Food Science Fundamentals

Virtual Short Course

The aim of this course is to familiarise food industry staff on the basic principles of food science.

Understanding the language used to assist communication with other staff and customers. Identify how food science impacts and supports their non-science role. 

This course will be delivered virtually, and the content includes:

• What is Food Science?
• Food Policy & Regulations
• Food Chemistry – the building blocks
• Food Packaging
• Food Microbiology
• Nutrition – food and the human body
• Food Processing
• Sensory & Consumer Science
• Food Safety
• The Future of Food

The course is held over four (4) afternoons:

1. Thursday 2 May 2024, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
2. Wednesday 15 May 2024, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
3. Wednesday 29 May 2024, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
4. Wednesday 12 Jun 2024, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Only 30 spots available.

Program Overview

Sharon Natoli: Speaking with Confidence & Growing Your Influence

A Short Course for Aspiring Female Leaders in Food Science

Due to the popularity of our February course we are scheduling some more dates with the fabulous Sharon Natoli.

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

Course outline-

Session 1: Barriers, Intentions and Challenges (7th May)

• 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 (21st May)

• 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 (4th June)

• 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.

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!

SA Branch Networking night

The SA Branch warmly invites members and non-members of the AIFST to join in for a casual night of networking and connections.  All formalities can be left behind as this is a night to connect (or re-connect) with others in the Food Science and Technology community.  Come for a little, or stay for a while, it’s totally up to you.

When:  Friday May 17^th, 2024.  6pm till 9pm (ACST)

Where: Plant 4 Bowden, 5 Third St, Bowden, SA 5007. 

Please meet upstairs at the East Mezzanine area (just ask for the AIFST booking).

Cost: No cost to rock up and connect, but if you get thirsty or hungry there are many eateries and also the bar to purchase your own food and beverages.   

RSVP:  Please show your interest by registering (no charge) via the register button so we have an idea of how many to expect in attendance. RSVP By Wednesday 15th May.

Contact: Any questions - please call Charavy on 0434 487 159

Map:  Tip, best parking is in one of the car parks off Third Street. 

Artificial intelligence in the Food Industry

The growth of the planet’s population requires the application of innovative technological solutions for its food supply. Artificial intelligence is perceived as a strategic factor for increasing productivity, efficiency and innovation in a number of sectors, including the food industry. This event will explore how Artificial Intelligence is poised to transform the food industry, shedding light on the expanding role of AI across the agrifood system, with an emphasis on food manufacturing. The presentation will discuss the historical context of AI, explain the fundamental concepts underpinning this transformative technology, and share a series of case studies on companies incorporating AI into their business operations.

This is a face-to-face event in Shepparton, VIC. Register now to secure your spot in this topical discussion!

Our expert speaker is:

Dr Jordan Pennells, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at CSIRO

Jordan holds dual degrees in Chemical Engineering and Evolutionary Genetics after graduating from the University of Queensland in 2017. His PhD was conferred from the University of Queensland in 2022 with a thesis entitled "Sorghum as a Novel Biomass for the Sustainable Production of Cellulose Nanofibres", which presented an inquiry into quality, sustainability, and statistical variability in biomass-based materials engineering. Now at CSIRO, Jordan is at the interface between food research and industrial production, focusing on the material transformation that occurs during twin-screw extrusion to generate a range of different food products, including plant-based meat. His postdoctoral research project revolves around the significant challenge of predicting food extrusion outcomes to streamline industrial production, with the broader goal of enabling a deeper mechanistic understanding of the food extrusion process.

The registration price also includes canapes and refreshments.

Thank you to NorVicFoods and The University of Melbourne for partnering with this regional event.

Program:

Car parking is available as you drive into the driveway on the left-hand side.  Once this is full there will be car parking on the street or paid parking opposite in the GV Hospital carpark.

AIFST QLD Member Exclusive: Earlee Products Factory Tour

Need to know:

• The tour is strictly limited to 16 guests, so register today to avoid missing out!
• If you’re not in the first 16 to register, your details will be kept on a waiting list, and you’ll be notified as spaces become available.
• Competitors to Earlee and those from similar industries are not permitted on tour.
• The attendee list will need to be approved by Earlee prior to the tour, so please wait for confirmation from AIFST that your tour spot has been reserved.

Lea Reid, Member of AIFST and Technical Manager at Earlee will be hosting us for this exciting opportunity!

On arrival, sign in at reception and go up stairs to wait in the couch area at the top of the stairs for PPE and induction.

The tour will be conducted in two groups of 8 people and includes an overview of:
R&D lab, QA dept, R&D trial room, Dry processing area, Raw materials & warehouse, Dry blending room and the wet processing area.

