I am responsible for setting the strategic direction for the FSA’s major change programme, Achieving Business Compliance (ABC). This includes overseeing policy development within the programme, as well as understanding the legislative landscape across the food system, and introducing legislative change where appropriate and necessary. The ABC programme is primarily concerned with ensuring that the food safety and authenticity regulatory regime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is suitably robust and forward-facing, while reflecting change and innovation in the food industry, the role of the FSA’s delivery partners, and changing consumer behaviours and preferences.

Fulltime MSc in Risk Analysis.

I was tasked with delivering a report on the state of play of emerging and reemerging risks associated with food imports from countries outside the European Union, specifically developing countries. My work involved gathering and analysing data from regulators, academics and other key stakeholders.

Lead researcher for a Natural Environment Research Council UK wide review on the state of taxonomy and systematics, conducting over 160 in-depth interviews with key stakeholders across the UK.

Based in the Natural History Museum, I conducted face-to-face and telephone interviews with taxonomists and IT developers across the world, on the subject of sharing scientific information online. This survey was conducted in response to the launch of a social networking platform specifically designed for scientists to share and manage information. This studentship was invaluable in allowing me to deepen my understanding of the methods of social research.

I worked in the Science Policy Research Unit of Sussex University. The program is concerned with constructing public policy on chemical and biological warfare (CBW), with the expressed aim of maintaining and improving international sanctions on CBW. I was involved in archiving, organizing and communicating policy material given to and produced by the program. Importantly, this internship allowed me to pursue my great interest in science policy and risk.

My laboratory and academic work has been focused on novel scientific ideas. This stimulated my interest in the patenting process and I undertook an internship with a major patent law firm in New York City. From this I gained insight into the patenting process and how intellectual property is defined and managed.

I worked as a laboratory assistant within a university spin-out company in biotechnology, primarily focusing on the development of new technology capable of providing the activation of antibodies by light. This was being applied to the antibody dependent activation of killer T-cells. My work revolved around the demonstration that cellular activation took place on illumination.