Food for Thought: Pioneering the Future of Food

Food for Thought: Pioneering the Future of Food, is an innovative, future focused and multidisciplinary engagement event on food research

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This is an Engaging for Impact Event by RMIT's Enabling Impact Platforms. Sponsored by the Fight Food Waste CRC.

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Join us for this multidisciplinary two-day event showcasing research from both Australian and global perspectives on food's evolving connections to society, health, and our future.

This event is designed to bring together and foster dialogue among RMIT researchers, industry leaders, governmental bodies, and other crucial stakeholders, addressing urgent societal challenges around food and charting the pathways for a desirable and sustainable food future.

The event will be structured around three pivotal interdisciplinary themes, that frame RMIT University’s Enabling Impact Platforms:  

Food for Social Change and Connectedness

Looking at how food can play a part in driving positive social change.

Food for Improving our Health and Wellbeing

Exploring the complex and multifaceted role that food plays in our physical and mental health.

Food for Securing our
Future

Covering the opportunities and challenges of the future of food production, consumption, and sustainability.

Activities across the two-day event include:

  • A guided tour of RMIT's state-of-the-art food research facilities.
  • Innovative presentations and posters on emerging trends and the future of food.
  • Interactive food demonstrations.
  • A collaborative ideation (final) session focusing on blueprinting large-scale projects alongside our esteemed partners.

Expert speakers include

  • Keren Allen (Community and International Development Consultant, United Nations SDG2 Advocacy Hub)
  • Renata Anderson (Policy and Health Promotion Officer, Women's Health Victoria)
  • Dr Rohit Ashok-Khot (Senior Lecturer, Design and Social Context, RMIT University)
  • Victor Barichello (Chief Executive Officer, Empauer)
  • Dr Jennifer Boer (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Research & Innovation Portfolio, RMIT University)
  • Professor Charles Brennan (Chief Scientific Director, Food & Nutrition Innovation Hub, RMIT University)
  • Prof Linda Brennan (Professor, School of Media and Communication, RMIT University)
  • Prof Michael Buxton (Emeritus Prof, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University)
  • Penny Brotja (Lecturer, Nutrition, Sensory and Food Technology, RMIT University)
  • Dr Stephanie Damiano (Manager, Butterfly Body Bright, The Butterfly Foundation)
  • Dr Mina Dokouhaki (Lecturer, Food Technology, RMIT University)
  • Kelly Donati (Senior Lecturer in Australia's first Bachelor of Food Studies, William Angliss)
  • Emily Dunstan (Chief Growth Officer, Sustainability Victoria)
  • Gordon Edwards (CEO, Health Food Symmetry)
  • Professor Asgar Farahnaky (Professor, Food Technology, RMIT University)
  • Dr Aida Golneshin (Business Innovation Manager, Edlyn Foods)
  • Geoff Gordon (CEO Hella Foods)
  • Dr Minh Ha (Science and Technology Manager, V2 Foods)
  • Maria Hoertrich (Head of Quality, Monde Nissin)
  • Prof Catherine Itsiopoulos (Dean, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University)
  • Dr Snehal Jadhav (Lecturer, Food Safety, Deakin University)
  • Dr Mark Jaffrey (Australian Defence Force)
  • Dr April Kartikasari (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Immunology, RMIT University)
  • Emil Kroelle (Technical Specialist at Stop Food Waste Australia)
  • Steve Lapidge (CEO at Fight Food Waste)
  • Jarrod Leak (Chief Executive Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity)
  • Dr Bhavna Middha (Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University)
  • Mar Moure (PhD Candidate, University of Copenhagen)
  • Sam Oakden (Head of Australian Food Pact at Stop Food Waste Australia)
  • Dr Rebecca Olive (Vice Chancellor's Senior Research Fellow, Design and Social Context, RMIT University)
  • Gabrielle Orr (Health Promotion Practitioner, Better Health Network - formerly Star Health)
  • Prof Tobias Otterbring (Professor, Department of Management, University of Agder)
  • Dr Ashleigh Powell (Lecturer, College of Business, Government and Law, Flinders University)
  • Prof Mike Reid (Prof, College of Business and Law, RMIT University)
  • Dr Jeroen Rens (General Manager R&D Bega Group)
  • Danni Rowlands (Head of Prevention, The Butterfly Foundation)
  • Dr Matthew Selinske (Postdoctoral Research Associate, ICON Science Research Group, RMIT University)
  • Dr Henrik Siepelmeyer (Research Fellow, University of Agder)
  • Professor Mike Sissons (Group Leader, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries)
  • Prof Sarah Spencer (Prof, STEM College, RMIT University)
  • Prof Roger Stanley (Professor of Food Science & Technology, University of Tasmania)
  • Dr Regine Stockmann (Principal Research Scientist/Engineer, CSIRO)
  • Prof Constantino Stavros (Deputy Dean, Learning & Teaching, and Prof of Marketing, RMIT University)
  • Richard Tegoni (CEO Cardia Bioplastics)
  • A/Prof Peter Torley (Assistant Associate Dean, School of Science, RMIT University)
  • Dr Nuwan Vithanage (Research Scientist, CSIRO)
  • Dr Oliver Vodeb (Senior Lecturer, Communication Design, RMIT University)
  • Dr Carolynne White (Participation and Co-Design Manager, Mind Australia)
  • Louise Wigg (Director, Body of Wellbeing)
  • Dr Sanjeewa (Prad) Wijayaratne (Lecturer and Tutor in Marketing, RMIT University)
  • Dr Yang Yap (Lecturer in Psychology, RMIT University)
  • A/Prof Zhen Zheng (Associate Professor in Chinese Medicine, RMIT University)

