Dr. Raffael Osen

Group Leader of Food Process Engineering Department

Dr Raffael Osen leads the Food Process Engineering Department at the Singapore Institute of Food and Biotech Innovation at A-STAR. His main interests reside in integrating protein ingredients development, texturization and formulation from a wide range of alternative protein and lipid sources such as underutilized Asian crops, fermentation-derived biomass and cultivated cells for developing tasty, healthy, sustainable, and affordable foods. With his team, he uses processing methods such as extrusion, high pressure processing, shear alignment or oleogelation to structure biopolymers for a new range of future foods. Prior to his move to Singapore, he led the department of food process development at Fraunhofer, the largest organisation for applied R&D in Europe, where he was one of the pioneers using high moisture extrusion for protein texturization. He started his research on the development of plant-based meat substitutes in 2010 and obtained his PhD in Food Technology from the Technical University of Munich.

Prof Christiani Jeyakumar Henry

Deputy Executive Director

Prof Jeyakumar Henry is Deputy Executive Director, Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation, ASTAR (SIFBI). He was the founding Director of the Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), ASTAR, and the Functional Food Centre in Oxford. He is also a Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore since 2014. Prof Jeya continues to focus on building a center of excellence in the interface of Food Technology and Nutrition in Singapore. He is also currently an expert panel member of the International Union of Food Science and Technology Taskforce on Food Processing for Nutrition, Diet and Health, and a jury member of the Danone International Prize for Alimentation.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Iain Brownlee

Iain Brownlee is an Associate Professor of Human Nutrition at Northumbria University. He has been involved in nutrition research for over 20 years and has over 50 peer-reviewed publications in high-quality international journals. His work has included the design and management of randomised, controlled trials, cross-sectional studies in infants, children and young adults, with a major cross-cutting theme of assessment of dietary intake, particularly diet quality scoring. He is the UK Lead for a European Research Agency-funded project evaluating the impact of a whole diet and supplement-based approach to improve frailty in at-risk older adults (the AMBROSIA study). Iain will be sharing progress on this programme of work to date. The project is headed by University of Florence in Italy and includes project partners from multiple disciplines across 5 European countries. The Northumbria Team will lead analysis of dietary data collected during the randomised, controlled trial phase of this study and also carry out cutting-edge metabolomic analysis of biological samples.

Stewart Jones

Stewart Jones has a Bachelor of Science degree with Honours in chemistry from the University of Western Australia (UWA). During his career he has worked in a number of private and government laboratories, with his last role being the Senior Manager - Laboratory Operations of the Australian National Measurement Institute in WA (formerly the Australian Government Analytical Laboratories, AGAL).

Over the last 30 years Stewart has also managed several international projects and consultancies for the Australian Government and the World Health Organization, applying his knowledge of risk management to assist laboratories and food industries in many countries in the Asia Pacific region.

He now works as a consultant to the Pacific Quality Infrastructure (PQI) Initiative. He is also the Coordinator of the Asia Pacific Food Analysis Network (APFAN) and the Co-Chair of the Capacity Building Working Group of the AOAC SEA (Association of Official Analytical Collaboration South East Asia) Section.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Khanitta Ruttarattanamongkol

Lecturer & Researcher

Khanitta Ruttarattanamongkol is an Associate Professor of Food Processing and Engineering in the Department of Agro-Industry, Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand. She held a post-doctoral research position in Food Engineering for 2 years after she completed her Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology from Cornell University, USA in 2009. She is interested in innovative food science and emerging technologies, engineering and processing aspects of foods and agricultural products, and value addition for global markets. Her research expertise is in the areas of physical and engineering properties of foods, supercritical fluid extrusion and extraction of biomaterials for food and non-food applications, and novel foods especially alternative protein sources from plants and insects.

Prof. Pascal Degraeve

Pascal Degraeve is a full professor of Food Science and Technology at Université Lyon 1, Technopole Alimentec, Bourg-en-Bresse, France. He is also the founder of BioDyMIA (Bioengineering and Microbial Dynamics at Food Interfaces), where his main research interests lie in innovations for perishable food preservation.

