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NZIFST is the New Zealand society for food industry professionals, providing trusted and independent leadership in food science and technology.
Careers in food science & technology
SCHOOLS > For Students:

YOUR FUTURE IN NEW ZEALAND'S FOOD INDUSTRY
Food Industry Careers Brochure

A brochure explaining the wide range of science, technology and engineering careers available in the food industry, is now available from NZIFST and Futureintech.

This brochure was designed to explain to students, parents, teachers and careers advisers, the huge range of exciting and challenging careers available in the food industry, the skills required to do these jobs, and how to get there. It outlines the importance of the food industry to New Zealand’s economy, the degrees on offer, and types of jobs available, and features photos and quotes from seven young graduates in a variety of roles.

Our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the development of this brochure, and the young graduates who agreed to feature in it.

Copies are available from NZIFST Executive Manager Rosemary Hancock (rosemary@nzifst.org.nz), from NZIFST Branches, from any Futureintech Facilitator, or from Futureintech head office (kmcguinness@futureintech.org.nz).
Careers in Food Science and Technology

Food technologists at work

What do they do? In CAREER PROFILES (right >), real food technologists working in the food industry talk about their jobs.

Can you visit them at work? Keep an eye out for your nearest Food Industry BIG DAY OUT (below).

How do I get to be one? JOB OPTIONS (below) include typical job descriptions, qualifications required, courses available, and employment and career prospects.

Where can a career in food science, technology or engineering take me? SUCCESS STORIES (click here) tell about people who have 'made a difference' in a whole range of different ways.

Who employs food technologists? See food industry EMPLOYER PROFILES at Futureintech.
Careers in Food Science and Technology

Auckland Science & Technology Fair
NIWA sponsors Auckland Science & Technology Fair
8 October 2007
more...

Schools Science and Technology Fair
Report on the Lincoln University Schools Science and Technology Fair (Canterbury-Westland)
By Nicki Sutton
more...

Food Technology students develop new products
Massey University 4th year Food Technology Group Projects - 2006.
more...

EIT Hawke's Bay Science and Technology Fair 2007
The NZIFST judging contingent this year included Rebecca Gore, Sophie Spinks, Michelle Lucke, Jayne Glasson and I, who had the honour of judging the 2007 EIT Hawke's Bay Science and Technology Fair projects at the Pettigrew Green Arena in Taradale on Monday 20 August.
By Sandra Chambers.
more...

BOP Food Technology BIG DAY OUT
Report on the Western Bay of Plenty's second successful edition of the 'Big Day Out' for budding food technologists.
By Lyn Parlane
more...

Hawke's Bay Food Technology BIG DAY OUT '07
On 3 July 2007, NZIFST and Massey University hosted 3 teachers and 13 students from 5 schools on the second Hawke's Bay Food Industry Big Day Out.
more...

Food Science at the University of Auckland
Originally started as a postgraduate course in 1997 and extended to undergraduates in 2001, The University of Auckland's food science programme uses world-class research to demonstrate and teach the principles of food science.
more...

Technology Education for Parents
Techlink offers information for parents explaining what technology is, and how it is being taught in New Zealand schools, and the new and exciting possibilities this presents for your child.
more...

JOB OPTIONS in food science, technology and engineering:
- click on each option to see:

Food Technologist
Food Scientist
Chemical/Process Engineer
Microbiologist
Analytical Chemist
Packaging Technologist
Research Scientist
Winemaker

· a brief job description
· qualifications required
· courses available for obtaining qualifications
· starting salary
· mid range salary
· career prospects
· typical companies to work for

What should you study to become a Food Technologist?

At SECONDARY level, the TECHNOLOGY curriculum explores the entire process of why, what and how we make things. Anything and everything. Including soft materials, hard materials, food technology as well as information and communication technology (ICT).
For more details, read "Technology – a smart choice for Years 11-13" , from Futureintech.

At TERTIARY level: click on one of the JOB OPTIONS in the list above, to see what qualifications are required. These are in turn linked to relevant course information.

Go here for a full list of TERTIARY COURSES in food science, technology & engineering available in NZ.

Go here for a list of TERTIARY SCHOLARSHIPS available for studies in food science, technology and engineering.

