Having graduated as an Analytical Chemist, Steve completed a Research Masters on Maillard Reaction Flavours, with the University of Reading. This was followed by many years in commercial and technical roles with Nestlé, Northern Foods, Ashbury Confectionery and Leatherhead Food Research where he became a recognised food industry expert. The Aurora Ceres Partnership Ltd was established in 2015, and provides innovation management for the Food and Beverage industry. A key focus is technology scouting through the ‘ACTION’ technology scouting platform. Steve is also a regular contributor to food and beverage industry events and has spoken on numerous topics from nutrition, including salt and sugar reduction to waste valorisation and the future of food themed discussions. He is also a regular invited expert judge for a number of food and beverage innovation awards panels.

With 14 years of experience in the food industry, I’ve built a deep understanding of food processes, product development, market trends, and, above all, consumer behaviour. My journey has been shaped by working at the intersection of gastronomy, business, and innovation where ideas become real products, and insights turn into growth opportunities.

I specialize in identifying opportunities and challenges across the value chain, translating them into tailored strategies that connect market demands with real consumer needs. By combining hands-on knowledge of production workflows with a strategic view of market dynamics, I focus on delivering solutions that elevate product quality, optimize processes, and drive sustainable business results.

My background in gastronomy, driven by a strong connection to culture and rituals around food, is a core pillar of my professional identity. I complement this with marketing expertise and my passion for languages, which allows me to navigate diverse culinary contexts and design propositions that resonate with global audiences.

This is just the beginning of a new showcase for 2026, a space to explore, connect, and shape the future of food, innovation, and business. I’m truly looking forward to being part of the World Food Innovation Awards 2025 frame once again.¨

Silvia D’Alesio brings nearly a decade of expertise at the intersection of food innovation and packaging design, specializing in new product development and scouting emerging trends in the food and beverage sector. With an academic background in Food Science and Technology (BSc.) and Food Innovation and Product Design (MSc. FIPDES.eu), she has collaborated on various pilot projects between top European universities and leading food companies to align market requirements with scientific precision.

Currently, research assistant at Polytechnic di Milano, focusing on sustainable packaging solutions for FMCG markets. Silvia's expertise includes teaching brand strategy and eco-design at NABA Milano, as well as serving as a teaching assistant focusing on modeling and optimization processes related to the food environment at the University of Milan.

She also advises startups in the luxe sector and regularly contributes as a judge for prestigious industry awards. Her insights are frequently sought by FoodBev Media and other leading outlets. 

I’m delighted that IFE and FoodBev have once again partnered to run the World Food Innovation Awards, with the results announced on 30 March at ExCeL London as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week. I’m also thrilled to have the chance to be a judge for this year’s awards and discover first hand some of the products and businesses at the forefront of food & drink innovation. Visitors to IFE prioritise innovation perhaps above all else, with retailers, wholesalers, hospitality professionals and more seeking to discover the products that will define the future of food & drink and help them stay ahead of the competition.

I am the marketing manager of NutriMarketing, a French Company based in Paris, involved in food trends, food formulation/reformulation and nutritional communication.

For more than 25 years I have been looking for anything new in the food and beverage industry : New ingredients, new products, consumers awareness, consumers expectations, new regulations, new scientific studies, new packagings, …

With this work I conduct market studies, make trends presentations and guide innovation tours in the main food shows (SIAL, SIRHA, FI Europe, FI Asia, Vitafoods, Anuga, …)

Leah is part of FoodBev’s editorial team, working on FoodBev Magazine and across the various websites. She is coming up to her first anniversary as part of the team, and over the past 12 months has been really impressed with the innovation that is coming out of the F&B industry.  

As part of the Food Awards judging panel, Leah is particularly keen to see functional applications and innovations around sustainability and clean label ingredients.  

In terms of sustainability, she is interested to see what new formulations have emerged to help with supply chain issues without sacrificing taste and mouthfeel, as well as interesting flavour combinations and fun, modern takes on traditional, familiar products.  

I bring boards strategic foresight in emerging technologies, financial acumen from P&L accountability, and risk oversight across volatile global markets.

Through C-suite roles at Mondelez, Yum! Brands, and J R Simplot and management roles at MARS, Fonterra, I delivered $500M+ in value creation by commercialising 1200+ innovations across complex supply chains. This foundation now informs my governance lens on Industry Innovation and Science Australia and Wine Australia boards, where I contribute across strategy, enterprise risk management, stakeholder relations, and digital transformation.

I excel at the challenge many boards face: capitalising on breakthrough technologies whilst managing financial performance and regulatory complexity. My governance strengths span innovation commercialisation, supply chain resilience, ESG integration, and Asia-Pacific market expansion.

Co-founding the world-first Food Innovation Centre demonstrated my ability to build collaborative ecosystems. My cross-cultural expertise across Asia Pacific markets enables me to navigate diverse stakeholder landscapes whilst translating emerging opportunities into strategic decisions that balance growth with responsible governance.