Currently, Prof. Pascal is a visiting professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur working on an ongoing research project supported by the France-Malaysia Collaboration Programme for Joint Research (MyTIGER 2023) explores the potential of edible films incorporated with kesum essential oil for meat preservation. His presentation will focus on the potential of active films or edible coatings for perishable food preservation.

Before joining Université Lyon 1 as an assistant professor, he obtained his PhD in biotechnology from the INSA (Department of Biochemical and Food Engineering, National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse, France) in 1996. During his PhD, he investigated the effects of high hydrostatic pressure on protein stability and biological activities.

Dr Pushpanathan Sundram

Senior Director Public Policy & Government Affairs, Asia

Pushpanathan Sundram (Nathan) is the Chief Executive Officer of PublicPolicyAsia Advisors, a strategic and business advisory firm headquartered in Singapore, covering emerging Asia since January 2019.

He has over three decades of extensive management and leadership experience at the highest level of government, international organisations and the private sector. He is sought after as a consultant, resource person and speaker.

Nathan was the first professionally recruited Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN (Deputy Minister) for the ASEAN Economic Community from January 2009 to March 2012. He held other senior positions in the ASEAN Secretariat from 1997 to 2008. He transitioned to the private sector in 2012 as the Managing Director Asia Pacific of European Advisory Services, a leading business consultancy firm. In 2015, Eli Lilly Inc. headhunted him to lead ASEAN market access and government affairs in its animal health division, Elanco. He was subsequently promoted to Regional Director and Senior Director in Elanco, which was spun off in 2018 as an independent company from Eli Lilly Inc. Nathan left Elanco in December 2019 to manage his consultancy firm.

Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the Food and Agriculture Committee of the US-ASEAN Business Council, Deputy Chairman and Council Member of the China-ASEAN Business Alliance, Advisory Board Member of the Global Coalition for Efficient Logistics; Board Member of HealthforAnimals; and Executive Director of Asian Animal Health Association.

Nathan received several commendations and awards in his career. In 2013, he received the PublicAffairsAsia Magazine's top Gold Standard Award for Professional Excellence for pioneering work in government affairs in Asia as the Managing Director of the European Advisory Services. In 2012, the Government of Cambodia awarded him the Sahametrey Medal (Commander Class) for his work in ASEAN. In 2011, he was awarded the inaugural and prestigious NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Outstanding Alumni Award for inspiring leaders. In 1995, he received the Good Service Medal from the Ministry of Defence, Singapore.

He holds a PhD in public policy from the School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University, Thailand and a master's degree in public policy (1994) from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore (NUS), in collaboration with the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA. He also holds a bachelor's degree in economics (1988) from the NUS.

He writes on ASEAN and Asia issues which are covered in local, regional and international media. In addition, he has authored books and contributed chapters to books. His latest chapters are in the books "India on Our Minds" and "ASEAN-EU Partnership: The Untold Story", published by World Scientific.

Kenji Sato

Dr. Kenji Sato is a highly accomplished academic and researcher in the field of agriculture and food science. He obtained his Ph.D. from Kyoto University in July 1988 and began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at Kyoto Prefectural University in 1989. Over the years, Dr. Sato's dedication and expertise led to his promotion to Associate Professor in 1995 and subsequently to the position of Professor in 2005 at the same institution.

In 2014, Dr. Sato made a significant move to Kyoto University, where he currently holds the esteemed position of Professor at the Graduate School of Agriculture. His extensive knowledge and contributions to the field have been recognized through various accolades and awards.

In 1995, Dr. Sato received the Achievement Award for Young Scientists in Fisheries Science, which highlighted his outstanding accomplishments early in his career. In 2014, he was honored with the Technology Award by The Japanese Society for Food Science and Technology, recognizing his significant contributions to the field of food science. In 2016, Dr. Sato's excellence in research was further acknowledged with the Science Merit Award by the International Society of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods. In 2021, he was recognized as a Fellow by the same society, further solidifying his status as a distinguished expert in the field.

Dr. Kenji Sato's expertise and research focus on agriculture, food science, and fisheries have made him a sought-after speaker and authority in these fields. His extensive academic background, professional experience, and notable achievements make him a valuable resource for sharing insights and knowledge at conferences, seminars, and other academic events.

