AIFST Annual Awards
AIFST Annual Awards
AIFST offers a range of national awards that recognise the commitment and excellence of our members, championing those who lead and exceed.
2024 Winner: Anna Wittwer | The AIFST John Christian Young Food Microbiologist Award 2025The John Christian Young Food Microbiologist award was established in memory of Dr John Christian AO FTSE, a prominent food microbiologist who contributed significantly to the field of food science in Australia. The award recognises excellence in food microbiology, particularly among early career professionals and underscores the critical role of food microbiologists in ensuring a safe and sustainable food supply. The key eligibility criteria for the award are: 1. Individual studying or working in the area of food microbiology 2. Under 30 years of age at the time of nominating 3. Financial member of the AIFST or an affiliated professional body (such as IAFP, or ASM) 4. Studying at an Australian University or TAFE OR employed in Australia. Finalists are chosen on the basis of a 500-word summary of a food microbiology topic. |
| The AIFST Food Safety Award 2025This is a new award established in 2025 which recognises excellence and innovation in food safety within the Australian agrifood industry. The award celebrates individuals, teams, or organisations that have made significant contributions to improving food safety through research, education, advocacy, or practical application. It highlights leadership and commitment to ensuring a safer food supply for all Australians. Application form |
2024 Winner: Associate Professor Vicky Solah AIFST Keith Farrer Award Citation - Associate Professor Vicky Solah | The AIFST Keith Farrer Award of Merit 2025The Keith Farrer Award of Merit is the Institute’s highest honour recognising a person’s remarkable contribution to the Institute and the Australian agrifood sector through advancements in food science and technology. The award is named after Dr Keith Farrer OBE, a pioneering scientist and author, who was involved in the formation of the AIFST in 1967. Dr Farrer was the second president of AIFST from 1969-71 and a recipient of the award (then known as the IFT Australian Award) in 1959. |
| The AIFST President's Award 2025This award recognises an individual who has provided exceptional and ongoing support for the Institute. |
2024 Winner: Rishi Ravindra Naik, UNSW | AIFST Emerging Leader Award 2025 This award recognises a young technologist, scientist or nutritionist for their endeavour or achievement, and leadership potential, within the Australian food industry. All sectors of the food industry and all roles are eligible. OPENING SOON Previous Winners |
2024 Winner: 'Properties of sodium caseinate as affected by the β-casein phenotypes’ Authors: Davor Daniloski, Noel A. McCarthy, Martin J. Auldist & Todor Vasiljevic The award was accepted by Davor Daniloski | The AIFST Jack Kefford Research Publication Award 2025This award recognises the publication of an outstanding original research paper judged to have provided the most significant contribution in building knowledge in the field of food science and technology. The Award is named in honour of Mr. Jack Kefford who provided enormous input to the science and technology of food as Officer-in-Charge of the CSIRO Food Research Laboratory; Assistant Chief of the CSIRO Division of Food Research; as a scientist of international repute; as AIFST President (1971-73) and Technical Editor of food australia. |
2024 Winner: Rishi Ravindra Naik, Yong Wang &
Cordelia Selomulya for their paper:
‘Improvements of plant protein functionalities by Maillard conjugation and Maillard reaction products’ | The AIFST Bruce Chandler Literature Award 2025This award recognises the authorship of books or substantial reviews deemed to have made the most significant contribution to food science and technology. The award is given in honour of AIFST Past President, Bruce Chandler who had a long association with the journal food australia, first as an Associate Editor then member of the Editorial Board between 1969 and 1978. Notably he was Literature Editor for 12 years from 2001, a function which he performed with extreme dedication. |
2024 Winner: Chao Xue, UQ For his research paper titled ‘Enhancing Juiciness in Plant-Based Meats: Insights from Sensory evaluation, Structural Differences and Oil Distribution’ | The AIFST Sensory Solutions Tony Williams Sensory Award 2025The Sensory Award is awarded to AIFST Young members - students and young professionals - who demonstrate academic achievement, interest, enthusiasm and integrity in sensory research. The AIFST Sensory Award is sponsored annually by Sensory Solutions in honour of Dr Anthony (Tony) Williams. Dr Williams was one of the pioneers of the Sensory Research Industry in the United Kingdom and a world authority in sensory and consumer science. Tony’s enthusiasm and passion also helped establish Sensory Research in Australia, whilst assisting with the inception of Sensory Solutions in 1996. |
2024 Winner: Bill Quayle, Director & Business Development Manager from Rinoldi. Bill could not attend on the night, so the award was accepted by his colleague, Emilie Emond. | The AIFST Foodbank Hunger Hero Award 2025The Hunger Hero Award aims to promote and raise awareness of food insecurity in Australia and the role that members of the food industry can play in addressing this. The award seeks to encourage all Australian food industry sectors. Whether it’s championing a new initiative within their company or volunteering their time and expertise in the community, AIFST and Foodbank want to recognise an individual’s or team’s contribution and hold this up as an inspiration to others. |
2024 Winner: Vortair Pty Ltd For their product the Vortair Autogenous Air Grinder The award was accepted by Tom Debney | The AIFST Peter Seale Innovation Award 2025This award celebrates a significant Australian technological advancement in the agrifood sector that has achieved tangible results in the market. The award is given in honour of AIFST Past President, Peter Seale who held the role from 1973-75. |
2024 Judges Winner: Use of metabolomics to uncover shelf-life differences of vacuum-packed beef and lamb Authors: Elerin Toomik*, Laura Rood, Richard Wilson, John Bowman, Chawalit Kocharunchitt Accepted by: Elerin Toomik, UTAS
2024 Judges Runner Up: Validating Jade perch as Australia’s offering for a white flesh fish product Authors: Nelum Pematilleke, Damian Espinase Nandorfy, Emma Lundin, Lukas Danner, Chris Stratford, David Blyth, Artur Rombenso, Polly Hilder, Cedric Simon, Aarti Tobin, Ha Truong Accepted by: Nelum Pematilleke, CSIRO | The AIFST Research Poster Award 2025This award recognises a postgraduate student poster presentation of recent work that shares knowledge, fosters collaboration, recognises innovative thinking, and engages a scientific audience. Thank you to our Poster Partner SQF Institute
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