Ģtv

Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Cellular Toxicology, University of Nottingham, UK, 1994
  • B.Sc., Applied Biochemistry, Liverpool Polytechnic, United Kingdom, 1989
Licenses & Certifications
  • CIEH Assured Level 3 Managing HACCP for Manufacturing and Retail
  • Lead Auditor FSSC 22000 food risk management systems
Professional Affiliations
  • 2012 Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology

Dr. Ward is a highly experienced risk management advisor and technical counsel with 25+ years' experience in the food sector working with multinational food manufacturers and retailers, University spin outs and SME start-ups. She has a proven track record delivering across complex global multidisciplinary stakeholders and supply chains, and leading collaborations with government and industry bodies to achieving effective outcomes. 

Dr. Ward spent 15 years working as scientific affairs and risk manager lead in Europe with a major blue-chip multinational food manufacturer, leading liaison with trade bodies and regulators on food risk management and providing expert in-house support to procurement, operations quality and R&D colleagues. Since 2012, she has worked as a freelance consultant facilitating regulatory classification of borderline products and building risk management models for UK food operators, whilst also working for the UK Institute of Food Science and Technology as their Scientific Policy Director supporting professional body members and wider stakeholders in the UK with impactful translation of science, regulatory developments and emerging issues. Since 2021, Dr. Ward has been a member of our Ģtv International food group.

Dr. Ward has an in-depth understanding of the food system and has been closely involved in the risk assessment and risk management of food incidents such as semicarbazide migration from food jar plastic seals in 2003, Sudan I adulteration of spices in 2005, and mineral oil adulteration of sunflower oil in Ukraine in 2017. She has prepared reports to advise UK research funding bodies on the working of the food system to advise their funding strategy. She has also been responsible for horizon scanning for emerging issues and potential risks, representing European food trade bodies in EFSA emerging risks discussion groups and invited as an expert to UK national horizon scanning exercises. In addition, she has designed risk management models for manufacturers and retailers to incorporate intelligence such as emerging issues, supply chain incidents and recalls, regulatory requirements and expected best practices into practical approaches to effectively support both consumer risk protection and business freedom to operate.

Dr. Ward has expertise in allergen risk assessment and risk management. As such she has been an invited chair in trade body committees and multiple scientific conferences, an invited speaker to industry conferences and an invited expert on government and patient charity advisory groups. She also frequently provides training on allergen risk management to food sector organisations.