Peter Yu

Manager

Peter Yu is the dedicated manager to the APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture – an association and coalition of 10+ cultivated meat and seafood companies across the APAC region. Through the society, Peter works as a drive-force to both promote the industry as well as to encourage the establishment efficient and transparent regulations and policies. Peter is actively engaging towards creating a harmonized cultivated food industry, and have experience in driving various of industry moving projects across the globe. Peter is the Co-chair of the Enterprise Singapore Pro-tem committee for setting Novel food standards, and has been a convener for the first MoU regarding regional Nomenclature alignment in Asia. Moreover, Peter was appointed as a technical expert to FAO/WHO on safety guidelines for the industry. Peter holds an MBA from National University of Singapore and a MSc in Bioengineering, and BSc in Marine Biology from University of Hawaii at Manoa. He is currently pursuing a third Masters degree in Laws at Singapore Management University.

Dr. Leong Sze Ying

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Dr Sze Ying Leong is an expert in Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) technology, with over 10 years of experience in the field. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship and PhD at the Department of Food Science, University of Otago, New Zealand, where she focused on the application of PEF processing in agriculture and the food industry. Dr Leong has a proven track record of successfully delivering commercial products, from proof-of-technology and pilot factory trials to sensory and consumer testing of PEF food products through the six-year national programme - Food Industry Enabling Technologies (FIET) funded by the NZ Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment. Her research has been recognised with 1 national award (Junior Scientist Award from the NZ Winegrowers, 2019, Nelson, NZ) and 1 international award (1st place for Early/Young Investigator Competition Food, Biotechnology and Environment Category at the 2nd World Congress on Electroporation and Pulsed Electric Fields in Biology, Medicine, Food and Environmental Technologies, 2017, Norfolk, USA). Currently, she is a lecturer at the School of Biosciences, Taylor's University in Malaysia. Dr Leong's passion for food science and technology is driven by her belief in innovation and sustainable practices that make a positive impact on the food industry and the health and well-being of consumers. Join her to learn how to embrace emerging technologies and think creatively about producing high quality, nutritious, and sustainable food products.

Dr. Tan Siang Hee

Executive Director

Dr. Siang Hee Tan is an accomplished professional with an extensive background in crop protection, research center establishment, and start-up venture management. As the Executive Director of CropLife Asia, he is responsible for overseeing various programs in 15 Asian countries, including Crop Protection Regulatory Affairs, Intellectual Property Rights, Seeds and Biotechnology, and Advocacy & Outreach. Dr. Tan is an active participant in UN initiatives, contributing to the advancement of "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."With a BSc in Plant Pathology, an MSc in Genetic Engineering, and a PhD in Molecular Biology (Plant Virus), Dr. Tan is highly qualified in his field. He has received numerous professional recognitions, including a Silver Award at the 2005 Geneva International Exhibitions & Inventions of New Techniques and Products, a US Government Cochran Fellowship, and UPM awards for Research and Development. Dr. Tan also serves on the Advisory Council for GRAFT Challenge Vietnam and as a board member of BioTrust. He is a member of the Monash, Malaysia Industry Advisory Board and Chung Ling High School central region scholarship committee.

Adeline Yong

Scientist

Introducing Dr. Adeline Yong, a Scientist from the Risk Assessment and Communications Department at the National Centre for Food Science of the Singapore Food Agency. With a captivating background in Public Health and Microbiology, Dr. Yong earned her Ph.D. from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Her journey began as a trailblazing research fellow at the cutting-edge Singapore Center for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, delving into the fascinating realms of biofilm and antimicrobial resistance. Presently, Dr. Yong spearheads the microbiological risk assessments and safety evaluations of Novel Foods derived from biomass and precision fermentation. Her expertise knows no bounds, making her an indispensable asset in ensuring the safety and security of our future's food landscape.

Harnessing the power of microorganisms, alternative proteins pave the way to a more sustainable and resilient global food system

Ruhana binti Abdul Latif

Principal Assistant Director

Ruhana binti Abdul Latif is a highly accomplished Principle Assistant Director in the Food Safety and Quality Division at the Ministry of Health Malaysia. With an extensive background in food safety and regulation, Ruhana plays a crucial role in ensuring the highest standards of food safety in Malaysia.

