Introducing 8 of the many women at the FSA

 

On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Julie Pierce, Director of ODD, Wales and Science at the Food Standards Agency introduces 8  of the many women in the FSA who use science every day to keep food safe.

 

Today, Friday 11 February 2022, is International Day of Women and Girls in Science - a global acknowledgement of the role played by women and girls who work and contribute, either directly or indirectly, to the science that helps us live our everyday lives.

Women are under-represented at all levels in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, but there is such a variety of roles out there and ways we can make a difference. For me, science has provided a varied and exciting career, spanning roles in oil exploration and anti-submarine warfare, the corporate world of banks, aircraft and telecoms, before bringing me to an area that interests me most – ensuring food is safe and what it says it is.

In the FSA, everything we do to fulfil our mission of food we can trust is rooted in science and I’m proud to work alongside lots of brilliant women in science roles within our organisation, helping to protect animal and public health.

The science we do is world-leading and fascinating. But also, it’s immediately relevant to people in the real world. It’s often taken up and used very quickly. We have access to the best scientists around the UK and the world, and we fundamentally operate across scientific disciplines to deliver the best science. Oh, and we have fun while doing it!

To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I’m delighted to introduce some of our women in science in the FSA, providing a snapshot of the work we deliver, the routes we’ve taken into science and how we support our mission of food we can trust.

Julie Pierce, Director of ODD (Openness, Data, and Digital), Wales and Science.

 

Lucy King, Principal Social Science Research Officer

 

 

What is your job title and role in FSA?

I’m a Principal Social Science Research Officer. It’s my role to provide high-quality evidence to support FSA policy decision-making. I’m part of the FSA’s Analytics Unit which is made up of Social Scientists, Economists, Statisticians and Operational Researchers. We sit within the FSA’s Science, Evidence and Research Division.

How does it fit into our mission of food you can trust?

Putting the consumer first is core to the work of the FSA. But in order to do that, we have to understand consumers’ food-related attitudes, behaviour and knowledge. I manage the FSA’s flagship survey, Food and You 2, which provides the FSA with robust evidence on what the public does and thinks when it comes to food. As part of this survey, we monitor consumers’ trust in food safety and the food system, including the key actors involved. The information we collect is used to monitor the FSA’s progress against its strategic goal of ‘food we can trust’. It also helps us to identify and prioritise where there is further work to be done.

How did you get into science?

I think I was destined to have a career in science after being awarded my school ‘Science Cup’ at the age of 11! My interest in science grew when studying for my A-Levels (Biology, Psychology, Geography and Food Technology) and I later went on to study Psychology at university. After graduating I joined the Civil Service as a Psychologist. I worked in the Ministry of Defence for four years conducting research with military personnel before joining the FSA as a Social Researcher in 2018.

What is the best thing about working in science for the FSA?

The best thing about working for the FSA is the emphasis that is placed on high-quality science and evidence. In addition, the FSA prides itself on being open and transparent which means all our research and evidence is published and available for anyone to use in their own work or analysis.

 

Ayah Wafi, Food Allergen Risk Assessor

 

What is your job title and role in FSA?

I work as an allergen risk assessor. My role includes conducting quantitative allergen risk assessments to assess risks posed due to the unintentional presence of allergens in food in order to protect public health. I also act as a project officer, managing academic research in food allergy and other food hypersensitivities, as well as reviewing scientific reports and papers.

How does it fit into our mission of food you can trust?

My role protects those who have food allergies. It allows them to trust that the food they eat does not contain unintentional allergens not present on the label. In other words, the ingredient list reflects what is in the product, including any allergens.

How did you get into science?

Growing up I was always curious about my food allergies. My curiosity in all things allergy led me to pursue a Genetics integrated master’s degree and research the genetic determinants of food allergy. This led me into a career in science which has equipped me with the tools to protect allergic consumers. From a personal perspective of having food allergies, I understand how important it is that consumers know exactly what is in their food to be safe.

What is the best thing about working in science for the FSA?

For me, the best thing is the opportunity to be involved in world-leading academic research in food allergy and other food hypersensitivities. And protecting allergic consumers.

 

Bethan Davies, Science Assurance and Capability Manager

 

What is your job title and role in FSA?

I’m a Science Assurance and Capability Manager working within the Science Strategy, Capability and Research Unit. My role is to provide assurance that scientific experts are sought appropriately and that scientific analysis and advice is used effectively. I oversee the governance of the FSA’s Scientific Advisory Committees and ensure they have the capability they need to run effectively.

How does it fit into our mission of food you can trust?

