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!

Note: Date changed to Wed 13th Dec

Rethinking HACCP: Why label approval and application should be a CCP in Food and Beverage Production

A systematic approach to risk and due diligence is used to argue why labelling requirements designed to address food safety risks should be viewed as a critical control point. This includes looking at how systems can be used to demonstrate due diligence in New Zealand and each Australian jurisdiction and practical examples.

Our presenter: 

Alan Edwards

Senior Food Incident Response & Complaints Coordinator, NSW Food Authority

Alan Edwards is the Senior Food Incident Response and Complaints Coordinator within the NSW Food Authority. He is one of two food incident contact officers for NSW under the National Food Incident Response Protocol and one of the food recall action officers for NSW under the National Food Recall Strategy. Alan coordinates a team that responds to food hazards, including outbreaks of foodborne disease, to ensure they are managed effectively to prevent harm to consumers and limit damage to the food industry. Alan has over 20 years’ experience as an investigator and lawyer.

The vision of the NZOZ Sensory Symposium is to create a vibrant, welcoming, and collaborative platform that unites the Sensory & Consumer Science Communities from Australia and New Zealand.  Our goal is to foster networking and idea sharing in order to keep the community up-to-date about the latest developments in this field, supporting students and professionals alike. The theme for the upcoming Symposium – Insights into Impact is to facilitate a quality discussion on how to apply consumer & sensory science in a manner which will deliver greater in-market impact for the commercial arena.

The Symposium is an excellent platform for Australian and New Zealand sensory and consumer researchers and professionals to:

• Interact with international science leaders in this field
• Learn about the latest developments in research methods
• Network and exchange ideas

We will again enjoy a full program of speakers and presentations.  We encourage everyone to participate, including students. 

Registration price includes the Symposium, meals during the Symposium including x 2 dinners on the 7^th and 8^th Feb. *Accommodation is not included.

Accommodation Discount: Please contact aifst@aifst.com.au for the promo code for the attendees to book their own accommodation at the VIBE with a 10% off the best available rate.

 Submit your abstract to present HERE

Sharon Natoli: Speaking with Confidence & Growing Your Influence

A Short Course for Aspiring Female Leaders in Food Science

3 x 90 minute online sessions for female food scientists. Sessions will be held fortnightly over a 6 week period from February - March 2024. Registrations are limited to 25 so be quick!

Course outline-

Session 1: Barriers, Intentions and Challenges (20th February)

• Awareness of the barriers that get in the way of speaking with confidence and growing your influence.
• Why confidence and influence matters in the workplace – what you gain from developing your skills in these areas.
• How to increase your confidence and influence – a starting point for change.
• Setting intentions.
• Getting into action - fortnightly challenge.

Session 2: How to Increase Your Confidence (5th March)

• Fortnightly challenge follow-up and sharing
• The power of words – words and phrases you can use to enhance your confidence
• Standing in your power – embodying confidence through your body language
• Structuring your message for clarity – using the power of three to create rhythm and memorability
• Shifting from nervousness to confidence – how to manage nerves before you speak or participate
• Getting into action - fortnightly challenge.

Session 3: How to Increase Your Influence (19th March)

• Fortnightly challenge follow-up and sharing
• Speaking to be heard – voice projection and warm up
• Five speaking styles for influence
• When to use more words and when to use less
• Managing your state – bringing energy to your speaking
• What’s next? Intentions and outcomes.

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 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 complimented 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.

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion.

Join the AIFST VIC Branch for breakfast to celebrate women's achievement.

Our speakers:

Sallie Jones, Co-Founder & Director at Gippsland Jersey

Bonny Rawson, Senior Product Technologist at Coles

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion.

Join the AIFST WA Branch for breakfast to celebrate women's achievement.

Our speakers:

Mei Young, Director – Turban Chopsticks

Mei has over 20 years of hands-on experience in the F&B and FMCG industries, with a deep family history in operations spanning Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia. Mei is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of My PlantCo – a plant-based WA company focused on creating products that are loved by people and planet. Mei has been involved in the launch and evolution of each of My PlantCo’s three distinct brands – Real Oats, Kado and Turban Chopsticks.

Additionally, Mei holds a number of roles including as an Advisory Member of Curtin University’s Molecular & Life Sciences Faculty and Murdoch University’s Launchpad and as a Mentor to WA Female Founders.

Mei is passionate about adopting an impactful approach and has strong interest in several initiatives, including commitments to employing women and young people with disabilities, mentoring and championing female start-ups, closing the gap for food sustainability and waste minimisation between farmers and consumers, and importantly, through powerful collaborations where long-term win-win relationships can be formed to benefit all impacted stakeholders.

Suzanne Daubney, Managing Director – Bannister Downs Dairy

As a multiple award winning business owner, innovator and entrepreneur, Suzanne (Sue) Daubney is Managing Director of Bannister Downs Dairy; WA’s leading premium dairy producer.

Sue, with her husband Mathew (Mat) realised early in the process that innovation and maintaining the end price point, was critical to building a sustainable business.  This market lead approach continues in a partnership with Mrs Gina Rinehart, notably one of the most successful business people in Australian history and the combined investment in a state of art facility ‘The Creamery’, which includes an automatic processing facility and WA’s first voluntary automatic milking rotary.

Being a proud, local family owned business is at the heart of Bannister Downs Dairy and this is reflected in its Hand in Hand program.  Sue is committed to the provision of local employment in the South-West region and supporting local charity projects within the capabilities of the business.

Sue has completed a Bachelor of Science from Murdoch University, a Bachelor of Nursing and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from Edith Cowan University.

Sue was awarded a Telstra Business Women’s Innovation Award for WA in 2006 and won the First Amongst Equals at the WA Business News 40 under 40 in 2010.  Sue held a 3 year term as Chair of the Food Committee at CCI Perth, 3 years on the Reserve Bank’s Small Business Advisory Committee, sat on General Council of CCI and on the Board of the Food Industry Association as well as being Deputy Chair of the South West Development Commission and completing a 6 year term.  Sue is currently a Board Member on the Hale School Board of Governors.

Kate Sinfield, CEO – Sin Gin Distillery (Kate's Bio coming soon)

AIFST is pleased to present the 2024 Food Microbiology Conference on 13^th & 14^th March 2024 at Graduate House in Melbourne.

The theme for the 2024 Food Microbiology Conference is:
Microbes on the Menu: small science for a big world

from safety to sustainability

The conference will be presented as a face to face event offering a content rich, two day program including keynote speakers from across the world. There is an opportunity for networking and collaboration at the optional dinner held at the venue on the 13^th March.

Our goal is to deliver a professionally rewarding experience, which will provide a platform to make professional contacts, and takeaways that will elevate your knowledge of current issues in food microbiology.

The AIFST Food Microbiology Conference will be of interest and relevance to personnel across the entire food industry, as well as food regulators, academics, researchers, and government officials.

The call for abstracts for emerging researchers is now open. Visit the event webpage to apply.

CATERING

• Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea included in ticket price.
• Optional $30 dinner ticket for 13th March 2024 (please purchase separately).