HOW DOES IT FEEL TO FND OUT YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED 'MEMBER OF THE MONTH'?
It’s great to be acknowledged for the time that I’ve put aside to be involved with the IFST, and shows that students who are looking to start their careers through to established professionals can get involved by simply attending events or helping to promote the food industry
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BE A MEMBER OF A BODY LIKE IFST?
As a student the IFST has offered me a link to industry. Attending events and meeting professionals from different parts of the food industry has allowed me to consider different roles within the food industry, learn from those with years of experience and build a network of contacts.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CURRENT COURSE AND WHAT YOU ARE UP TO
I am currently in my final year at Cardiff Met studying Food Science & Technology. Last year I completed a placement with GlaxoSmithKline in New Product Development which really opened my eyes to the research and development area of the food industry and let me get hands on in a fast moving consumer goods company. Coming from industry back into my final year is great as I now have the determination to push for a first class degree and have a better appreciation for the many benefits being a student has, however cannot wait to jump straight back into the food industry.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT FOOD MATTERS LIVE
I attended Food Matters Live with four other students from Cardiff Met and I spent the majority of my morning speaking to different exhibitors, I really enjoying seeing what topics and foods that are trending this year which included products such as free from gluten. In the afternoon I helped out at the IFST stand, which was a good opportunity for me to meet fellow members of the IFST whilst enticing others to join!
YOU BECAME A YOUNG AMBASSADOR FOR IFST EARLIER IN THE YEAR. TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE SO FAR AND WHY OTHERS SHOULD THINK ABOUT BECOMING A YOUNG AMBASSADOR
As a Young Ambassador I have been given so many opportunities to get involved and help out within the IFST. I became a member of the Membership Committee and the Western Branch Committee where both sets of teams have gone above and beyond in welcoming me to the table.
The IFST is the voice of the food profession and as a student I think it is vital that young people are engaged and involved to have their opinions heard as we will become the future talents within the food industry.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST EXPERIENCE SINCE BECOMING INVOLVED WITH IFST?
Attending the IFST Spring conference last year was fantastic as I learnt so much and met so many people in the space of one day!
TELL US SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU
The world has so much to offer and I take full advantage of holidays, which are generous as a student. This year I stepped into North Korea, visited reactor number 4 in Chernobyl and travelled by train from Moscow through to Shanghai with many stops on the way!
