Panelists
David Hunt
David Hunt works to help alternative protein scientists across Europe access the knowledge, resources, infrastructure and collaborations to conduct their research effectively. He has a background in plant biology, technology transfer and IP, project management, academic community building and managing scientific research programmes.
María Cermeño Aínsa
Dr. Maria Cermeño, CSO of Poseidona, is a distinguished food scientist with a Ph.D. in food biochemistry from the University of Limerick, Ireland. Over seven years of post-doctoral research at the same institution, she focused on extracting, characterising, and formulating protein and antioxidant ingredients from agricultural and food industry byproducts, including macroalgae, legumes, and brewers’ spent grain. Her expertise extends to bridging the gap between academia and industry, notably collaborating with Kerry Foods and Nestlé Research to develop plant-based products and scaling processes from the laboratory to semi-pilot production.
Julia Martin
Julia Martin has a background in biotechnology, food chemistry and sensory science from Wageningen University, and has worked with a few cellular agriculture companies, mainly focusing in cultivated fats. She is currently Project Lead for Cellular Agriculture at ProVeg International, where she spearheads all cell-ag initiatives, mainly focusing on partnerships and corporate engagement.
Anne Bordier
Anne Bordier has spent all her career in the food industry, working in diverse roles across market research, consultancy, training, coalition building, and program management. At the World Ressources Institute, Anne leads a team of researchers, communication and engagement experts who work with a wide range food providers and food sector stakeholders to embed a “target, measure, act” approach to reduce food loss and waste and to shift diets towards lower carbon and healthier food.
Marco Springmann
Marco Springmann is a Professor in Climate Change, Food Systems and Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He is interested in the health, environmental, and economic dimensions of the global food systems.
Facilitator
Shireen Kassam
Dr Shireen Kassam is a Consultant Haematologist, Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician and Visiting Professor of Plant-Based Nutrition. She is founder of Plant-Based Health Professionals UK, a community interest company that provides education on healthy plant-based diets. Her first book, Eating Plant-Based, Scientific Answers to Your Nutrition Questions, co-authored with her sister Zahra, was published in January 2022. She has also co-edited the textbook Plant-Based Nutrition in Clinical Practice, published in September 2022.