AIFST Annual Awards

The AIFST John Christian Young Food Microbiologist Award 2025 - CLOSED

This Award will be presented as part of the AIFST 2025 Food Microbiology Conference being held in Sydney NSW in March 2025

The John Christian Young Food Microbiologist award was created as a means of encouraging and supporting the development of young food microbiologists. The award recognises excellence in food microbiology, particularly among early career professionals and underscores the critical role of food microbiologists in ensuring a safe and sustainable food supply.

The key eligibility criteria for the award are:

1. Individual studying or working in the area of food microbiology

2. Under 30 years of age at the time of nominating

3. Financial member of the AIFST or an affiliated professional body (such as IAFP, or ASM)

4. Studying at an Australian University or TAFE OR employed in Australia.

Finalists are chosen on the basis of a 500-word summary of a food microbiology topic.  The topic and content must be related to food microbiology, including general interest topics, research work, literature review, risk assessment, case- or epidemiological study.  

Guidelines

Abstract Submission Form

The AIFST Keith Farrer Award of Merit 2024

This award is the Institute’s highest honour, acknowledging an individual whose work has resulted in significant positive change for the food industry, the food science and technology profession, food research and innovation, and/or food science education, and/or has promoted the health and enjoyment of the wider community regarding food.  The recipients’ achievements must also include substantial contributions made to further the aims and objectives of the AIFST.

The award is named after Dr Keith Farrer OBE, a pioneering scientist and author, who was involved in the formation of the AIFST in 1967. Dr Farrer was the second president of AIFST from 1969-71 and a recipient of the award (then known as the IFT Australian Award) in 1959.

Guidelines

The AIFST President's Award 2024

This award acknowledges and acclaims an individual or an organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to the Institute and has demonstrated a clear commitment to advancing AIFST’s role in supporting Australia’s food industry professionals.

Guidelines

Previous Winners

AIFST ILSI Dr David Roberts Emerging Young Leader Award 2024

This award is sponsored by International Life Sciences Institute South East Asia Region, Australasia (ILSI SEAR) in memory of Dr David Roberts to recognise a young technologist, scientist or nutritionist for their endeavour or achievement, and leadership potential, within the Australian food industry.  All sectors of the food industry and all roles are eligible.

Dr David Roberts was a nutrition scientist who made significant contributions to teaching and research at the University of Sydney, the University of Newcastle, and at Food Standards Australia New Zealand, the Australian Food and Grocery Council and ILSI SEAR, Australasia.

Guidelines

The AIFST Jack Kefford Award 2024

This award recognises the contribution to food science and technology of members of the Institute who publish research and technical papers.

The Award is named in honour of Mr. Jack Kefford who provided enormous input to the science and technology of food as Officer-in-Charge of the CSIRO Food Research Laboratory; Assistant Chief of the CSIRO Division of Food Research; as a scientist of international repute; as AIFST President (1971-73) and Technical Editor of food australia.

Guidelines

The AIFST Bruce Chandler Award 2024

This award is for AIFST members who are authors of books or substantial reviews, considered to make the greatest contribution to the literature on food science and technology in particular years.  The award is given in honour of AIFST Past President, Bruce Chandler who had a long association with the journal food australia, first as an Associate Editor then member of the Editorial Board between 1969 and 1978. Notably he was Literature Editor for 12 years from 2001, a function which he performed with extreme dedication.

Guidelines

The AIFST Sensory Solutions Tony Williams Sensory Award 2024

The Sensory Award is awarded to AIFST Young members - students and young professionals - who demonstrate academic achievement, interest, enthusiasm and integrity in sensory research. 

The AIFST Sensory Award is sponsored annually by Sensory Solutions in honour of Dr Anthony (Tony) Williams. Dr Williams was one of the pioneers of the Sensory Research Industry in the United Kingdom and a world authority in sensory and consumer science. Tony’s enthusiasm and passion also helped establish Sensory Research in Australia, whilst assisting with the inception of Sensory Solutions in 1996.

Guidelines

Previous Winners

The AIFST Foodbank Hunger Hero Award 2024

This award recognises a person or team who have gone above and beyond to tackle food insecurity. Whether it’s championing a new initiative within their company or volunteering their time and expertise in the community, AIFST and Foodbank want to recognise an individual’s or team’s contribution and hold this up as an inspiration to others.

We are excited to put forward Bill Quayle from Rinoldi for the 2024 Hunger Hero Award 

Bill is a longstanding advocate and supporter of Foodbank within the industry and has worked to ensure the supply of in demand products to Foodbank across the country.

Bill has supported Rinoldi participating in Foodbank’s procurement programs, with a focus on our Collaborative Supply Programs and has been one of the biggest and ongoing supporters in this space.

Rinoldi supplies the pasta as a part of multiple collaborations on different products and helps to ensure the regular supply of pasta and long-life products, which are key staples in supporting communities throughout the year.

We couldn’t think of a better person to present the Hunger Hero award to this year!

Guidelines

Previous Winners

The AIFST Peter Seale Food Industry Innovation Award 2024

The award acknowledges a significant new development in a process, product, ingredient, equipment or packaging which has achieved successful commercial application in any sector of the Australian food industry.  This award is given in honour of AIFST Past President Peter Seale who held the role from 1973-75.

The judges decided to bestow the award to Vortair Pty Ltd, for their innovation VORTAIR FINE GRINDER. They were impressed by the breadth of the potential applications for this low-heat mill, in particular for its capacity to reduce food waste by converting food waste streams to usable human and pet food ingredients. It is already in use for fish waste applications and is being trialed by numerous other industry stakeholders, indicating that it is a true technical innovation that can address unmet industry needs. It is an Australian innovation that can benefit the Australian food industry and potentially have global impact. 

The judges settled on the eventual winner based on the size of its potential beneficial impact for the food industry in Australia and globally, in terms of food waste reduction, food industry sustainability and development of new food ingredients. 

Guidelines

Previous Winners