webinar

Launch your career in food: How to navigate the food career network to ensure your success

Join this webinar whether you’re a graduate, apprentice, school leaver or just started your career. Hear from fellow food professionals on how to make your food career purposeful, successful and understand the exciting and fulfilling opportunities the sector offers. Learn from their experience and take away some tips you can use to make job hunting easier and more productive.

If you are looking to start your career and are interested in food and drink this webinar provides a great learning and development opportunity on how to kick-start your job and career search.

In less than an hour you’ll have the opportunity to learn from the best, and get your questions answered by people who understand what’s needed to find your first job role and how to make that important next move on your career journey.

Take a break from your studies or work admin, join us and transform your understanding of working in the food and drink sector.

Key learning points:

  • Listen and learn – hear career tips from early careers and experienced food professionals
  • Learn from case studies and stories from various job roles and how to make yourself stand out when looking for your next role
  • Understand the wealth of opportunities available in the sector and the way the industry is changing and its needs for new skillsets and talents
  • Ask our expert speakers questions and benefit from their knowledge and guidance.

Speakers: 

Kirsty Carey, Assistant Scientist, PepsiCo

KirstyOriginally from the Isle of Man, Kirsty studied Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Nottingham. As part of her degree she completed a year in industry working with Cereal Partners in the South West of England on both Nestle and Own Label breakfast cereals. She launched several limited edition flavours and nutritional renovations across the year. After graduation Kirsty decided to stay in the Midlands and started working for PepsiCo in their long term vegetable snack research department, investigating how to incorporate whole vegetable into existing and new types of snacks. In 2022, she moved in the Quaker Oats Europe team working as a product developer. In the past year, she has launched a new ‘Caramelised Biscuit’ flavoured porridge pot and sachet and is working on several new additions to the Quaker range for 2024.

Purity Hrisca, Regional Supplier Assurance Manager, ADM 

PurityI am working as a regional supplier assurance manager for ADM. I look after suppliers within EMEAI region for ADM’s oilseed business unit. This is a role I took in January this year. Prior to joining ADM, I worked for Sainsbury’s supermarkets as a Technical Manager. Before joining Sainsbury’s I was a Technical Manager for Tate & Lyle Sugars. I have also worked as a Technical Manager for both Soulful Food Company and Harvey and Brockless Ltd.

Ruth Brown, Specialist Technical Manager, Marks and Spencer 

 Originally from Belfast Ruth studied Food Quality, Safety and Nutrition at Queens University Belfast. She joined the Marks and Spencer retail technologist placement scheme 14 years ago and has progressed through the graduate scheme working in varies categories across fresh and ambient foods. She is currently working in the Fish & Seafood categories and Chairs the Marks and Spencer Food Fraud Team.

Sterling Crew, IFST, President 

An experienced food sector director and food safety advocate. Sterling currently holds a portfolio of positions including: President of the Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Food Authenticity Network of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist and is Scientific and Regulatory Advisor for the sustainability organisation OLIO, The British Lion Mark and Highfield. He also sits on the Advisory Board of New Food Magazine.

Sterling has over 40 years experience of working in the food industry in the fields of food safety, governance, compliance, horizon scanning, sustainability and innovation. He started his career in government before a successful track history in retailing with Marks and Spencer and Tesco. He has also worked in the branded environment for Coca -Cola and Disney and as a Technical Director at two manufacturers. With experience as a regulator, retailer and manufacturer he has a unique perspective on the development of the global food sector.