The work my team does ensures the FSA has access to the right scientific advice and expertise at the right time to help inform our food safety advice, and ultimately to shape policy.

How did you get into science?

I always loved science at school and finding out about how and why things worked. I had the best careers advice when choosing my A-Levels which was to take Chemistry, Physics and Maths as it would open up the most opportunities. I was a bit unsure to start with as I also loved languages, but when I found out it was mostly boys who took this combination I was determined to do it! I then studied Biochemistry at university and was fascinated by the molecular workings of nature and I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy working in science ever since.

What is the best thing about working in science for the FSA?

The best thing is knowing I work for an organisation that puts science and evidence at the heart of everything they do and of course being able to use my expertise and training to help keep food safe!

 

Dr Aoibheann Dunne, Nutritional Science Adviser

 

 

What is your job title and role in FSA?

I’m a Nutritional Science Adviser for the Dietary Health team in Northern Ireland. I work closely with policy leads, mainly focusing on research projects. I use my expertise to pull out and analyse scientific data, which I then interpret with the policy leads.

How does it fit into our mission of food you can trust?

I was always drawn to the nexus between academia and public health – we know a lot about nutrition from a research point of view, but it is more difficult to put this knowledge into practice for people at national level. I am interested in both nutrition and psychology, and I believe to some degree public health nutrition is a cross between these two disciplines. To combat obesity we must look at how factors such as our food environment can impact dietary health.

My role as a nutrition science advisor cuts across several different policy areas within the FSA. I aid in interpreting data from various projects, and I help ensure that the information is readily interpreted by a diverse range of stakeholders. Most of my work focuses on the dietary health surveillance in Northern Ireland. For example, the National Diet and Nutrition Survey allows us to look at the dietary intake and nutritional status of people in Northern Ireland, showing us people are generally consuming too much sugar and saturated fat and not enough fibre.

Our Kantar research is also very telling – what are people buying and bringing into their homes? It can also look at potential trends in certain demographics or look at the purchasing of high fat, sugar, salt products on promotion. This evidence-based research is integral to monitoring the dietary health of individuals in Northern Ireland. It also allows us to inform the progress of programmes such as the FSA’s The Eating Well Choosing Better programme which aims to reduce the calorie, sugar, saturated fat and salt content of foods produced in Northern Ireland.

How did you get into science?

I have known since I was young that I was drawn to science and wanted to work in research. I initially studied pharmacy but in my free time, I was reading up about nutrition, so I eventually decided to switch courses. I ended up completing my PhD in 2021 – it focuses on the link between low-calorie sweeteners and dietary health. My expertise is in participant recruitment and data analysis, I have a lot of academic experience but would like to get more public sector experience. With the FSA, I have learned a lot about the government, its inner workings, how things are structured, business cases, things like that. I would never have encountered these things before.

What is the best thing about working in science for the FSA?

For me, it’s the interchange of experience – it’s quite an uplifting environment to work in, we learn from each other and the teamwork is great. It’s how women in science progress, 100%.

 

Michelle Patel, Acting Deputy Director, Science Evidence and Research

 

What is your job title and role in FSA?

I’m the Acting Deputy Director of Science Evidence and Research Directorate with responsibility for analysis and insight. That’s a mouthful but it means that I share the running of the directorate with Rick Mumford and my side of the team covers operational analysis, social science, economics, statistics and horizon scanning.

How does it fit into our mission of food you can trust?

We know from our consumer research that much of why people trust us – and because of us, the food they eat – is because what we do is based on independent science and evidence. The evidence my teams produce gives us a picture of the world we're operating in which helps everyone make better decisions.

How did you get into science?

In a roundabout way! I spent most of my civil service career in communications, but in 2018 I got the opportunity to bring the consumer insight function – which was in comms - together with our social science function in our science team, and combine the overlapping skillsets to build something really great which uses the best of both. Since then I’ve pursued my PhD (in how deliberative social science methods are applied to food regulation) and found my place in the science team.

What is the best thing about working in science for the FSA?

I go to so many cross-Government meetings where the scientists and analysts are starved of resources, or politically pressured not to publish, or can’t commission work that’s desperately needed. I’ve worked in a few, too. It’s refreshing to work in a department which genuinely cares about openness, good evidence and trustworthiness. And, food is fascinating. It touches everything.

 

Emma French, Exposure Risk Assessor

 

What is your job title and role in FSA?

I am an Exposure Risk Assessor. I provide consumption and exposure estimates and advice to other Risk Assessors to help produce risk assessments for incidents or contribute towards scientific advisory committee papers e.g. Committee of Toxicity (COT).

How does it fit into our mission of food you can trust?

