industry professionals to network with peers, catch up with colleagues from the past and present, and meet others in the industry.

Our quizmaster extraordinaire, Gary Kennedy, will entertain us all with his tricky questions and ‘Who am I?’ quiz!

WHEN: 6.00pm Thursday 15th October 2026

WHERE: Hope Inn Hotel, 348 Port Rd, Hindmarsh 5007 SA

PROGRAM: 6.00pm - 9.30pm

Trivia and one drink is included with your entry ticket. The bar will be open for further drink purchases. Meals/snacks can be purchased from the venue on the night