International Women's Week 2023 has arrived, and at IFST we've been taking the chance to reflect on the crucial role of women in the world of food. The UN theme for International Women's Day 2023 is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality - a theme which is particularly relevant to our work.
This week we've been speaking to four female leaders who are IFST members, and asking them about their careers and journeys to become leading food scientists and technologists. IFST wishes to celebrate this week by highlighting the achievements of our female members and the variety of food science careers available to them. To frame our conversation, we posed four questions:
- What is your professional background?
- Do you have any advice for women beginning their careers in food science and technology? Possibly something you wish you'd known when you first started?
- The UN’s theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality - what does this theme mean to you?
- Who are some of your female role models or inspirations?
Megan Eade
What is your professional background?
I’m a Senior Development Technologist working within RSSL in our Product and Ingredient Innovation team. I’ve been with RSSL for nearly six years, and also carried out my industrial placement year within the team; I graduated from the University of Reading with a BSc in Food Science with Industrial Training in 2017. I also have two qualifications in patisserie.
Do you have any advice for women beginning their careers in food science and technology? Possibly something you wish you’d known when you first started?
I think something that has always stayed with me is the concept of imposter syndrome, where you feel like you’re not experienced enough or don’t have enough knowledge, and whenever I’ve reflected back on times where I’ve felt this, I have actually been just right for the job or the task, I just didn’t feel like it at the time. Having confidence in yourself is so hard, and not something I’ve managed completely, but I take “fake it till you make it” very seriously in the sense that you might feel like you’re just “pretending” you can do something, but before you know it you actually are. As women in the place of work we often exist in a space of underestimating and underselling ourselves out of fear of failure or appearing arrogant, but you are always more capable than you think and every time you stand up and say “yes I can do that” is a step in proving yourself that. And the main thing I wish I’d known sooner… the bad things are never as bad as you think.
The UN’s theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality - what does this theme mean to you?
This theme is a great one. The increasingly digital age exposes the gender gap when it comes to tech jobs, and the limits women face in terms of access to technology. Access to digital tools is key to closing that gap especially in lower income countries. Women are vital in STEM but for that they need the skills!
Who are some of your female role models or inspirations?
Maybe it sounds cliché and predictable but honestly it’s the people around me. I’m very lucky that I work in a company that’s overflowing with female scientists and technologists that are some of the most experienced and knowledgeable that I’ve ever met. It’s inspiring to see this in action every day! We have women leading, educating, researching at all levels, and I’m very proud to work in my team of intelligent and creative women.
Barbara Bray MBE
What is your professional background?
I am a Food Safety and Nutrition Consultant with a BSc in Food Tech and MSc in Postharvest Tech and also in Human Nutrition
Do you have any advice for women beginning their careers in food science and technology? Possibly something you wish you’d known when you first started?
I wish I had understood the importance of building good relationships with people when I first started. I used to worry about approaching people more senior than I was and then I realised that most people are quite approachable and helpful if you show an interest in who they are and what they do.
The UN’s theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality - what does this theme mean to you?
I'm currently reading She's in CTRL by Anne-Marie Imafidon and realising that women need to be actively involved in Tech. If we aren't part of the process we'll end up with solutions that don't work for us.
Who are some of your female role models or inspirations?
Anne-Marie Imafidon is a huge inspiration as well as others in my sector, Judith Batchelar, Anna Taylor Food Foundation and many unsung sheroes of my generation who quietly get on with the business of making things happen for everyone around them.
Susan Arkley
What is your professional background?
I have a Bsc Hons degree in Food Science from University of Leeds, MBA from Henley Management College and am a fellow of IFST and Chair of the Innovation Special Interest Group. I have worked in the food industry for over 20 years specialising in product development and innovation, and am now a Food Consultant and Lecturer.
Do you have any advice for women beginning their careers in food science and technology? Possibly something you wish you’d known when you first started?
Build a good network, both within and outside of the food industry. Sometimes the most unexpected connections can be the source of new inspiration or opportunities.
Be open to new opportunities.
Find a mentor that you trust and can relate to, to discuss ideas with
Stay curious and never stop learning
Believe in yourself
The UN’s theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality - what does this theme mean to you?
It means building inclusive, flexible and equitable work cultures where women can thrive and their contributions and expertise is celebrated.
Who are some of your female role models or inspirations?
Lucinda Bryce-Gardyne, creator and founder of the Genius Foods gluten free brand is very inspirational as a successful innovator and a business women. She had a vision of what she wanted to achieve and stuck to it until she achieved her goal. There are many inspiration women working in the food manufacturing industry. Two inspirational women who use their own experiences (good and bad) of working in the food industry to mentor and coach others are Amy Wilkinson and Lucy Wager (hosts of the Oh for foods sake podcast). My fellow IFST Food Innovation SIG committee is entirely female and each one of them brings their own unique experience and expertise to our group.
Deborah Kendale
What is your professional background?
I have a degree and background in food science and have variously worked in laboratories, food businesses, local government and as a food safety auditor and consultant in the early part of my career. I had to make a career change due to childcare responsibilities. In terms of opportunities for women; in 1990’s, in businesses women managers were a rarity. Work life balance was not something that was considered – it was more important to be present and visible in the workplace. After becoming a mother I swapped my white coat and hairnet for a computer screen and entered the world of higher education business development, marketing and project management at the interface with the food sector. This has been my career for the last twenty years across four midlands based universities. In the last three years I have worked at IFST which is another facet of the food sector, a membership body and charity; and a role that due to geographical restrictions I would never have considered prior to the COVID lockdown and the opening up of work locations.
Do you have any advice for women beginning their careers in food science and technology? Possibly something you wish you’d known when you first started?
Being a food scientist does not involve purely being based in a laboratory and can take you across industry, enforcement education and policy. I am sure that career options are somewhat different today and there are roles available that were not even dreamed of thirty years ago. Don’t be afraid to reach out and make the most of your social, professional and family based network. People are always glad to give you advice and link you up with someone who can help or advise you on a career question.
The UN’s theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality - what does this theme mean to you?
The introduction of more technology in the work place has enabled women to work more flexibly in terms of time and location. Technology will enable more carers to be active in the workplace and people to work until they are older. However equality is only possible if all have access to the right tools and training.
Who are some of your female role models or inspirations?
One cannot talk about female role models in 2023 without mentioning the late Queen Elizabeth. She was truly committed to her role and her position as the monarch. Whilst not being a royalist, I cannot help but admire her commitment to duty above self and her bearing in adversity. Conversely another role model is Princess Diana who did so much to destigmatise emotional freedom and expression of thought and feeling at a time when there was much prejudice in society. A similar role model is Michelle Obama who is similarly empathetic whilst being strong in adversity and principled in her actions as well as words. Michelle has been seen to empower and lift up others who don’t share her power, privilege and education.
Thank you to all of our members who participated in our International Women's Day campaign!