The exposure assessment team works a lot with the data produced from dietary surveys such as the National Diet and Nutrition Survey which enables us to build consumption and exposure estimates. Our work is quite reactive, particularly when responding to food-related incidents from the allergy, chemical, microbiology and trade risk assessment teams. Our work helps build robust risk assessments which will help to estimate the overall risk to human health from food. Because of the work we do, risk management decisions can be taken to protect consumers from food hazards.

How did you get into science?

I’ve always loved that light bulb moment, where something makes sense. That tended to occur quite frequently in my science lessons at school. I chose science-based A-Levels (Biology, Sport, Psychology) and studied Biology at Aberystwyth University followed by a Masters at Queen’s University Belfast in Parasitology and Pathogen Biology. Since then I have worked in various laboratory-based roles as a Microbiologist and more recently, working within a large dairy factory before beginning my career in the FSA.

What is the best thing about working in science for the FSA?

The best thing about working in science for the FSA is that everyone I work with is working towards the same goal of protecting consumer safety. My colleagues strive to help each other which makes the FSA such a rewarding and friendly place to work and allows people to learn and develop within their roles.

 

Dr Johann Trotter, Regulated Products Risk Assessor

 

 

What is your job title and role in FSA?

I am a Regulated Products Risk Assessor, working as part of the Risk Assessment Unit, which sits within the Science, Evidence and Research Division. My role is to evaluate applications for certain food and feed products that are seeking authorisation before they can be sold in the UK. An assessment is required in order to determine whether the food or feed product is safe and therefore eligible to be placed on the market.

How does it fit into our mission of food you can trust?

Assessing the risk of food and feed products to consumers is an essential part of ensuring that the food you eat is safe and that it is what it says it is. We evaluate food composition and manufacturing processes, as well as the toxicological risks for consumers, animals and the environment.

We will also assess other factors, such as the potential for allergenicity and the proposed conditions of use. Every decision we make is based on research and evidence. Through this process of risk assessment and by evaluating all the potential sources of risk using an objective, scientific approach, we are able to ensure you can trust the food you eat.

How did you get into science?

Surprisingly I didn’t like science until I had amazing Biology and Chemistry teachers at GCSE Level – both of them ignited my passion for science! I knew I wanted to get involved in research, so completed a Pharmacy degree with the intention of going back and pursuing my PhD.

My PhD was based on developing infection-resistant coatings for urinary catheters. After this, I had a few postdoctoral positions, before moving towards food science and deciding to leave academia and pursue a career elsewhere. The FSA stood out to me because it’s held in such high regard and I loved the fact I would get to use my research skills in a new environment that directly influences public health.

What is the best thing about working in science for the FSA?

Unlike a lot of areas of academia, the impact of your work is seen relatively quickly, and it feels like you are contributing to public health in a meaningful way. Everything we do is also research-led, so there is the guarantee that our suggestions and decisions are evidence-based. It also means that I still get to flex my research skills on a daily basis but in a new and exciting way!

 

Dr Natalie Sampson, Head of Veterinary and Meat Hygiene Policy

 

What is your job title and role in FSA?

My team cover two areas of food safety – the first being meat hygiene policy, in other words, looking at how the processes we use to produce meat from slaughterhouse to plate are safe. It's very broad but encompasses microbiology, animal husbandry and welfare, slaughterhouse processes, trade and incidents risk management advice amongst other things.

The second area of work involves veterinary advice across not only our own unit but across the policy directorate with any product of animal origin.  We work closely with our colleagues in the field and other government departments on a wide array of topics from official regulations and ensuring they are fit for the future to veterinary resourcing challenges at profession level, supporting incidents management and notifiable disease responses.

How does it fit into our mission of food you can trust?

The FSA mission of ‘food you can trust’ is integral to my role as a vet who leads on veterinary and meat hygiene policy.  When looking at the policies surrounding meat, both meat hygiene and vets are essential in ensuring it is safe and what it says it is.

How did you get into science?

I was quite focused from an early age working on my Grandparent’s farm and knew I wanted to be a vet.  This gave me the steer through school to focus on the sciences – albeit Chemistry, Biology and Maths over Physics.  These subjects gave me a fabulous grounding, supported by practical on the ground experience on farms to see how science is relevant in real-world applications and I continue to use the building blocks of science every day.

What is the best thing about working in science for the FSA?

I would say the best thing is being part of a bigger picture that impacts on so many areas of daily life – from food to trade – and working with so many other professional disciplines, not just scientists but communications, policy, trade and field experts, we can learn a lot from each other and enhance our personal and collective skills.