Skip to content
Sustainable Food Future Seminar Speakers
📅 Date: 8-10 April 2025
📌 Venue: Singapore Expo, Hall 4
The Sustainable Food Future Seminar delves into the evolving landscape of sustainability in the F&B industry, tackling pressing issues such as food security, sustainable packaging, novel foods, and alternative proteins. Across three days, thought leaders, innovators, and policymakers will engage in insightful discussions and share breakthrough solutions shaping a more resilient and sustainable food ecosystem.
Speakers
Aidan Chan
Head of Asia Pacific - .bungkus
Aidan Chan
Head of Asia Pacific - .bungkus
Aidan Chan is the Head of Asia Pacific for .bungkus, a sustainable fashion brand that transforms single-use plastic waste into high-quality fashion accessories. With a design philosophy rooted in sustainability, .bungkus combines artistic craftsmanship and material innovation to reshape the perception of waste, contributing to a circular economy. Aidan leverages his extensive background in venture capital, growth and business development to scale .bungkus’ mission of turning discarded plastics into fashion-forward pieces that blend artistry with function. Aidan’s passion lies in overcoming challenges in scaling sustainable ventures, balancing innovation, profitability, and environmental impact.
Andy Tan
Principal Scientist and Group Leader - Bioprocessing Technology Institute, A*STAR
Andy Tan
Principal Scientist and Group Leader - Bioprocessing Technology Institute, A*STAR
Adjunct A/Prof Andy Tan directs the Centre of Innovation for Sustainable Banking and Production of Cultivated Meats (CRISP Meats) funded by a Singapore Food Story (SFS) Future Foods grant involving a multidisciplinary team of investigators to develop innovative technologies that enable manufacturing of cultivated meat (CM). He also leads a SFS grant project to identify compounds of toxicological concern that accumulate in spent media and animal cells to inform safety assessment of CM. Andy concurrently leads the Immune Cell Manufacturing group at BTI to develop processes supporting clinical manufacturing of allogeneic immune cells for cancer therapy.
Bi Xuezhi
Senior Principal Scientist/Group Leader (Protein analytics) - Bioprocessing Technology Institute, A*STAR
Bi Xuezhi
Senior Principal Scientist/Group Leader (Protein analytics) - Bioprocessing Technology Institute, A*STAR
A/Prof Bi was trained as biologist, has more than 30 years of research experience on proteins and proteomics with samples ranging from crop plants, fungus, virus, microbials, mammalian cells and human cancer tissue and cell lines to various biotherapeutics modalities. He joined A*STAR since 2009; he is leading the protein analytics group at the Bioprocessing Technology Institute, focusing on LC-MS-based biotherapeutics product quality attributes characterisation, manufacturing process analytical technologies, alternative proteins ingredients profiling, and production process characterisation. He has been an adjunct associate professor at Duke-NUS medical school since 2019 and Singapore Institute of Technology since 2023.
Calisa Lim
Senior Project Manager - APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture
Calisa Lim
Senior Project Manager - APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture
Calisa Lim is the Senior Project Manager at the APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture. Her area of focus are monitoring and managing of regional regulations and policies, alongside key trends that could impact the industry across Asia. Through relationship building between key stakeholders and the development of science-based reports, advocacy tools and communication materials, she aims to enhance the industry's role as a trusted partner in the development of robust regulatory frameworks and standards to advance the cellular agriculture space. Calisa manages the APAC Regulatory Coordination Forum and the APAC-SCA (Student Chapter) programmes. She holds a BSocSci in Sociology from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Caroline Struye
Singapore Country Director - Muuse
Caroline Struye
Singapore Country Director - Muuse
Caroline is a passionate and dynamic sustainability advocate with extensive international experience. Holding an International Business degree and Masters in Sustainability, she began her career at aerospace giant Airbus, where she held a variety of central roles including Water & Waste Sustainability management while also being a Board Member of the Airbus Foundation. Strong of her expertise in project management and operational excellence, she drives and implements sustainable practices wherever she goes. After 14 years in a corporate environment in France, Spain and Germany, Caroline has recently made the bold move to switch her career and join Muuse as Singapore Country Director. Caroline will share with you her insights on transitioning to a circular economy, inspiring others to embrace sustainable solutions for a brighter future.