Join us in shaping the future of food. We look forward to seeing you there!

Dates and times

RMIT Green Brain building
Bundoora campus, RMIT

Day 1

City Campus

Monday, 27 November 2023

9am – 5pm, AEDT

Swanston Academic Building, (SAB) Building 80, 435-457 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Day 2

Bundoora West Campus

Tuesday, 28 November 2023

9am – 5pm, AEDT

Building 224, 203 McKimmies Road, Bundoora West campus, Bundoora

This is a two-day event. Attendees are highly encouraged to attend both days as the presentations and sessions intentionally build toward a collaborative project ideation workshop, to be hosted at the end of day two.

Plan your visit

See what's on for each day of the Food for Thought event

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DAY 1, 27 November 2023
(City Campus)
Event Registration Open
Acknowledgement of Country and Event Opening

Opening Plenary Session:

The Future of ‘Good’ Food
Morning Tea Break (Poster Session and Exhibitor Time)

Theme 1:

Food for Social Change and Connectedness (One Presentation and Two Parallel Session)
Lunch Break (Poster Session and Exhibitor Time)

Theme 2:

Food for Health and Wellbeing (Three Parallel Sessions)
Afternoon Tea Break (Poster Session and Exhibitor Time)

Big Question Session:

“What is Healthy Food?”
Evening Networking Session

DAY 2, 28 November 2023
(Bundoora Campus)
Event Registration Open
Acknowledgement of Country and Day 2 Opening

Opening Plenary Session:

Sustainability and Food
Morning Tea Break (Poster Session and Exhibitor Time) Food Lab Tour

Theme 3:

Food for Securing our Future (Two Parallel Sessions)
Lunch Break (Poster Session and Exhibitor Time) Food Lab Tour

Project Ideation Workshop:

Technology and the Future of Food
Closing and Announcing Poster Winners

Photography and recording at RMIT events

When you attend RMIT official events or activities you may be photographed or recorded. By attending the event you agree to RMIT's Terms and Conditions.

Learn more about engaging for impact, and food research at RMIT

Engaging for Impact

RMIT University enables economic, environmental, societal, health and cultural impact with government, business and the community through research and innovation.

Find out how

Food Research and Innovation Centre

RMIT's Food Research and Innovation Centre is a world-class facility that helps Australian businesses develop and market innovative, high value products for the global marketplace. Sign up to tour these facilities on Day Two of the Food for Thought event (limited availability).

Explore our capabilities

Food Agility Cooperative Research Centre

Food Agility is a $150 million+ innovation hub that is creating new digital technologies and services to benefit the Australian agrifood industry.

See how RMIT supports Food Agility
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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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