Engage 2026: A hybrid education program for tertiary

food science students

Engage 2026 is an opportunity for tertiary food science students to come together to connect and learn from industry and academic leaders from across the agrifood industry. The program is delivered in a hybrid format across 10 x 2hr sessions hosted by a different university each time. Students will have the opportunity to attend in person or virtually.

The aim is to enhance your current academic program and networks, building on your current skills and challenging your knowledge through critical and reflective thinking to better prepare you for the practical, real-world need for food science and your potential place within the agrifood industry. This program is intended to ‘jump start’ your industry readiness.

The course will be run over 10 x 2hr sessions. Nine of these sessions will be held face to face at university campuses around Australia and recorded for all registered participants. The final session, Careers, will be a Zoom session. These sessions will be delivered from March 2026 to October 2026. Please note dates & times are subject to change and confirmation of dates and session times will be emailed to all participants prior to the session.

Engage 2026 Program:

5 March 2026 – Session 1 University of Queensland (COMPLETED)

Topic: Indigenous Food

27 March 2026 – Session 2 Deakin University (COMPLETED)

Topic: Food Safety

30 April 2026 – Session 3 University of New South Wales
Commencing at 6:00pm AEST

M11, June Griffith Building (F10) UNSW Campus Sydney

Topic: AI, Data and Digital Transformation

14 May 2026 – Session 4 Monash University
Topic: Innovation

16 June 2026 – Session 5 RMIT University
Topic: New Product Development

20 August 2026 – Session 6 University of Melbourne
Topic: Sustainability

9 September 2026 – Session 7 University of Sydney
Topic: Health and Nutrition

1 October 2026 – Session 8 Adelaide University
Topic: Food Processing & Manufacturing Futures

TBC October – Session 9 QAAFI, Queensland
Topic: Sensory & Consumer Science

TBC October 2026 – Session 10 Online
AIFST Career Event Online - Engage 2025 Wrap Up

This program is designed to help tertiary food science students grow their confidence, expand their networks and build practical, real-world skills alongside their academic studies. 

AIFST and FaBA - Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator are looking forward to delivering this program for our student and graduate members.

AIFST is pleased to present the 2026 Food Microbiology Conference on 6th & 7th May 2026 in Sydney. 

The theme for the 2026 Food Microbiology Conference is: Culture Shift: microbes and technology shaping food.

This in-person event, co-convened by AIFST, the Australian Association for Food Protection, and the Australian Society of Microbiology, promises an enriching two-day agenda filled with insights from renowned experts. 

Whether you’re from industry, academia, research, regulation, or government, this conference is your opportunity to: 

• Grow your network 
• Engage with thought leaders 
• Deepen your understanding of trends and opportunities in food microbiology 

Attendees are invited to enhance their networking opportunities at an optional exclusive canapés and drinks gathering on 6th May at the venue.

CATERING

• Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea are included in the ticket price. 
• Optional networking event ticket for 6^th May 2026 (please purchase separately via this LINK).

For additional details including the Program overview and Partners, please visit our WEBPAGE HERE

The AIFST 2026 Food Microbiology Conference is being held on 6th & 7th May 2026 at the Novotel at Homebush in Sydney

This option is to purchase a ticket to attend the networking evening on the 6th May. There are limited numbers for this event hence why it is not added as an inclusion with the main conference registration.

The networking event will include a 2 hour canape package and grazing table and one alcoholic beverage.

The Networking session is going to feature a Trivia event run by Deon Mahoney and themed for food micro.

There will be a cash bar for additional drink purchases.

NSW Branch Event - Discover the art of honey tasting - How to Taste and Appreciate Honey

Join the NSW Branch and honey sensory expert - Dr Soumi Paul Mukhopadhyay, for a sweet evening learning all about honey!

During this event, you will learn:

•How to describe honey to others

•Judge and evaluate honey in a competition

•How to understand honey sensory flavour wheel and match various descriptors with the honey you are tasting 

•Understand the floral sources of honey and with what kind of food it might be paired

There will be opportunity for Q& A and discussion followed by networking time with light nibbles & refreshments provided.

Arrival from 5.30pm for a 6pm Start.

Thank you to UTS for providing the venue for this event and hosting us!

AIFST QLD Member Exclusive: Artisan Foods Site Tour

Need to know:

• The tour has limited numbers, so register today to avoid missing out!
• Competitors to Artisan Foods and those from similar industries are not permitted on tour.
• The attendee list will need to be approved by Artisan Foods prior to the tour, so please wait for confirmation from AIFST that your tour spot has been confirmed.

Parking instructions - Artisan Foods have some car parking onsite and street parking as well. Park in marked areas only. 

Safety and PPE requirements for guests:

• No fake lashes to be worn inside the factory

• No Piercings
• Closed-in footwear
• Hair to be tied up
• Long pants to be worn
• No jewellery
• If they have fake nails, they will need to wear gloves.

Please direct queries to aifst@aifst.com.au. We look forward to sharing this experience with our members, and hope you can join the QLD branch on this tour.