As the head of Codex and International Section Standards and Codex Branch, Ruhana serves as the National Secretariat for esteemed organizations such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission, CCFICS, CCGP, CCAsia committee, ASEAN committee related to food safety. Additionally, she serves as the Bilateral and Multilateral cooperation contact point in the Food Safety and Quality Division.

Ruhana's dedication to food safety began in 2003 when she joined the Malaysian government, and she has been actively involved in this field ever since. She brings a wealth of experience in drafting regulations for food additives, food contact material, food labeling, and food commodity standards. Her expertise extends to participating in Codex meetings, where she represents Malaysia's interests and contributes to the development of international food safety standards.

Currently, Ruhana holds the position of Chief Secretariat for the national mirror committee on Codex Alimentarius Commission, ASEAN, bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Her exceptional knowledge and leadership have garnered recognition, including being a featured speaker at various prestigious events. Notably, Ruhana has served as a speaker at the Introduction to Food Regulations 1985 organized by the International Food Safety Training Centre (IFSTC) in 2022 and as a speaker at the 11th Nutrition Labeling & Claims Webinar in December 2021.

Ruhana's educational background is equally impressive, with a Master's degree in Food Safety and Quality Assurance and a Bachelor's degree in Food Science and Technology.

With her vast experience, expertise in food safety regulations, and dedication to promoting food safety, Ruhana binti Abdul Latif continues to be a respected figure in the field, contributing to the advancement of food safety practices in Malaysia and beyond.

Prof. Pavinee Chinachoti

Advisor

Prof. (Emeritus) Pavinee Chinachoti received her BS degree in Biology from Mahidol University, followed by her Master's and Ph.D. in Food Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She then joined the University of Massachusetts and later worked in corporate R&D as a Product Science Fellow/Head at Hill's Pet Nutrition, where she conducted research on functional pet foods.

Upon returning to Thailand, Prof. Chinachoti assumed several key roles, including Director of the Functional Food and Nutraceuticals R&D Center, Dean of Agro-Industry, and Editor-in-Chief of SJST Journal, which is the premier scientific journal in Thailand.

Prof. Chinachoti has been actively involved in various professional organizations. She served as the President and currently acts as an Advisor for the Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT). In Thailand, she chairs the Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), which has successfully proposed policies leading to the establishment of the Task Force of National Reform on Food Safety and Function Claims (FFC). She also developed an online course on ""Health Claim Substantiation and Food Innovation."" Additionally, she has chaired research grant review committees and contributed to setting academic appointment criteria for faculty positions in the field of innovation.

In the United States, Prof. Chinachoti served on the Emergency Relief Food Products committee for USAID and the National Academy of Science. She has also been involved in review panels for the U.S. FDA as part of the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology (FASEB). Furthermore, she has served as an Associate Editor for the Encyclopedia of Food Science and Technology (second edition).

On a global level, Prof. Chinachoti holds various positions. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) and an Academic Fellow of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology (IAFoST). Additionally, she chairs the Working Group on Global Outreach and Industry Relations (GOIR) within IUFoST. She also serves on the nutrition advisory board for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Nutrition-Private Sector Partnership Program in Wageningen.

Prof. Chinachoti's extensive experience and contributions have made her a respected figure in the field of food science and technology, both nationally and internationally.

Faiza binti Ismail

Food Technology Officer

Faiza Ismail is a dedicated Food Technology Officer with a specialization in Food Safety and Quality Division at the Ministry of Health since 2011. With an impressive track record of accomplishments and contributions to the field, Faiza has established herself as a valuable asset in the realm of food safety.

Throughout her career, Faiza has been recognized for her exceptional service with the Outstanding Service Award in 2009, 2017, and 2021. She has also represented the Ministry of Health on various prestigious platforms, such as the APEC Conference on e-commerce Food Safety in Santiago, Chile, in 2018, and the ASEAN Meeting on Organic Produce in Singapore in 2016.

Faiza's dedication to expanding her knowledge and expertise is evident through her participation as the representative of Malaysia Leadership Program on Food Safety and Agriculture in the United States in 2015. Additionally, she represented the Ministry of Health at the FAO-Workshop on Retail Food Handling and Safety in Singapore in 2012, further demonstrating her commitment to staying at the forefront of industry advancements.