After the tour the Earlee R&D team will provide complimentary samples of pulled beef on bao buns. 

Parking instructions - Visitor area or parking bays or double parked is OK in marked areas only. 

PPE: BYO steel cap boots if you have them. Please advise you need to borrow a pair of boots. No jewellery, wedding bands are ok if they don't have stones.
Earlee will provide dust jackets, hair nets, beard nets, and hearing protection

Please direct queries to aifst@aifst.com.au. We look forward to sharing this experience with our members, and hope you can join the QLD branch on this tour.

• AIFST Virtual Workshop: Navigating the Food Regulation Maze

• 
  

• Food regulation can be confusing! 

  Do you ever ask yourself "How do I know if the ingredients I want to use in my new product are approved and safe?"

  Or what about... "How do I know what I can or can’t say about my product?"

  This workshop is designed to help your business collect and manage the information needed to assist with regulatory compliance.

  The workshop will cover:

• Overview of the food regulation system in Australia and New Zealand
• Australian Consumer Law (ACL)
• Mandatory labelling requirements under the ANZ Food Standards Code
• Uniform Trade Measurement Legislation
• The Food-Medicine interface - Complementary medicines
• Practical exercise looking at assessing a label

Whether you are entering the food industry or just trialing new products, learn more about the regulations that can protect your products and your consumers.

Please note - This workshop will NOT be recorded due to it its interactive nature and long length so you will need to be able to attend in person on the day.

Presenters:

Fiona Fleming - AIFST

Fiona is CEO of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST). She is an experienced Corporate and Regulatory Affairs professional who has been involved in leading and facilitating change and developing management strategies across a portfolio of food policy and regulation matters in global FMCG and NGO environments.

Mr Jim Moshovelis

Jim has over 30 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and food & beverage industries with a strong background in regulatory and government affairs, stakeholder engagement, product development and quality assurance. He advises and assists companies wishing to register or list their products with the TGA.

Charles Fisher - KHQ Lawyers

Charles is a principle 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.

Registration Cost:

AIFST Members: $110.00

Non-Members: $195.00

Student/Graduate Members: $60.00

Student/Graduate Non - Members: $80.00

NZIFST Members: $110.00 with code

Not a member? Join online today!

Did you know that 1.5 million Australians are living with a food allergy?

In conjunction with Food Allergy Week 2024

This breakfast event will raise funds for Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia. Food Allergy Week aims to raise awareness and understanding of food allergies including anaphylaxis. During Food Allergy Week, Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia is calling on all Australians to unite to help increase awareness and share information on what we can all do to improve safety for people who live with food allergies.

This event will include a panel discussion with experts Maria Said AM from Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, Jasmine Lacis-Lee from the Allergen Bureau & BVAQ, Fiona Fleming from AIFST and Toowoomba local advocate for Allergy awareness, Stewart Eddie from ASKAFOODTECH.

All profits from this event will be donated to Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia to assist them in supporting people living with allergies and risk of anaphylaxis.

Everyone has responsibilities when it comes to food allergy management.

Event Partners:

ARYZTA Dandenong Factory Tour

The AIFST VIC Branch are inviting you to join with them for a tour of the ARYZTA site at Dandenong.

The tour will include:

• Introduction and company overview
  
• Factory Tour
  
• Q & A Session

Special requirements:

No jewellery is permitted to be worn. Please wear closed toe shoes, minimal make up, free from false nails or eye lashes.

This is free tour exclusive for AIFST Members only - Hurry space is limited to the first 10 registrants only.

Registrations for this event are being handled through UWS

Click HERE to register for this event

An international symposium organised by the School of Science at Western Sydney University Australia in collaboration with School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences (the University of Melbourne), Faculty of Health (University of Canberra), and the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST) to celebrate the World Food Safety Day 2024.

Topics:

• Food safety as a global challenge
• Food safety incidents - major international crises
• Food safety management in exceptional situations
• Food safety and natural disasters
• How can food science support food safety in the future?

Supporting organisations:

• ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia’s Bioactives (FAAB)
• Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council, Australia

International Partners:

• International School, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
• Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
• Department of Human Nutrition, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar

Symposium Sponsor:

•  Hygiena Australia

Scan the QR code or click here to register for this event

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

The battle of the brains is happening at the 2024 AIFST Trivia Night takes place again.

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 and social environment for food industry professionals to network with peers, catch up with colleagues from the past and present, and to meet others in the industry.  

Your Quizmaster Deon Mahoney will entertain you all with his broad range of trivia questions! 

PROGRAM: 6.30pm - 9.00pm

Your ticket includes Trivia, Canapes, and a drink from the bar.

