Networking Night and AGM wrap up a year of success for FFS

Future Food Systems staff and Board members, PhD students, industry and research partners and media caught up for a convivial end-of-year celebration at UNSW Sydney’s CBD campus on the evening of 6 December. It was followed by our annual AGM at the same venue on Thursday 8 December.

Networking night showcases the work of PhD students and agritechpreneurs

On the evening of Tuesday 6 December, Future Food Systems staff, Board members, PhD students, industry and research partners and media caught up for a convivial end-of-year celebration at UNSW Sydney’s CBD campus on the evening of 6 December.

Future Food Systems Education and Training Director Professor Brian Sindel gave a warm welcome to guests of FFS’s annual Networking Night.. Credit: Future Food Systems

After a warm welcome and introduction from FFS Education Director Brian Sindel, guests were treated to an informal presentation from UNSW alumnus-turned-agritech-preneur Dr Alex Soeriyadi, the mind behind yield-enhancing LLEAF light-spectrum-shifting agricultural films, honed in FFS-backed trials at Western Sydney University and now commercially available globally; and Agrisma’s ultra-slow-release encapsulation technology, currently being developed in a collaborative FFS research project led by UNSW nanotech expert Dr Rona Chandrawati.

Serial agritech-preneur Dr Alex Soeriyadi tells guests at the Networking Night about his journey and the development of his start-ups, LLEAF Pty Ltd and Agrisma Tech. Credit: Future Food Systems

LLEAF light-spectrum-shifting agricultural films, honed in FFS-backed trials at Western Sydney University and now commercially available globally; and Agrisma’s ultra-slow-release encapsulation technology, currently being developed in a collaborative FFS research project led by UNSW nanotech expert Dr Rona Chandrawati.

Several of the PhD students in attendance pitched their doctoral research projects to a Shark-Tank-style panel; L to R: Dr Alex Soeriyadi; Prof. Brian Sindel and Prof. Cordelia Selomulya. Credit: Future Food Systems

Several of our PhD cohort submitted 90-second video presentations of their work, which were compiled into a short video reel screening and screened on the Night.

Several of the PhD students submitted short video pitches of their research work; a showreel was screened at the Networking Night. Credit: Future Food Systems

This was followed by live pitches by five of these PhD students to a ‘Shark-Tank’ style panel consisting of Dr Soeriyadi, Prof. Sindel and UNSW’s Professor Cordelia Selomulya, FFS Research and Commercialisation Director.

PhD student Miranda Yang listens to the panel’s feedback at Networking Night 2023. Credit: Future Food Systems

Drinks and delectable canapes kept us all well fed and watered, and some inspiring and enjoyable discussions left everyone present keen to engage further in the New Year.

At the AGM, Ms Fiona Simson was re-elected as Chair of the Future Food Systems Board. Credit: National Farmers’ Federation

Annual General Meeting re-elects FFS Board

On Thursday 8 December 2023, Future Food Systems held its Annual General Meeting, also at UNSW Sydney’s CBD campus.

The AGM was attended by the Chair and Directors of the Board, CEO Dr James Krahe, CFO Satish Nair, GM Anthony Battaglia, and FFS partners from industry, research and government.

Members showed their confidence in the administration and oversight of Future Food Systems, re-electing all six Board Directors and Fiona Simson as Chair of the FFS Board.

We thank everyone who came to this year’s Networking Night and the AGM for their contributions, and wish all our partners, PhDs and friends a wonderful holiday season.

Lead imagee: Guests mingle at Future Food Systems’ annual Networking Night on 6 December 2023. Credit: Future Food Systems