Currently, Faiza's field of assignment encompasses critical roles within the Ministry of Health. She serves as the Chief Auditor for various certifications, including MoH, HACCP, GMP, Organic, and Food Defense. Furthermore, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing food safety controls for home-based food, ensuring the highest standards of safety are maintained.

With a wealth of experience and a proven track record, Faiza Ismail continues to make significant contributions in the field of food technology and safety, promoting public health and ensuring the quality of food products for the benefit of all.

Dr. Fung Wai Yee

Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Manager

Dr. Fung Wai Yee is the Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Manager in Avantsar Sdn Bhd, a company focusing on research and development of health products from palm oil and other phytonutrients. She obtained her PhD in Pharmaceutical Technology from Universiti Sains Malaysia. She has been involved in the research of palm tocotrienols’ therapeutic potential since 2011, under the mentoring of Emeritus Prof Yuen Kah Hay, a leading scientist in tocotrienols research. Dr Fung has worked with clinical and regulatory experts, to develop animal and human evidence for the use of tocotrienols in human health and diseases. Her experience includes application for orphan drug designation in EU and USA, clinical research regulatory approvals, study protocol review and development, study start-up and monitoring (sponsor role), liaising with CRO and key opinion leaders in stroke, neurology, diabetes, cardiovascular and liver disease studies.

Dr. Chew Fook Tim

Associate Professor

Associate Professor Dr. Chew Fook Tim is Vice Dean of the Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore (NUS), overseeing the Undergraduate and International Programs. He is also an Associate Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences, teaching both Undergraduate and Postgraduate Molecular Genetics and Crop Biotechnology; and is the Principal Investigator of the Functional Genomics Laboratories, Molecular Immunology and Allergy Laboratory, Research Centre on Sustainable Urban Farming, and the NUS Agritech Centre. His key areas of research are in the Genetics of Allergic and Skin Diseases, Allergen Characterization, and Large-Scale Crop Breeding, where he has published >200 scientific articles and reviews. He is the lead scientific consultant to Syngenta Crop Protection, Sime Darby, First Resources, Genting Plantations and Olam International, where he works on the Genetics of Major Crops, and the Commercialization of Molecular Breeding and Seed Production Programs and is on the Governing Board of several major organizations.

Dr. Choo Wee Sim

Associate Professor

Associate Professor Wee Sim Choo completed a Bachelor of Science in Food Studies (2001) majoring in Food Quality Management with a First Class Honours and Master of Science (2004) in the field of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry from the Universiti Putra Malaysia. She then joined the Malaysian Palm Oil Board as a research officer before moving to the University of Otago, New Zealand to complete a Ph.D. in Food Science in 2008. She joined the Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University soon after and then the School of Science, Monash University Malaysia in 2009. In 2013 she obtained a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education from Monash University. Her current research interests focus on functional foods which are foods that potentially offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Her work focuses on the extraction and application of bioactive compounds from food sources, phytochemicals, probiotics and prebiotics.

Jonathan Tan

Adjunct Professor

Jonathan Tan draws flavor inspiration from his local roots. His path to plate began as a teenager moonlighting in the banquet department at some of Singapore’s finest hotels. He headed instinctively for a culinary school before working at different restaurants for over a decade, honing his craft in French cuisine. Jonathan has also spent a significant part of his career developing young talent, as an instructor at local culinary schools. Three elements shape his food philosophy: authenticity, culture, and emotion. Street foods in Southeast Asia are national treasures, but endangered ones say Jonathan whose sensibility for heritage foods sees him creating fresh interpretations of time-honored favorites.

Jonathan serves as the Culinology Leader for Ingredion and collaborates with the insights, marketing, and innovation teams to transform trends into intriguing ideas. Chefs will influence the direction of future research and development in the food industry by fusing the aesthetic abilities of culinary arts with the scientific knowledge of food science.