FOOD TECHNOLOGY IN ACTION

Frucor Drink Tank:
Fruit juice and beverage processes, facts about water (NZ).
www.frucor.com/drinktank/making.html


Sanitarium "About ...":
How breakfast cereals and beverages, and peanut butter are manufactured (NZ).
www.sanitarium.co.nz/default.asp?sectionID=18


Dominion Salt:
The salt-making process - organic and natural (NZ).
www.dominionsalt.co.nz

Wattie's:
Health and nutrition with fruit and vegetables (NZ).
www.watties.co.nz/html/health_nutrition/

Hubbard's Foods:
How breakfast cereal is made (NZ).
www.hubbards.co.nz/made.php


Making Ice Cream:
Ice cream manufacturing - ingredients and process (NZ).
http://www.tiptop.co.nz/ and
www.nzicecream.co.nz/process.htm


History and Manufacture of Chocolate:
Cadbury history, interactive chocolate factory, Q&A's (NZ).
www.cadbury.co.nz/cadbury_home/history.asp

Milk processing and dairy technologies:
Fonterra processes (NZ).
www.fonterra.com

Biscuit manufacturing process:
Griffins Foods (NZ).
www.griffins.co.nz/Biscuits/FunZone/TheProcess/

Techlink
Industry case studies (NZ).
www.techlink.org.nz/Case-studies/Technological-practice/food-and-biological/

OTHER WEBSITES to visit:

Bakeinfo (NZ Baking Industry Research Trust):
Careers in baking, breadmaking, pastry cooking and flour milling (NZ).
http://www.bakeinfo.co.nz/

Biotechnology Learning Hub
How biotechnology is applied in food & beverage (NZ).
www.biotechlearn.org.nz/

Career Paths in the FMCG Industry:
Career options, job descriptions, industry training courses, training providers - NZ Food & Grocery Council (FGC) (NZ).
www.fgc.org.nz/careerpaths/


FoodWorX (AIFST/National Food Industry Strategy):
Careers in Food Science (Australia).
www.aifst.asn.au/foodworx/

Fonterra Careers
Graduate careers at Fonterra, the multinational dairy company (NZ).
www.fonterragrads.co.nz/

Futureintech
Careers in technology, engineering and science (NZ).
www.futureintech.org.nz/


IFT/Discovery School (IFT, the IFT Foundation, and Discovery Education):
Careers in Food Science, about Food Science (USA).
http://school.discovery.com/foodscience/

IFST Careers
Food science - career choices and qualifications (UK). http://www.foodtechcareers.org/

Career Services:
Careers in the Food Sciences (NZ).
www.careers.govt.nz

Massey Food Technology:
Careers in food technology (NZ).
http://foodtech.massey.ac.nz/

Science New Zealand
Food science and technology in action at the nine Crown Research Institutes (NZ).
www.sciencenewzealand.org/food_beverage/

Techlink
Student showcase (NZ).
www.techlink.org.nz/student-showcase/index.htm

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Career profiles
Real people talk about their jobs in food science, technology & engineering (courtesy of Futureintech: www.futureintech.com):

Wendy Robinson, Senior Food Technologist for NZ's largest ice cream manufacturer, Tip Top Ice-Cream, Auckland.

Harriet Gibbs, Process Manager for multinational dairy processor Fonterra, Edendale, Southland.

Bronwyn Hawker, Food Technologist with innovative beverage manufacturer Frucor, Auckland.

Michelle Lucke, Process Improvement Technologist for prepared foods manufacturer, Heinz Watties, Tomoana, Hastings.

Ben Sutherland, Product Development Technologist for healthy snack manufacturer Mother Earth Foods, Auckland.

Anna Smith, Development Technologist for milk and dairy foods processor Fonterra Brands NZ.

Melanie Wong, Food technologist/QA Manager for meat processor and exporter ANZCO Foods Green Island, near Dunedin.

Rachel Johns, Product Development Technologist for iconic prepared foods manufacturer Heinz Wattie's, Hastings.

John Evans, Operations Manager for drinks manufacturer Phoenix Organics, Auckland.

Penny Hosking, Technical Manager for buttercup squash processor and exporter Southmark Quality Foods, Hastings.

Emily Choi, Product Development Technologist for prepared foods manufacturer Heinz Wattie's, Hastings.

Tracey Petley-Hibbs, Process Technologist for sweetmaker, Nestlé Confectionery, Auckland.

Andrew Hutton, Product Development Technologist for prepared foods manufacturer Heinz Wattie's, Hastings.

Debbie Curtis, Chocolate Technologist for international chocolatemaker, Cadbury, Dunedin.

Jonelle Taylor, Senior Product Development Technologist for Fresh 'n' Fruity yoghurt manufacturer Fonterra Brands, Auckland.

Yvette Temple, Senior Product Developer for biscuit manufacturer Griffins, Auckland.

More profiles of careers in food technology at Futureintech: www.futureintech.com.
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