The three candidates for our next Vice President (People) are set out below. The elected candidate will serve from our AGM 2026.
Each candidate has provided a supporting statement and biography to help you make your decision.
Members and Fellows eligble to vote will receive instructions by email on 9 January 2026. The ballot closes at 16:00 on 19 February 2026.
You can cast your vote by clicking here.
Biography
Purity Hrisca is a Chartered Scientist and a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology, with over two decades of international and UK food industry experience. She currently works in a regional supplier quality assurance leadership role. Her career began in food service. This was followed by a move into food production as a QA technician, where she developed a strong grounding in food safety, quality systems, and operational practice. From these early roles, she progressed into leadership positions with responsibility for people, capability, and professional standards.
She has worked across multinational organisations, including ADM and Tate & Lyle, part of the ASR Group, as well as UK retail and specialist food businesses such as Sainsbury’s, Soulful Foods, and Harvey & Brockless. While at Sainsbury’s, Purity served as the point of contact for the IFST Group Membership Scheme, supporting engagement between the technical team and IFST.
She holds a BSc in Food Science from London South Bank University and a Master’s degree in Food Safety and Quality Management from the University of Greenwich. She has been an IFST member since 2015 and has contributed through committees and working groups. Alongside her professional roles, Purity is a qualified coach and mentor, supporting individuals to build confidence, capability, and resilience in their careers
Statement
I am honoured to have been nominated for Vice President, People and HR. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the work of the Institute of Food Science and Technology and to support its role as a trusted professional body for food science and technology.
My experience spans over two decades of international and UK food industry practice across multinational organisations, retail, and specialist food businesses. I have led teams in complex and regulated environments, with a consistent focus on people leadership, capability development, and maintaining high professional standards. I am a Chartered Scientist and a Fellow of IFST, and I have contributed to the Institute through committee and working group involvement.
The Vice President, People and HR role has a clear governance focus. It supports the Board in overseeing people-related matters such as leadership and succession planning, reward and recognition, resourcing, and volunteer support, while contributing to collective responsibility for IFST’s strategy, policies, and reputation. My professional background has given me practical experience of contributing to people-related discussions at senior level, with an emphasis on fairness, transparency, and sound judgement.
Alongside my professional roles, I am a qualified coach and mentor, supporting individuals and leaders to build confidence, capability, and resilience. This experience has strengthened my understanding of the importance of inclusive, well-considered people practices within professional organisations.
If elected, I would bring a collaborative, thoughtful, and people-centred approach to the Board, working with fellow Board members and IFST staff to ensure that people and HR considerations are aligned with IFST’s purpose and long-term objectives.
Strong people practices underpin a strong and trusted profession.
Biography
Dr Selvarani Elahi MBE is UK Deputy Government Chemist and Executive Director of the Food Authenticity Network (FAN), with 35 years’ experience applying food science to support public protection, professional standards and skills, and regulatory confidence.
She is an internationally recognised food scientist, advising UK government departments and representing the UK on Codex and CEN committees. Selvarani chaired Defra’s Authenticity Methods Working Group for 12 years and holds board-level governance and advisory roles, such as the Chair of the Impartiality Committee for the Safe to Trade Scheme.
She founded and has led FAN for over a decade, growing it into a global, membership-based professional network (like IFST) of more than 6,200 members across 121 countries. Under her leadership, FAN has supported skills development, technical competence, collaboration and knowledge exchange across the global food system, working closely with regulators, laboratories, academia and industry.
Selvarani has extensive experience in leading multidisciplinary scientific teams, workforce planning, succession development and capability building, including engagement with UK government to ensure laboratory-based skills for official food control are maintained.
She is a Fellow of IFST and the Royal Society of Chemistry and was awarded an MBE for services to food measurement science.
Statement
I am standing for Vice President (People) because IFST’s greatest strength is its people, and ensuring the Institute continues to attract, support and develop food professionals has never been more important. At a time of rapid scientific, regulatory and technological change, IFST’s role as a trusted professional home matters greatly.
Throughout my career, I have led multidisciplinary scientific teams delivering complex national and international programmes, with responsibility for recruitment, development, succession planning and long-term workforce capability. I have also led discussions on skills assessment, helping to maintain the capability required for UK official food control. These experiences have reinforced my belief that professional standards, scientific confidence and public trust are underpinned by strong people strategies.
I bring extensive board-level governance experience, operating within statutory frameworks where transparency, challenge and sound judgement are essential. As part of the independent review team for the National Food Crime Unit, I assessed governance, organisational performance and risk management, further strengthening my commitment to robust and accountable leadership.
As Executive Director of the Food Authenticity Network, a membership based organisation like IFST, I have built and sustained for over a decade a global professional community of more than 6,200 members, supporting knowledge exchange, collaboration and skills development. This closely aligns with IFST’s role as a trusted professional body serving a diverse membership across industry, academia, consultancy and regulation. As a Fellow of IFST, and long-standing contributor to its activities (e.g. Spotlight, Fact Sheet & Webinar), I care deeply about the Institute’s future. If elected, I will work collaboratively with the Board, staff and members to strengthen IFST’s people strategy, ensure effective governance of reward and progression, and help IFST continue to attract, retain and develop the next generation of food professionals.
I would be honoured to serve IFST and its members as Vice President (People).
Biography
Barbara Bray MBE FIFST MSc is a Registered Nutritionist and food safety consultant of African heritage. She has worked as a Technical Manager at Bakkavor and is currently the owner of a boutique food safety and nutrition consultancy. Her 30 years’ experience spans food safety, nutrition strategy, leadership and public engagement. She has led multi-disciplinary teams, managed complex stakeholder relationships and delivered innovative solutions for clients.
She recently completed a BBSRC funded PhD in nutrition at Queen’s University Belfast, researching how ingredients can enhance the nutritional quality of foods to support healthy ageing. Her TEDx talk, What Youth Can Teach Us About Positive Ageing, explores shaping food environments for healthy ageing.
In 2017, Barbara was awarded a Nuffield Farming Scholarship to study international food and farming systems. In 2019, Barbara was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to food nutrition.
Statement
As a Fellow of IFST, I have a long‑standing commitment to the Institute’s mission and values. The Vice‑President (People) role aligns well with my experience in governance, strategic planning and championing people‑focused initiatives.
I bring extensive governance and charity experience, having served as a Trustee for the Nutrition Society, Governor at Harper Adams University, The Farming Community Network, Director of the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) and Committee Member for IFST. At Harper, I sit on the Finance, People and Resources Committee, with oversight of succession planning, reward structures and talent development to ensure alignment with organisational objectives. This role demands rigorous scrutiny and strategic decision‑making, particularly in relation to complex pension arrangements, which require responsible challenge and robust governance.
In 2021, my work with the Nutrition Society included a strategic review to embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion across all workstreams. Developing people is important to me, and a diversity initiative I took on as an OFC Director became a programme encouraging young people from ethnic minority backgrounds into farming. My recent PhD research in nutrition reflects my commitment to evidence‑based decision‑making and continuous professional development, qualities I would bring to the Vice‑President (People) role. I would use this experience to guide strategic issues, facilitate people‑focused policy development and ensure effective resource planning while safeguarding IFST’s reputation and values
As VP (People), I would prioritise inclusion and diversity, early‑career support, transparent and fair people policies, and a culture that supports wellbeing. If elected, I look forward to working with members and staff to recognise their contribution and to sustain a diverse, vibrant culture around food science and technology.