SA Branch Social Sundowner Networking Event

The SA Branch warmly invites members and non-members of the AIFST to join in for a casual night of networking and connections. All formalities can be left behind as this is a night to connect (or re-connect) with others in the Food Science and Technology community. Come for a little, or stay for a while, it’s totally up to you.

When: Thursday May 14th 2026.  From 5.30pm till 9pm (ACST)

Where: Brightstar Brewing, 35-37 Stirling St, Thebarton SA 5031

Cost: No cost to show up and connect; purchase your own food and beverages from the bar.   

RSVP:  Please show your interest by registering (no charge) via the register button so we have an idea of how many to expect in attendance. RSVP by Monday, 4th May.

This interactive AIFST virtual workshop is designed to help participants confidently navigate the food regulatory landscape and understand the practical steps required to support regulatory compliance. The session will guide attendees through the key regulatory frameworks that govern food products, from ingredient approvals and labelling requirements to marketing claims and the interface between foods and complementary medicines.

The workshop will cover:

•  An overview of the food regulation system in Australia and New Zealand
• Australian Consumer Law (ACL)
• The food–medicine interface, including complementary medicines
• Mandatory labelling requirements under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code
• Uniform Trade Measurement Legislation
• A practical, hands-on exercise assessing a food label

Whether you are new to the food industry, trialing new products, or seeking to strengthen your regulatory knowledge, this workshop provides practical insights to help manage compliance risk, support innovation, and ensure products meet regulatory and consumer expectations.

Please note that this workshop will not be recorded due to its interactive format and extended duration. Participants must be available to attend the full session live on the day.

Presenters:

Fiona Fleming is CEO of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST) and an experienced food regulation professional with expertise across the Australian and New Zealand food regulatory system. She has led regulatory strategy, compliance, and policy engagement across ingredient approvals, food standards, labelling, and marketing claims, and regularly supports industry to interpret and apply food regulatory requirements in practical, business-focused ways.

Jim Moshovelis has over 30 years’ experience across the pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries, with a strong background in regulatory and government affairs, stakeholder engagement, product development, and quality assurance. He advises and assists companies seeking to register or list products with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), with particular expertise in navigating the food–medicine interface.

Charles Fisher is Principal Solicitor (Food and Beverage) at KHQ Lawyers and one of Australia’s leading advisers on food marketing, compliance, labelling, classification, licensing, food safety, and crisis management. He has extensive experience working with Australian and New Zealand regulators and supporting products through to market.

Registration Cost (includes GST)

AIFST Members: $125.00

Non-Members: $220.00

Student/Graduate Members: $65.00

Student/Graduate Non - Members: $90.00

NZIFST Members: $125.00 with code

Not a member? Join online today!

Webinar: Preparing for ISO 14001:2026 (Transition) - Strengthening your Environmental Management System

In collaboration with KHQ Lawyers and Osborne Richardson, specialist recruiters in food manufacturing, AIFST is delighted to announce 'EAT. MEET. COMPLY.' –  a food regulatory update on the worst of 2025 and the watchouts for 2026!  

This regulatory education event will kick off with Nick Shaw (Osborne & Richardson) providing a snapshot of the employment market in the food industry, followed by Charles Fisher (the head of our KHQ Lawyers’ Food & Beverage practice), who will share his insights on the biggest legal challenges the food industry faced in 2025, as well as what he sees coming in 2026.

Topics include:

• Regulatory and marketing challenges for key active ingredients, like protein, fibre, probiotics and caffeine
• How copyright law has been successfully used to protect a product’s label, design and branding
• The future of the Health Star Rating system and potential regulatory impact on ultra processed foods
• How regulatory classification can impact the tax classification and commercial viability of a product
• Regulatory boundaries for electrolyte and hydration products
• The legal status of novel foods – are they actually prohibited?

There will be ample time for Q&A.

4:30pm Doors open
5:00pm – 6:15pm Presentations
6:15pm – 6:30pm Q&A
6:30pm – 7:30pm Networking

Numbers are strictly limited to 50, secure your spot today!

General admission ticket $22.00 includes GST.

Webinar: Compliant with confidence – Moving beyond standards to drive real improvements in food safety culture maturity

Recently updated requirements around how food businesses measure and strengthen food safety culture offer an important opportunity to make meaningful change. This webinar will equip FSQA and operational leaders to reframe these requirements as tools for genuine engagement, to aid progress from basic compliance towards sustaining and improving food safety performance. Participants will explore various culture assessment approaches, including the reasons why some are more valid than other alternatives. Most importantly, they'll learn to consider and apply the same requirements differently, depending on their organisation's maturity level, to elevate their approach from reactive compliance to proactive, leadership-driven food safety culture. 

Key learning outcomes include:

• Reframe updated GFSI‑benchmarked culture requirements as levers for leadership engagement, not audit burdens
• Understand and apply a five‑stage food safety culture maturity model
• Leverage food safety culture requirements to drive meaningful change in maturity using the right tools and information to progress from reactive to proactive

Presenters:

• Dr. Heidi Gough, Core Team Member, Cultivate SA
• John Boyce, Core Team Member, Cultivate SA
• Dr. Lone Jespersen, Principal, Cultivate SA
• Dr. Andrew Wilson, Core Team Member, Cultivate SA

2026 AIFST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

Notice is hereby given that the 2026 AIFST Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on THURSDAY 28 May 2026 commencing at 5:30pm (AEST) via ZOOM video conference.