• Bachelor of Business in Management and Marketing (Double Major) (Murdoch University)
• Advanced Diploma in Culinary Arts (City and Guilds)
• Diploma in Culinary Arts (Shatec)

Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr Chong Li Choo

Associate Professor

Dr Chong Li Choo, an accomplished academic and expert in food technology and product innovation. With a Ph.D. in Food Processing & Preservation, she currently serves as an Associate Professor at Taylor's University, directing the Impact Lab for Food Security & Nutrition and as the Programme Director for Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Culinology programme. Dr. Chong's expertise includes food product design, preparation, and experimental development. She is an award-winning and active researcher who has secured and overseen over RM$1 million in grants and worked with the ministry and industry on various projects. She has supervised numerous research projects and holds memberships in international & national professional organizations. Recognized for her contributions in the Culinology field, she has received grants and prestigious awards, including the American Research Chefs Association (RCA)'s President's Award in 2020.

Assoc. Prof. Klavs Martin Sorensen

Klavs Martin Sorensen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Food Science, Chemometrics and Analytical Technology at University of Copenhagen. He holds a PhD in process analytical technology and has expertise in NIR spectroscopy and on-line spectroscopic measurements of chemical meat quality. With 11 publications and 13 years of practical experience, he has contributed significantly to the development of on-line quality measurement equipment for the slaughter industry.

Dr. Md. Aminur Rahman

Professor

Md. Aminur Rahman has completed Doctoral degree (D.Sc.) in Marine and Environmental Sciences from the University of the Ryukyus, Japan in 2001 and Post-doctoral researches from the same University in Japan (2003-2005) and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama, USA (2007-2009). He worked as a Professor in the FAO World Fisheries University, Busan, South Korea from September 2017 to February 2019, and had intensively been involved in teaching and supervising postgraduate students in the wide fields of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Fisheries Stock Assessment and Resource Management, Biodiversity Conservation and Aquaculture. He also worked as a Senior Research Fellow (Senior Associate Professor) in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) during January 2010–August 2017. He was also affiliated as a Chief Researcher in the Ocean Critters Ranch, Inc. Texas, USA. Moreover, he worked not only as a Scientist/Senior Scientist in Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) from 1988 to 2007 in the diverse fields of Aquaculture and Fisheries, but was also actively engaged in transferring and disseminating fish breeding, seed production, aquaculture and conservation technologies of commercially important native and endangered fish species of Bangladesh to the farmers, farm managers, private entrepreneurs, NGOs and GOs through on-farm training, demonstration, rally, meeting and mass media in collaboration with ICLARM (now the WorldFish Centre), FAO, DFID etc. Dr. Rahman also hold Visiting Professor positions in the Dalian Fisheries University (China), King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia) and Halu Oleo University (Indonesia). Currently, he is working as a Professor in the Department of Fisheries and Marine Bioscience, Jashore Science and Technology University (JUST), Jashore, Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, he is involved in some international collaborative research work on Marine Biology, Ecology, Biodiversity, Fisheries and Aquaculture with scientists of different institutes, including Smithsonian Institution (USA), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (Australia), Australian Institute of Marine Science, King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia), Meio and Kindai University (Japan), and Halu Oleo University (Indonesia). He supervised more than 20 undergraduate and postgraduate students, and around 30 national and international research projects in the above fields of his expertise. Through his research works, Dr. Rahman has published more than140 scientific papers in international and nationally reputed high impact and peer-reviewed journals, 2 books, 17 book chapters and 33 referred proceedings with a total Google Scholar Citations of 1177 and H-index of 20. A remarkable number (>30) of scientific papers have also been presented and published in international conferences, symposia and seminars. He has not only been serving as Editor-in-Chiefs, Editors and Editorial Board Members of some reputed international journals and proceedings but also presenting keynote, public and invited lectures in 41 reputed international conferences, symposia and seminars. Until now, he has served as session chairs of 25 international conferences and symposia as well as chairpersons of the 24 such international conference organizing committees. He has also been acting as potential reviewers for more than 43 high-impact peer-reviewed and online journals having profound international and national merits. Due to his outstanding contributions in the above fields of specialization, Dr. Rahman has already received 36 professional awards from the reputed international and national organizations/institutes.

Dr. Mohammad Naqib Hamdan

Senior Lecturer

Mohammad Naqib Hamdan is a highly accomplished senior lecturer at the Academy of Islamic Civilisation, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He holds a PhD and has completed his first degree in Syariah from al-Azhar University in Egypt, followed by postgraduate studies at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.