Cecilia Hough
Impact Management Lead - B Lab Singapore
Cecilia Hough
Impact Management Lead - B Lab Singapore
Cecilia has a diverse professional background spanning the education, social services, and hospitality sectors. Within her current capacity in Impact Management at B Lab Singapore, she guides companies across various industries to articulate their impact, leveraging B Lab’s B Impact Assessment tool. Cecilia regularly leads educational workshops on impact management. Before assuming her role at B Lab Singapore, Cecilia served as the operations manager at MINDS Bakers, a social enterprise operating under the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore. She was instrumental in exposing her team to digital platforms to enhance the learning experience. She is deeply committed to fostering the ethos of responsible business practices, advocating for environmental stewardship, inclusivity, and social justice.
Craig Houliston
Regional Executive Director of Consulting and Insights - NielsenIQ
Craig Houliston
Regional Executive Director of Consulting and Insights - NielsenIQ
Craig Houliston is a Regional Executive Director at NielsenIQ, who leads Asia Pacific Above Market Consulting and Insights. Craig has been at NielsenIQ for 17 years and has worked in the UK, China and Singapore. Craig drives regional thought leadership and bringing breakthrough consumer and retail insights to the industry. In 2024, he has presented at events such as The Asia Growth Forum, IMA Asia Management Forum, Food & Grocery Australia, Food & Grocery New Zealand and had interviews with The Straits Times, CNA and Money FM. Furthermore, he has a passion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and is a Fellow of the National Volunteering and Philanthropy Centre’s Company of Good Fellowship. In 2024 he led NielsenIQ to be awarded NVPC’s highest accolade, the Champion of Good recognition. Craig has a Management degree from Aston University and, in 2022, completed the Oxford University Artificial Intelligence programme.
David Chen
CEO - AgriG8
David Chen
CEO - AgriG8
David, CEO of AgriG8, applies his 18-year rice industry background to promote sustainable agriculture with focus on rice. He concentrates on bridging the capital gap for Southeast Asian smallholders through Agri-Fintech. He co-authored the "Financing the Transition to Sustainable Agriculture" whitepaper and contributed to the ASEAN Carbon Neutrality Guidelines in Agriculture, aiming to foster a more sustainable food system. In addition to his professional dedication, David is a father of two and the President of the Singapore Fencing Federation.
Elaine Lee
Innovation Scientist - Nourish Ventures
Elaine Lee
Innovation Scientist - Nourish Ventures
Elaine is an Innovation Scientist at Nourish Ventures, based in Singapore. With a strong background in food science and manufacturing, she leads technical due diligence efforts in the Asia-Pacific region, leveraging her expertise to assess and validate emerging food technologies. Nourish Ventures serves as the corporate venture capital (CVC) arm of Griffith Foods, a global product development company specialising in food ingredients and solutions, headquartered in the U.S. Aligned with Griffith Foods' global strategy, Nourish Ventures invests in and partners with innovative start-up companies that are shaping a healthy and sustainable food system. We are committed to forming partnerships with entrepreneurs who share our aspiration to blend care and creativity while nourishing the world.
Elyssa Ludher
Visiting Fellow - Institute for Southeast Asian Studies
Elyssa Ludher
Visiting Fellow - Institute for Southeast Asian Studies
Ms Elyssa Ludher is a food security expert and urban planner. She is currently a Visiting Fellow at ISEAS- Yusof Ishak Institute and concurrently an advisor at MORROW Intelligence, a data-driven, foresights urban solutions company. Ms Ludher has contributed to food policy research at the World Bank, Centre for Liveable Cities Singapore, and the Singapore Food Agency. Ms Ludher’s publications have included “Rice Production and Food Security in SEA under Threat from El Niño”, “RICH Food Smart City”, “Food and the City: Overcoming Challenges for Food Security”, and “Preparing for a Climate Resilient Singapore”. She has a double Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning and Bioresource Engineering.
Islah Ishak
Deupty Director - Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
Islah Ishak
Deupty Director - Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
Islah is the Deputy Director of Market Transformation division for Singapore & Malaysia at Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil or RSPO- is a non-profit international organisation with more than 6,000 voluntary members representing every link in the supply chain: oil palm producers to consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation non-governmental organisations, environments and social NGOs united to sustainably transform the palm oil industry for the benefit of the environment, wildlife, and communities. Islah was previously with the State Government of Victoria Australia as Biotech Director and with Malaysian Biotech Corporation as Commodity & Agriculture VP.