The AGM is open to all financial members of AIFST. 

Register to attend the AGM by clicking on the REGISTER button or by emailing aifst@aifst.com.au by 5pm (AEST) on Wednesday May 27th 2026

AIFST WA Branch will host a series of expert insights across research, industry and clinical practice to provide a 360-degree view of the microbiome.

Whether you're in the food industry, the health sector, or a curious consumer, this is the evidence-based update you actually need.

Speakers include:

• Nenad Naumovski – Singapore Institute of Technology
• Claus Christophersen – Edith Cowan University
• David Fienberg – The Lupin Co.
• Hayley Cullen-Xiang – BFF Health/Hungry Bubbasaurs

This event is eligible for 2 CPD points

In collaboration with KHQ Lawyers and Osborne Richardson, specialist recruiters in food manufacturing, AIFST is delighted to announce 'EAT. MEET. COMPLY.' –  a food regulatory update on the worst of 2025 and the watchouts for 2026!  

This regulatory education event will kick off with Nick Shaw (Osborne & Richardson) providing a snapshot of the employment market in the food industry, followed by Charles Fisher (the head of our KHQ Lawyers’ Food & Beverage practice), who will share his insights on the biggest legal challenges the food industry faced in 2025, as well as what he sees coming in 2026.

Topics include:

• Regulatory and marketing challenges for key active ingredients, like protein, fibre, probiotics and caffeine
• How copyright law has been successfully used to protect a product’s label, design and branding
• The future of the Health Star Rating system and potential regulatory impact on ultra processed foods
• How regulatory classification can impact the tax classification and commercial viability of a product
• Regulatory boundaries for electrolyte and hydration products
• The legal status of novel foods – are they actually prohibited?

There will be ample time for Q&A.

4:30pm Doors open
5:00pm – 6:15pm Presentations
6:15pm – 6:30pm Q&A
6:30pm – 7:30pm Networking

Numbers are strictly limited to 50, secure your spot today!

General admission ticket $22.00 including GST

AIFST26 Convention:  Grow, Learn, Connect and Champion

Day 1 only ticket includes Monday 27th July 2026 face-to-face convention sessions, the Networking Event and entry to foodpro.

EARLY BIRD Ticket prices are now available until 18th May 2026!

With the theme Grow, Learn, Connect and Champion, AIFST26 is designed to spark new thinking, strengthen collaboration and drive meaningful conversations about building a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive food system. Held over two days with plenary and concurrent session streams, the convention will feature more than fifty scientific and food industry speakers from across the agri-food sector. Speakers will focus on Food safety, health and nutrition, sensory and consumer science, food security and resilience, sustainability, and packaging among others. 

For all partnership enquiries, please contact Clive Russell on 0407 066 188 or via clive.russell@aifst.com.au.

AIFST26 Convention:  Grow, Learn, Connect and Champion

Monday 27th & Tuesday 28th July 2026 

In Conjunction with foodpro

EARLY BIRD Ticket prices are now available until 18th May 2026!

Full registration ticket includes both days of the conference, the networking event, and entry to foodpro.

With the theme Grow, Learn, Connect and Champion, AIFST26 is designed to spark new thinking, strengthen collaboration and drive meaningful conversations about building a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive food system. Held over two days with plenary and concurrent session streams, the convention will feature more than fifty scientific and food industry speakers from across the agri-food sector. Speakers will focus on Food safety, health and nutrition, sensory and consumer science, food security and resilience, sustainability, and packaging among others. 

For all partnership enquiries, please contact Clive Russell on 0407 066 188 or via clive.russell@aifst.com.au.

For further details on AIFST26, please visit our event website page HERE

AIFST26 FOOD and WINE Networking Evening

A key highlight of the AIFST Convention is the food and wine networking evening and the 2026 event will continue this tradition.

The event is a great opportunity to create new connections and reconnect with your food industry colleagues in an informal setting.

Note -The Food and Wine Networking Evening social function is already included in all Full Convention Registrations and in any Day 1 only Convention Registrations purchased for Monday 27 July 2026 

Tickets:

Thank you to our food and wine networking evening partner: KHQ Lawyers

AIFST26 Convention:  Grow, Learn, Connect and Champion

Day 2 only ticket includes Tuesday 28th July 2026 face-to-face convention sessions and foodpro entry.

EARLY BIRD Ticket prices are now available until 18th May 2026!

With the theme Grow, Learn, Connect and Champion, AIFST26 is designed to spark new thinking, strengthen collaboration and drive meaningful conversations about building a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive food system. Held over two days with plenary and concurrent session streams, the convention will feature more than fifty scientific and food industry speakers from across the agri-food sector. Speakers will focus on Food safety, health and nutrition, sensory and consumer science, food security and resilience, sustainability, and packaging among others. 

For all partnership enquiries, please contact Clive Russell on 0407 066 188 or via clive.russell@aifst.com.au.