Food connects us to each other, the land and our culture. But what is the future of food in Aotearoa NZ? And how divergent are our ideas about it depending on our life experiences, values and knowledge? Join us in conversation with this panel of food experts as they discuss each other’s answers to the question: “What is your vision for the future of food in NZ?”.

From soil health, food security and community gardens to lab-grown meat and proteins, industry and manufacturing, expect to be challenged, informed and left with plenty to chew on 😉 Bring your curiosity and questions for the panel.

Pay what you can afford: recommended $15, but choose your own price!

Our panelists:

Our panel of researchers and leaders covers a wide range of expertise and research in fields such as waste minimisation, food sovereignty, biotechnology and systems thinking. The panel will be ably led by celebrated scientist Dame Juliet Gerrard DNZM FRSNZ.

• Professor Dame Juliet Gerrard (moderator) -former Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister

• Professor Phil Bremer - Chief Scientist for the New Zealand Food Safety Science Research Centre and an academic in the Department of Food Science at the University of Otago

• Professor Miranda Mirosa - Head of Department of Food Science, University of Otago and Director of Food Waste Innovation Research Theme.

• Sue Smith - Puketeraki Marae Māra Kai coordinator, permaculturist and educator

• Dr Olivia Ogilvie - CEO of Opobio Ltd and biotechnology researcher

• Daniel Kenna - Co-chair of Future Farmers and kiwifruit orchardist

About the Panel:

Professor Dame Juliet Gerrard

Juliet trained at Oxford University and moved to New Zealand in 1993 where her career has included roles in both research institutes and universities. Her research background is in chemical sciences, and she has a broad range of governance and advisory experience. From 2018 to 2024,

Juliet served as the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor in New Zealand, working from a base of four founding principles: rigour, inclusivity, transparency, and accessibility. She supported the science and science advisor community to provide advice to the PM, ministers, and the public on a wide range of topics, including advice on the Christchurch Mosque shootings, the response to the Whakaari | White Island eruption, the Cannabis referendum, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

On her return to academic life at the University of Auckland, Juliet is pivoting her research interests towards the interface of research and policy. Particular interests include communicating science in contested spaces, science advice in crisis situations, waste management as an entry point to create social license for sustainability, and policy settings needed to embrace opportunities afforded by emerging technologies. 

Professor Phil Bremer

Distinguished Professor Phil Bremer is an academic in the Department of Food Science at the University of Otago, the Chief Scientist of the New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre and the Otago lead for the New Zealand Product Accelerator network.

Phil carries out research across the dairy, seafood, red meat and horticulture sectors on a wide range of topics including, tracking and controlling foodborne pathogens, new product development, the role of micro-organisms in flavour development and how to measure, improve and sustain a good food safety culture.

He has supervised 138 post-graduate students and has 290 peer reviewed publications.

He is a former president of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology, the New Zealand Microbiological Society and the New Zealand Association of Food Protection.

Sue Smith

Sue Smith has worked in Primary Education both in New Zealand and in Sydney, Australia. She has worked as a resource teacher, a teacher educator and school leader. Sue has a background in Permaculture and been involved in many community garden projects. The last school she led in NSW developed a community-based school garden where parents, teachers and students learned about composting food waste, growing healthy food and creating dishes as a ‘garden to plate’ initiative.

Currently Sue coordinates the Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki Rūnaka based Māra Kai, growing vegetables and distributing wild game and fresh vegetables to whānau and for marae events.

Sue is also involved as a committee member with Dunedin group Our Food Network, a nonprofit organisation that believes a strong local food system is essential to our continued well-being in an increasingly uncertain world. OFN has a range of objectives beginning with working in ways to engage with authorities at both regional and national level on issues relating to the sustainable production, processing and distribution of local food.

Professor Miranda Mirosa

Professor Miranda Mirosa is the Head of the Department of Food Science at the University of Otago. A Consumer Food Scientist with 15+years of research experience, her work delivers behavioural insights to improve food system safety and sustainability. She co-leads the Food Safety Culture Lab, which conducts research to inform the behavioural and human dimensions of food safety, and sits on the Strategic Leadership Team of the New Zealand Food Safety Science Research Centre.

Miranda is also the Director of the Food Waste Innovation Research Theme, serves as a Trustee of the New Zealand Food Waste Champions 12.3 Charitable Trust, and served as a Specialist Advisor to Parliament’s Environmental Select Committee on Waste. She is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology, and has been named one of Aotearoa New Zealand's TOP 50 most influential and inspiring women in food and drink by Cuisine Magazine.

Dr Olivia Ogilvie

Dr Olivia Ogilvie is co-founder and CEO of Opo Bio, a biotech company supplying advanced cell lines and cell-derived ingredients to the global biomanufacturing industry. Under her leadership, Opo Bio is helping to build the supply chain infrastructure for the next generation of sustainable food and material production.

Named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2024 and the University of Auckland's 40 Under 40 in 2025, Dr Ogilvie is recognised internationally as a leading voice in biotechnology. She holds a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Auckland and is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Canterbury, where her work has focused on novel food regulation and science policy.

Her career spans the full breadth of New Zealand's science commercialisation ecosystem, from research and development through to venture capital, giving her a rare perspective on what it takes to translate scientific innovation into global impact. Dr Ogilvie is at the forefront of developing the technologies and industry partnerships needed to make sustainable food systems a commercial reality. 

Daniel Kenna

Daniel is a third-generation kiwifruit grower, agritech innovator, and Co-Chair of Future Farmers New Zealand. He was recently awarded Horticulture New Zealand’s prestigious President’s Trophy, an accolade recognizing outstanding promise in horticulture business and leadership. This award celebrates his deep commitment to sustainable orchard practices, hands-on on-orchard research, and his active role in supporting education and pathways for young people entering the agricultural sector.

Daniel holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Canterbury and brings valuable regulatory and environmental insights to the industry from his background working in local government land management. Based in Katikati working for KWKIWI as an Orchard Manager and Sustainability and Innovation Lead, he treats the land as a living laboratory— collaborating on advanced initiatives like the Impact Orchard Network (ION) program to trial data-driven solutions for soil health, smart water use, and carbon storage.

Representing the next generation of food producers driving primary industries forward, Daniel uses science, technology, and constructive dialogue to shape the future of our food and fibre sectors. On this panel, he combines his hands-on growing experience, policy background, and award-winning leadership to share a clear vision for how New Zealand can lead the global stage in sustainable, resilient, and highly profitable food production.