James has been awarded 'Member of the Month' for the blogs/articles that he's been writing for us whilst on placement at Campden BRI. He's also joined our Student Group and looked after our new 'Young Ambassadors' at our 2015 Spring Conference.
How does it feel to be recognised as 'Member of the Month'?
Fantastic! This recognition by the IFST was totally unexpected. I was truly surprised to gain such an accolade because I never thought anyone would think of me in that way. Everything I do for the IFST is about helping the wider food industry. I am still genuinely amazed and having thought about it I feel very proud!
Why is it important to be a member of a body like IFST?
I believe being a member of any professional body is important. As a Food Scientist, the IFST are at the forefront of the entire Food Industry and promote and support the values and importance of my future profession. It is also a way for the established and the new to network and begin to tackle the skills gap facing the industry. Having personally heard the debates at Campden BRI’s member interest groups you can see that companies in all sectors are worried about this gap and are keen to help tackle the problem. It is also vital for Students to be a part of such a membership body as the chance to learn and have your say as the next generation is key for continued success.
You are a member of our Student Group, why is it important to have a student voice within IFST?
Student members will ultimately become the future IFST. We have a valuable contribution to make, hopefully for many years. Times are changing and I believe that our ideas can build upon the knowledge and experience of colleagues who have preceded us.
You are currently on your placement year; tell us more about what you’ve been up to.
Currently at Campden BRI, I am having a truly inspiring experience. I am currently having the opportunity and privilege to work on both internal research projects and client contract work with a number of highly capable professionals who in turn are experts in their respective fields. I have also been able to carry out projects with several member companies gaining a valuable insight into the practical world of the food industry. To understand the key role a research institute can bring in supporting all day-to-day and future activities of member companies continues to really motivate me. I would strongly recommend an industrial placement to everyone.
You’ve been blogging for us, how have you found that?
Blogging has been as great way for me to get down what I am doing and learning on paper for other people to read and hopefully inspire people who are thinking of a career in the food industry. It hasn’t however always been easy trying to reflect on my experiences in such a snappy summary.
Tell us something about yourself that not many people know:
I spent more than 6 years of my early life in Germany and Holland. I’m very proud of the fact that, for two years running, I was a member of the team that won their age group’s Dutch National Championship, at rugby, of course! I’m a great fan of River Cottage and its ethos. I’ve been on a number of their cookery courses and am attending some more this summer. I’m also planning to go sea fishing for the first time after my placement finishes.