James Yin
Co-Founder/Director - V-plus Agritech
James Yin
Co-Founder/Director - V-plus Agritech
“From Green Uniform to Green Economy” James Yin is a seasoned leader and strategist with over 2 decades in the military, where he tackled complex challenges and led high-performing teams in various crises, disasters, and conflicts. With a passion for sustainability, he pivoted from protecting his country, to protecting our planet. At V-Plus Agritech, a circular agriculture company that aims to reduce food waste, carbon emissions, and water consumption, James is on a mission to drive climate action and create environmental and social impact. James is a qualified sustainability professional. He is also Affiliate Faculty of SMU where he teaches sustainability, a Fellow at LKYSPP, and is an SID-Accredited Board Director.
Jeremy Goh
Founder - WorldFarmX, World Food Chain, and MetaFarms
Jeremy Goh
Founder - WorldFarmX, World Food Chain, and MetaFarms
A serial entrepreneur in the tech and fundraising space, Jeremy has been involved in incubated start-ups, directly managing equity fundraising projects and companies. Jeremy was inducted into the Blockchain Council of The Philippines and is assisting the Philippines in developing and funding 60 hectares of the CIAC National Food Terminal in Clark Airport Terminal. Previously, Jeremy served as a Senior Vice President with BreadTalk Group from 2005 to 2007, where he was involved in group concept development and investments, such as St James Power Station, Pacific Star Ventures Wisma Atria, and Japanese Food Concepts in Taiwan.
Jonathan Teo
Associate - Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Jonathan Teo
Associate - Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Jonathan Teo is an Associate in the Intellectual Property and Technology (IPTech) practice Group at Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow. Jonathan represents local and international clients in contentious and non-contentious intellectual property and technology matters. He advises clients on IP protection and brand management; disputes; civil and criminal IP enforcement; cybersecurity and data privacy; and the commercialisation of intellectual property and technology through licensing, mergers & acquisitions, franchising, etc. He also advises on a broad range of regulatory issues relating to the F&B and consumer goods & retail industries, including on market entry; regulatory and licensing requirements; labelling; and advertising.
Kelvin Ng
Managing Partner - Green Bridge Partners Singapore
Kelvin Ng
Managing Partner - Green Bridge Partners Singapore
Kelvin has over 25 year’s experience working in multinational blue-chip companies. He has experience in key strategic management positions and has held various senior management roles in Yum! Brands, Green Monday, SATS, DHL Logistics and HP. He is currently the Managing Partner at Green Bridge Partners and serves as the Strategic Venture Partner at Optimal Investments. He is also the innovation and commercialisation lead at Agrifood Futures, an Ag-Tech accelerator. He also serves on the Asia Board of the non-profit MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) and is the Senior Advisor to Focus Insight. Kelvin is an F&B expert and adviser to several companies based locally and internationally. He also coaches and mentors startups in the Asia Pacific Region.
Luke Tay
Founder - Cornucopia FutureScapes
Luke Tay
Founder - Cornucopia FutureScapes
Luke leads a Singapore-based, globally oriented foresight and strategy practice advancing future-readiness, sustainability, and innovation across the public, private, and people domains in food and urban systems. He is an acknowledged thought leader on emerging opportunities in food systems transformation, on corporate and national success strategies amid the “polycrisis”, and on leading with foresight. Luke has authored book chapters on the future of Asian food security and on global water futures; developed scenarios on geopolitics, carbon markets, and sustainable development; and advised on strategies for food system transformation and startup and corporate innovation. Luke is a board member of the Association of Professional Futurists, and also a member of the World Futures Studies Federation, the Smart Cities Network, and the Economic Development Board Society.
Matthew Tan
Chair - Sustainable Development in Agriculture & Fishery Sectors, APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security
Matthew Tan
Chair - Sustainable Development in Agriculture & Fishery Sectors, APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security
Prof Matthew Tan is an Aquaculture veteran with more than 20 years’ experience in the Aquaculture Industry. He is currently Singapore Representative (Private Sector) to APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security and is also the current APEC Chair for Sustainable Development in Agricultural and Fishery sectors (PPFS) where he co-ordinates discussions between senior officials, APEC governments and the private sector on the use of technology and combined resources. In tandem with his current APEC appointment, he is also serving as the CEO, Asia of Assentoft Aqua Asia Pte Ltd - one of the world's leading Aquaculture Engineering companies. Prior to his current corporate appointment, Prof Tan was previously the Group Chief Technology Officer of Oceanus Group Ltd – One of the world’s largest land-based aquaculture companies listed on the main board of SGX.