Mohammad Naqib’s primary focus lies in bridging the gap between Islamic studies research and the advancements in science and technology. His expertise extends to various fields, with a particular interest in the integration of Islamic principles into the areas of food industries, including cultured meat, as well as the medical field, encompassing Islamic bioethics discourse. Furthermore, he is also exploring the Islamic perspective of Artificial Intelligence and its implications on technology.

Mohammad Naqib started his research on cultured meat from Islamic perspective at 2014. This was in response to the ground-breaking introduction of the first cultured meat burger to the world by Professor Mark Post. In recognition of his expertise, he was invited by Professor Mark Post to Maastricht University in 2019 to present his insights on the Islamic perspective of cultured meat. Additionally, he has received numerous invitations within Malaysia to share his expertise on this subject.

In addition to his significant contributions to the field of cultured meat, Mohammad Naqib has published numerous articles related to the scientific and technological advancements from Islamic perspective.

Dr. Dalal AlGhawas

Program Director

Dr. Dalal AlGhawas is the Program Director at Big Idea Ventures, a venture capital firm which invests in future food technologies in the alternative protein ecosystem. She helps to combine capital and partnership to support and grow the world’s most compelling food companies and protein alternatives. An expert in clinical research, diagnostics, public health, food science and biotechnology, Dalal has helped to establish the first food technology accelerator program in Hong Kong and has worked with over 25 global technology startups, with special focus on plant-based protein alternatives, cellular-agriculture, sustainability, smart kitchen equipment, med-tech and software. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Food Science and Technology) from the University of Hong Kong.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bernard Loo Liat Wen

Deputy Cluster Director of Food, Chemical and Biotechnology Cluster

A/Prof Bernard Loo is the Deputy Cluster Director in the Food, Chemical and Biotechnology Cluster at the Singapore Institute of Technology. A/Prof Loo is active in industrial bioprocessing work for the pharma and food sectors. His innovation projects with industry involve cell manufacturing, cell culture media optimisation and protein engineering. He is a Co-Investigator in the CentRe of Innovation for Sustainable banking and Production of cultivated meats research programme (CRISP) where he investigates serum alternatives for cell-cultured meats. In his previous role at Baxter Bioscience, he led global technology transfer for a new biologics process and worked in process development and validation, plant design and commissioning. He is also a registered professional engineer and received his PhD in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Prof. Aman Wirakartakusumah

President

Rector, IPMI International Business School, Professor Emeritus of Food Science and Technology, IPB University and IPMI IBS, Indonesia, Academician of Indonesian Academy of Sciences. President Academy of Food and Nutrition Sciences, Indonesian Academy of Sciences.

Professor Aman Wirakartakusumah is a Senior Scientist at the SEAFAST Center, IPB University. He was Rector of IPB University, the premier Food and Agriculture University in Indonesia, from 1998-2002. He has also served as Vice Rector, Dean, Head of Department of Food Science and Technology and as Director of Inter-University Center for Food and Nutrition at this University.

In 2004, Professor Aman was appointed the prestigious position as the Ambassador of Indonesia to UNESCO, an UN Agency based in Paris France (2004-2008). Prior to this, he represented Indonesia as delegate to FAO-WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission in the period of 1990-1998.
Over his professional career period, he was inducted as a Fellow of International Academy of Food Science & Technology (IAFoST), Chairman of IUFoST Education Committee, and has been serving as Scientific Director of ILSI SEAR and as Senior Advisor to the ILSI SEAR-Indonesia Country Committee. He is a Senior Advisor to the Indonesian Association of Food Technologists.

Currently, He is the Immediate Past President of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology IAFoST (2020-2022), President of IUFoST (2022-2024) and member of Board of Trustee ILSI. In 2020 he has been appointed as a member of UN Scientific Group for UN Food Systems Summit 2021 while now he is the member of FAO Director General Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) from 2022-2024. In addition, beyond his research on food processing and engineering, he is now also involved in the area on sustainable food system policy, supply chain management and cultural aspects. Professor Aman obtained his degree from IPB in 1972, his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Food Science/minor in Chemical Engineering from the UW-Madison, USA in 1977 and 1981, respectively.

