The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) immediately introduced the appointment of Dr Ciara Walsh as Chief Specialist in Food Science and Technology. Dr Walsh will lead, develop and handle the multi-disciplinary meals science and expertise group in the FSAI. Along with the group, Dr Walsh will deal with making certain shopper well being safety by way of the improvement of scientific and technical helps for meals inspection and the meals business. She may even present management and assist in the supply of meals security and regulatory features in Ireland.
Dr Walsh has over 25 years of expertise in meals science and expertise throughout academia, analysis, and regulatory environments. Prior to her appointment, she spent greater than 12 years at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) in educational positions, most just lately serving as Senior Engagement Manager in Food and Health, the place she led a quantity of strategic college initiatives. Her appointment marks a return to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the place she beforehand labored for seven years in biotechnology. Her prior expertise additionally contains three years as a Newman Postdoctoral Scholar at the Centre for Food Safety in University College Dublin (UCD) and 4 years as a Walsh PhD Fellow in Teagasc, Ashtown.
Dr Walsh’s focus will probably be to guide on the scientific and technical work in meals science and expertise, together with novel meals, meals allergens, meals fraud, rising dangers and genetically modified organisms. She will interact with Government departments, together with the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in addition to official companies and the meals business, to assist compliance with meals laws. She may even signify the FSAI at nationwide, EU and worldwide conferences, assist the work of the wider meals science and expertise group, and help with threat evaluation exercise inside the FSAI.
Commenting on the appointment, Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, highlighted the significance of the position in supporting the organisation’s work in a altering regulatory surroundings.
“I am delighted to welcome Dr Ciara Walsh to the role of Chief Specialist in Food Science and Technology. Ciara brings extensive experience across food science, research and regulation, which will support the FSAI’s work in protecting consumer health and ensuring compliance within an increasingly complex food regulatory environment. Her experience across academia, State agencies and the food industry will support the organisation’s work in key areas such as novel foods, food allergens, food fraud and emerging risks. I am confident that Ciara will make a valuable contribution to the work of the FSAI.”
A graduate of University College Cork (UCC), Dr Walsh holds a BSc in Food Science and a PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Biology from Ulster University Jordanstown (UUJ). In addition, she additionally holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning and an MSc in Education from TU Dublin.