51st Annual Food Science and Technology Conference
Food Systems in a Changing World- the Science, Challenges and Opportunities
Speaker Biographies
Dr Ian Noble
VP R&D – Research and Analytical Sciences, Mondelēz International
Ian leads the scientific research, analytical and sustainability agendas globally for Mondelēz R&D, with teams based across Mondelēz’s global network of technology centres in Asia, Europe, North & South America.
Prior to joining Mondelez, Ian led the Global Emerging Snacks Technology group for PepsiCo R&D where he was responsible for creating and delivering new technologies. Ian joined PepsiCo in 2007 from Unilever he was latterly the Global FoodService Beverages R&D Director. He has enjoyed an international career working in many countries.
Ian is committed to strengthening the technical agenda that enables our Global Food System to enable greater productivity, growth and sustainability for this vital sector of our modern economy.
Mr Nicholas Reynolds
Sustainability Manager, O’Brien Fine Foods
Nicholas is truly passionate about sustainability and the important role that business needs to play to support our transition to a low carbon economy and a more inclusive society. Nicholas comes from a consulting background, where he previously worked at PWC and Business in the Community Ireland, supporting business across all sectors, on developing and implementing their sustainability and corporate social responsibility strategies.
At the end of 2021 Nicholas moved to O’Brien Fine Foods, where he is responsible for developing and implementing the Sustainability Strategy of the business, which they refer to as Our Purpose. At O’Brien’s, sustainability refers to all areas of the ESG agenda and spans across the entire supply chain of the company. After achieving B Corp Certification in 2023, they continue to look for opportunities to create a positive impact, both environmentally and socially, by working with departments across the organisation develop more sustainable and responsible ways of working, supporting the business achieve their sustainability targets and commitments.
Dr Ultan McCarthy
Lecturer, Department of Land Management at South East Technological University (SETU)
Dr Ultan Mc Carthy is currently an academic and researcher based at the Department of Land Sciences South East Technological University, Ireland. He holds a BSc in Food Technology and an MSc and PhD in Biosytems Engineering. His PhD investigated the use of UHF RFID technology to provide item level digital traceability across food supply chains. His MBA degree investigated the enhanced use of digitised data across the organisation to enhance decision making and increase responsiveness and flexibility to better competitively position organisations.
Prior to joining SETU Dr Mc Carthy spent many years in research in the USA specialising in the use of digital technologies to improve the operational and strategic efficiency of supply chains across agri-food, pharmaceutical, automotive, aviation and defence supply networks. He is former centre manager of Irelands RFID and IoT Technology Gateway.
His research currently focuses on the use of an array of broad networked wireless sensing technologies to increase supply chain sustainability across global supply networks. He is also currently developing a number of low cost digital technologies to reduce food and biologic waste. He has a long publication history and a strong track record in research and commercialisation. He has successfully secured a broad array of EU, national as well as industrial sponsored funding. He is currently Associate VP of finance for the IEEE Council on RFID and is also an IEEE CRFID Distinguished Lecturer for “The electronic transformation of agri-food systems”.
Dr Kari Tronsmo
President of EIT Food Protein Diversification Think Tank and Open innovation leader at Danone
Dr. Kari Tronsmo is a food chemist and innovation professional acting from within on the farm-to-fork transformation towards a sustainable, resilient future food system. Kari holds a MSc from ECPM Strasbourg and a PhD from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and has held various roles spanning from academic research at Nofima and University of Reading, product development at Danone and Mondelez, innovation director acting on R&I leadership and category management at CSM Bakery Solutions. She is currently in charge of Open Innovation for Sustainability at Danone, and acting as President of the Protein Diversification Think Tank initiated by EIT Food. She leverages her expertise in food technology and innovation leadership to seed and foster partnerships between corporates, start-ups, academics and farmers.
Prof. Maeve Henchion
Head of Department of Agrifood Business and Spatial Analysis at Teagasc
Maeve is Principal Research Officer and Head of Department of Agrifood Business and Spatial Analysis at Teagasc. She is also Adjunct Professor at the School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin. Her research interests involve bringing a social/behavioural science dimension to multi- and inter-disciplinary research projects. This means she is involved in identifying new technology, market and value chain opportunities for the Irish industry and understanding consumer, citizen, industry and farmer attitudes and behaviours that could influence the realisation of such opportunities. She is currently particularly interested in innovation in the circular bioeconomy, sustainable food production and consumption, and alternative protein sources. She is a member of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance sub-board, and the boards of Fingal Leader Partnership and the Golden Jubilee Trust.