Nandini Prabhakar
Head of Operations, Singapore - Meatable
Nandini Prabhakar
Head of Operations, Singapore - Meatable
Nandini Prabhakar is an accomplished scientific leader with vast experience of over 15 years spanning academia and industry. A Nutritional biochemist/ Immunologist by training, she has a strong track record of leading teams in upstream bioprocessing technology and driving molecules from discovery to clinical phase in traditional biologics specifically in viral vaccines. Specific to cultivated meat, she has the distinction of a few “firsts” As Scientific Head, she headed the manufacture of the world’s first cultivated meat product in a Singapore based CDMO for commercial launch during the challenging pandemic period. She oversaw design and construction of the first, commercial cultivated meat manufacturing facility. Subsequently, she was the first R and D leader at ThermoFisher to secure an internal funding for Cultivated meat media development. In this capacity, she also led a Bioproduction services team as subject matter expert to lead innovation and increase profit ability through external service projects. In her current role as Head of Operations, Singapore, she implements operational strategies and scaleup operations at Meatable’s local manufacturing partner. Drawing upon her skills in people management, risk management, process optimisation and negotiations, she has implemented strategies that have resulted in successful scale up production of Meatable’s product in a few short months. She continues striving to implement cost reduction strategies through close collaboration with technical teams based at Meatable’s headquarters. Currently, she is leading Meatable’s regulatory efforts for approval of their product in Singapore as well as in outreach programmes across the region.
Neha Poddar
Partner - Good Startup
Neha Poddar
Partner - Good Startup
Neha is a Partner at Good Startup where she heads investments and is responsible for deal origination, investment analysis and portfolio management. She works closely with Good Startup’s portfolio companies to help them in their mission of furthering the alternative protein industry. She has 15+ years of experience in financial markets spanning private equity, fixed income, credit, and public equities. Previously, she was a director of investments at JI Capital Partners, and before that an equity derivatives trader at Bank of America Merrill Lynch covering Southeast Asia and India. Neha holds an MBA (High Honours) from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from IIT Bombay. Neha is a recipient of the prestigious Siebel Scholarship.
Ng Shengyong
Co-Founder & CTO - ANTS Innovate Pte Ltd
Ng Shengyong
Co-Founder & CTO - ANTS Innovate Pte Ltd
Shengyong is an MIT-trained tissue engineer who leads efforts to translate Ants Innovate’s intellectual properties and technologies into innovative products that will accelerate the nascent hybrid meat transition. Ants Innovate is a deep-tech spinoff from A*STAR that envisions a world where authentic and affordable meat cut alternatives help to address the increasing global demand for meat in a more sustainable and ethical manner. We provide specialty ingredients which are designed for affordable hybrid and blended meat cuts that recreate the complete meat-eating experience for the mass market.
Paul Teng
Food Security Adviser, Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies - NTU
Paul Teng
Food Security Adviser, Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies - NTU
Professor Teng is internationally recognised for his expertise in Food Security, AgTech, Biotechnology applications in agriculture, Digitalisation in agrifood systems and Smart/Precision farming. He has done project work in over 40 countries and has published over fifteen books and over two hundred technical papers. Prof Teng is also Visiting Senior Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS – Yusof Ishak), and Senior Fellow at the Southeast Asian Regional centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). Additionally he advises several agtech startups (Tropic BioSciences UK, AgriG8 Singapore, Rize, Singapore) and venture funds (Wavemaker Impact and Milltrust International), and is a Director in Terrasys Innovation Ventures and Chair of Asia Biobusiness Pte. Ltd. Singapore. Paul previously held leadership positions in the Worldfish Centre (Deputy Director-General), the International Rice Research Institute (programme Leader), Monsanto Company (Asia-Pac VP), The National Institute of Education Singapore and U.S. universities (Minnesota, Hawaii).
Peter Yu
Program Director - APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture
Peter Yu
Program Director - APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture
Peter Yu is the programme Director at the APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture – an association and coalition cultivated meat and seafood companies across the APAC region. Through the society, Peter works as a drive-force to both promote the industry as well as to encourage the establishment efficient and transparent regulations and policies. Peter is actively engaging towards creating a coordinated cultivated food industry, and have experience in driving various of industry-moving projects across the globe. Peter holds triple masters’ degrees in Business Administration, Laws, and Bioengineering.
Raymond Tham
Founder - Mycrocell
Raymond Tham
Founder - Mycrocell
Raymond Tham is founder of Mycrocell, a Singapore company specialising in functional materials from mushroom mycelium biomass fermentation. He has 20 years of experience in cellular R&D at Flinders University, Australia, and in his previous business in China with 20 tonnes GMP plant cell culture for skincare and nutraceutical products. Raymond is actively involved in Standards Singapore as co-convenor, Novel Foods Manufacturing Working Group; member of ISO/TC34/WG30 "Tissue cultured and cellular food technology products“; and is the ISO Joint Cooperation Representative between ISO/TC34 WG29 “Vegetable and algae proteins used for food products” and WG26 "Plant-based foods“.
