Innovation for a Sustainable Future - What to consider when developing New Products and Packaging

Dr Gavin Milligan - Owner, Green Knight Sustainability Consulting

Gavin has over 30 years’ experience in the chemical and food sectors in positions up to Board level, in businesses of various sizes, from SMEs to large multinationals and has worked in diverse roles including operations, supply chain, procurement and sales. He has worked on resource efficiency collaborations including WRAP’s Product Sustainability Forum, IGD’s ‘Working on Waste’ initiative and FDF’s Sustainability Steering Group. He continues to be active on advisory Boards in the private, public and third sectors.
Now full-time as a consultant, current and former clients include businesses in manufacturing, energy and packaging & components, together with trade bodies, and organisations outside the commercial sector covering ethical trade, international development, public sector knowledge transfer and academic research bodies. A qualified scientist, Gavin is also active with the research community through the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) and BBSRC-funded Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy, co-authors research papers and has input into post-graduate courses in scientific and business education.
A regular conference speaker, Gavin has also developed and delivered conferences around sustainability in manufacturing covering waste valorisation, resource efficiency and innovation alongside ‘softer’ topics including communities and biodiversity. He has organised and supported events and external speakers for a wide range of organisations and provides workshops and seminars for a broad business audience.

Muryel Boulay - CEO, B Other Wise Ltd.

Muryel has been in the food industry for 20 years with UK Household Food brands such as, McVitie's, Oxo, Sharwood and Mr Kipling, holding leadership roles in International business divisions, supporting M&A activities. She is Founder of B Other Wise Ltd, a sustainability consultancy dedicated to supporting businesses building and implementing their sustainability programme, from carbon footprint to employee engagement.

• Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) Tutor, Assessor and Alumna
• B Corp certification consultant trained by B Corp UK, Future-Fit Business Certified Professional
• Partner, Trainer & Assessor to CSR Accreditation
• Member of the Association of Sustainable Practitioners
• Associate sustainability consultant for SCALA, Aria Grace Law and Greengage

Chair - Valia Christidou, Co-Founder Good Guys Bakehouse Ltd. 

Valia is a lecturer in New Product Development at London South Bank University and an Innovation Consultant to the Food Industry. She is also the chair of IFST’s Publication Committee and the Communications lead of IFST Food Innovation SIG.