Dr. Marla Leonora dL. Francisco

Professor

Maria Leonora Lotis Francisco is a Professor in Food Science and Technology at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. With 30 years in academia, she’s educated students in BS Food Technology, MS Food Science, and PhD Food Science. She earned her doctorate in Food Science from the University of Georgia, USA, and holds Master’s degrees from the University of Western Sydney and UP Diliman. Her research interests include consumer and sensory studies, product development, peanut processing, and functional foods. Her notable accolades include the Certified Food Scientist title from the Institute of Food Technologist, USA in 2013 and Fellow of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology in 2022. Beyond academic commitments, she has been a Past-President of the Philippine Association of Food Technologists, Inc., a Technical Committee Member for Food Technology under the Commission on Higher Education and holds key roles in national and international food science bodies.

Nazli Suhardi Ibrahim

Deputy Director (Nutrition Division)

Nazli Suhardi Ibrahim is currently working in Nutrition Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia as a Deputy Director, handling for nutrition management focusing on nutrition promotion and engagement with food industry, advocacy with inter-agency and development of policy on obesity programme in Malaysia;

• Develop and implement effective nutrition programs to the community
• Integrating nutrition into national development policies and programs
• Enhance collaboration between agencies in implementing nutrition activities
• Promote active involvement of the community

Education: BSc. (Food & Science Technology) University Putra Malaysia

Zalman Ali

Director

Zalman Putra Ahmad Ali is the Director of Halal Development, at the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS).

His current portfolio focuses on development of Singapore’s Halal certification authority through:

• development of Halal certification standards, policies, processes and systems;
• regulation of local Halal certification;
• recognition of foreign Halal certification bodies for imported Halal certified products;
• stakeholder engagement and public education.

He has more than twenty years’ experience in the Muslim community sector where he was involved in pioneering efforts to set up new research and strategic policy units. He began his career in MUIS in 1998 in the Office of the Mufti. His past roles include developing Singapore’s madrasah and Islamic education sectors and future Islamic higher education institution, driving efforts to shape progressive religious thinking and conceptualising the interfaith agenda, strategic policy development on emerging issues like management of diversity, counter-extremism and exclusivism.

In 2006, he was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship to pursue an MA in Religious Studies at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace in Connecticut, USA. His area of research interest is on the role of religion in modern societies.

Dr. Azucena Milana-Dayanghirang, MD, MCH, CESO III

Assistant Secretary & Executive Director

Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang is an experienced public health leader. For the past 29 years, she has been a facilitator and a trainer for various health programs particularly on Maternal Child Health and Nutrition. She has served the people of Davao as City Nutrition Action Officer from 1991-1995; Chief of the Technical Services Division and Medical Officer VI of Davao City Health Office from 1996 to 2005; as well as the Provincial Health Officer II and Provincial Nutrition Action Officer of Davao del Sur from 2008 to 2016.

During her stint in the local government, she led the City Nutrition Committee in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health and nutrition programs. She initiated the “Fresh Milk Supplemental Feeding Program,” which led to the reduction of protein-energy malnutrition among 0-6-year-old children. She also successfully lobbied for the regularization of 32 Nutritionist-Dietitians deployed in the 16 Districts of Davao City in 1996.

In 2016, she was elected as the National President of the Nutrition Action Officers' Association of the Philippines (NAOPA), Inc. Shortly after, she was appointed as Deputy Executive Director of the National Nutrition Council (NNC), an attached agency of the Department of Health, Philippines. In August 2019, Dr. Dayanghirang was appointed as the Executive Director of the NNC. Currently, she is designated as the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Philippines Government Focal Point and most recently, appointed as a member of the Executive Committee of the Global Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement representing Asia and Papua New Guinea.

In May 2023, A/Sec. Dayanghirang was designated as the Co- Chair of the Inter-Agency Taskforce on Zero Hunger and the Project Manager of the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed the appointment of Dr. Dayanghirang to Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) Rank III effective 3 December 2020. Recently, she was upgraded to Executive Director IV with the rank of Assistant Secretary as approved by President Duterte through Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea on 21 July 2021.