Thanks to our event partners  NEOGEN, CELLBIOSCIENCES and HALCYON PROTEINS

Gelita Australia On-Site Tour, Technical Workshop, and Practical Application Demonstration

A collaborative effort between Gelita Australia and AIFST could provide valuable insights into the innovative uses of gelatine in the food industry. This event will benefit and contribute to the knowledge and understanding of gelatine applications within the food industry.
Gelita will provide a guided tour of their factory. Giving participants a with a firsthand look at the production processes and quality control measures. The event also includes a Practical Application Demonstration and Technical Presentation, where experts from Gelita Australia will present and discuss the technical aspects of gelatine applications. Including:

1. Introduction to Gelatine: What is gelatine? how it is made, and its physical and chemical properties.
2. Gelatine in Confectionery: Exploring its role in gummies, marshmallows, and other sweets.
3. Gelatine in Culinary Applications: Discuss its uses in savoury dishes, sauces, and soups.
4. Gelatine in Beverages: Understanding its applications in the beverage industry, including clarification and stabilisation.
5. Gelatine in Pharmaceuticals: Exploring its role in pharmaceutical and medical applications.

Participants will be welcomed to Gelita with an Aussie-style BBQ lunch, fostering networking and discussion.

Bega Tour

The AIFST VIC Branch are inviting you to join with them for a tour of the Bega factory at Strathmerton.

Strathmerton is Bega’s Victorian based processed cheese, and natural cheese cutting and packaging plant. Capable of producing the full range of processed cheese in slices, cans, jars and blocks, as well as natural cheese in block, shred and slices. Their iconic products are proudly Aussie owned, made and loved. 

The tour will include:

• Introduction and company overview
  
• Factory Tour
  
• Q & A Session

Special requirements:

Attendees to wear long pants and, if they have them, bring along a pair of safety glasses (otherwise we can provide them).

PPE will be provided (coat, hairnet, boots).

No jewellery is permitted in production areas (medical alert badge permitted)

This is free tour exclusive for AIFST Members only - Hurry space is limited to the first 10 registrants only.

AIFST24 Convention: Food Science – Navigating Our Future

6 August 2024

Day 1 only ticket includes Tuesday 6th August 2024 face-to-face convention sessions and the Networking Event.

The theme for AIFST24 is Food Science – Navigating Our Future. Recognising the key role that food science plays.

Over two days with plenary and four concurrent session streams, the convention will feature over 50 scientific and food industry speakers from across the agri-food sector. Key areas covered will include food safety, advances in health and nutrition, sensory and consumer science, food security and resilience, advanced food manufacturing, AI, food policy & regulation, innovation, and sustainability.

There will be lots of opportunities for discussion and networking across the two days.

For further information, please contact the AIFST team on 0447 066 324 or via aifst@aifst.com.au.

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

AIFST24 Convention: Food Science – Navigating Our Future

6 - 7 August 2024

The theme for AIFST24, FOOD SCIENCE: Navigating Our Future, speaks to the challenges and exciting opportunities ahead for the agri-food industry and the important role food science and technology will play. 

AIFST24 will feature a comprehensive technical program and the great networking opportunities offered by our face-to-face event. 

Over two days with plenary and four concurrent session streams, the convention will feature over 50 scientific and food industry speakers from across the agri-food sector. Key areas covered will include food safety, advances in health and nutrition, sensory and consumer science, food security and resilience, advanced food manufacturing, AI, food policy & regulation, innovation, and sustainability.

There will be lots of opportunities for discussion and networking across the two days.

EARLY BIRD PRICING NOW AVAILABLE UNTIL 31 May!

For further information on this popular event, please visit our event website page HERE

AIFST24 Convention: Food Science – Navigating Our Future

7 August 2024

Day 2 only ticket includes Wednesday 7th August 2024 face-to-face convention sessions and the Networking Event.

The theme for AIFST24 is Food Science – Navigating Our Future. Recognising the key role that food science plays. The second day of the conference has a plenary and four concurrent session streams, the convention will feature more than fifty scientific and food industry speakers from across the agri-food sector.

Key areas covered will include food safety, advances in health and nutrition, sensory and consumer science, food security and resilience, advanced food manufacturing, AI, food policy & regulation, innovation, and sustainability.

There will be lots of opportunities for discussion and networking across the two days.

For further information, please contact the AIFST team on 0447 066 324 or via aifst@aifst.com.au.

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

Sharon Natoli: Speaking with Confidence & Growing Your Influence

A Short Course for Aspiring Female Leaders in Food Science

Due to the popularity of this course we are scheduling some more dates with the fabulous Sharon Natoli.

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

Course outline-

Session 1: Barriers, Intentions and Challenges (13 Aug)

• 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 (27 Aug)

• 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 (10th Sept)

• 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.