Sunand Razu
Venture Capitalist and Chief Commercial Officer - GrubFeeds
Sunand Razu
Venture Capitalist and Chief Commercial Officer - GrubFeeds
Sunand has 15 years of experience in investment management, corporate development and startup-management across APAC. He is the Co-Founding Partner of EcoImpact Capital and the EcoImpact Food Security Fund, and an investor in multi-family offices in Australia and Singapore, focusing on property, cleantech and turnaround opportunities. A passionate tech entrepreneur, he has launched businesses in Finance, logistics and consumer tech, notably Audasis featured at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
Tan Yong Quan
Specialist Team Lead, National Centre for Food Science - Singapore Food Agency
Tan Yong Quan
Specialist Team Lead, National Centre for Food Science - Singapore Food Agency
Yong Quan is currently the Specialist Team Lead for the Bioengineering team at the National Centre for Food Science, SFA. His team conducts food safety tests and monitors genetically modified organisms in food. He works with companies to ensure that innovative food products, such as genetically modified foods, genome edited foods, and novel foods, are introduced to the market in a safe and lawful manner. Yong Quan graduated with a PhD in Biochemistry from the National University of Singapore.
Tim Hill
Key Accounts Director, Southeast Asia - GlobalData PLC
Tim Hill
Key Accounts Director, Southeast Asia - GlobalData PLC
In his work with GlobalData, Tim provides economic forecasts, consumer insights, brand share, channel assessments and business trends to F&B companies looking to expand in Asia. Tim has worked in media and research in Asia since 1992 with organisations such as the Economist Intelligence Unit, Ipsos Business Consulting and Eco-Business. Recent opinion pieces include “Losing taste for plant-based meats?”, “Will Gen Z disrupt the ASEAN corporate landscape?” “The market for plant-based milk in Asia”, “Covid 19, a chance for F&B to finally go green”, “The rise of food delivery in ASEAN” and “Winners and losers in post-pandemic Asia Pacific”. Tim’s work has been published in ASEAN Post, Channel News Asia, Eco-Business, QSR Media, The Business Times, The Economist and The Straits Times as well as other regional newspapers. He is a regular speaker and conference moderator for industry and client events. Tim has an MBA from Henley Business School in UK.
Weibiao Zhou
Head, Department of Food Science and Technology - National University of Singapore
Weibiao Zhou
Head, Department of Food Science and Technology - National University of Singapore
Dr. Weibiao ZHOU is a chair professor and foundation Head of the Department of Food Science & Technology at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He is also Acting Director of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at NUS, as well as an elected Fellow of the Singapore National Academy of Science (SNAS), International Academy of Food Science & Technology (IAFoST), Australian Institute of Food Science & Technology (AIFST), Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), UK, and Singapore Institute of Food Science & Technology (SIFST). Working as a food scientist for the past 33 years, Prof. Zhou has focused his research on food processing & engineering, functional food, and sustainable innovation.
Youwei Neo
Marketing Manager - Singrass
Youwei Neo
Marketing Manager - Singrass
Youwei Neo is a passionate advocate for transforming indoor spaces into thriving ecosystems. As the Marketing Manager of Singrass, he seeks to build a brand that attracts collaborators who are looking for pioneering innovative solutions that marry stunning aesthetics for the indoor built up environment.
Zhang Hongzhou
Assistant Professor & Deputy Coordinator of MSc (International Political Economy) - Nanyang Technological University
Zhang Hongzhou
Assistant Professor & Deputy Coordinator of MSc (International Political Economy) - Nanyang Technological University
Dr Zhang Hongzhou is an Assistant Professor and Deputy Coordinator of MSc (International Political Economy). His main research interests include regional and global resource conflicts and governance, the role of Big Tech in international politics, and the governance of emerging technologies such as AI and biotechnology. Beyond academia, he has contributed Op-Eds to several major newspapers and magazines across the Asia-Pacific. His insights are frequently featured in global media outlets such as The New York Times, BBC, The Wall Street Journal, Science, The Economist, National Geographic, WIRED, Reuters, Channel News Asia, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, CNBC, Forbes, People’s Daily, The Straits Times, and the South China Morning Post.
Seminars are free to attend for all registered trade visitors. RSVP is highly recommended.
