London, UK - The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) has announced that Sterling Crew has been elected as the new President of the organisation, effective immediately. Sterling brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the food industry, having worked and led in the sector for over 35 years.
IFST is the leading professional body for those involved in all aspects of food science and technology, with members from government, industry, and academia. As President, Sterling will lead the Institute in its mission to promote the advancement and application of food science and technology for the benefit of the public.
“We are delighted to welcome Sterling as our new President,” said Tim McLachlan, Chief Executive of IFST. “His extensive experience in the food industry, coupled with knowledge of food enforcement and his dedication to advancing food science and technology, make him the ideal person to lead IFST in the years to come.”
Sterling has extensive experience of working in the field of food safety and global supply chain governance. He has previously served as Vice President of the Institute and, until recently, chaired its Food Safety Special Interest Group. He was awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Institute in 2020 for his contribution to the food sector. Sterling is an experienced international director. His roles as a regulator and in retail, big brands and food manufacture give him a unique perspective of the food sector. He has also been a consultant to numerous food businesses and served on the boards of several food industry organisations.
“I am honoured to have been elected as the new President of IFST and extend my thanks to [outgoing president] Helen Munday for her successful term,” said Sterling. ”IFST has some interesting and exciting times ahead. Not least, we look forward to celebrating our 60th anniversary in 2024 and continuing our journey toward the organisation's possible Chartership status. I hope to continue making people aware of our fantastic membership offer and further drive-up membership numbers, which have doubled in the last decade.
As President, Mr. Crew will serve a three-year term and will be responsible for representing IFST at industry events, promoting the organisation’s initiatives and programmes, and serving as a spokesperson for the organisation.
Sterling succeeds Helen Munday as IFST President, who served a successful term during which IFST membership grew by 32% from 2,500 to over 3,600 in March 2023. “It has been an unusual three years as President of IFST, yet despite the pandemic and the issues in the global supply chain, IFST has grown in stature. We have undergone a strong period of delivery partly through pivoting our ways of working and are proud to have enhanced our relevance to those working in the food profession,” said Helen Munday.
About IFST: The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) is the leading professional body for those involved in all aspects of food science and technology. With members from academia, industry, and government, IFST promotes the advancement and application of food science and technology for the benefit of the public. For more information, visit www.ifst.org.
Contact:
Robert Edge-Partington, IFST Media and Communications Officer
+44 (0) 7534 920052