That's A Food Job!
No matter what your passion is, there’s a career for everyone in food—and we’re here to help you find it! On this podcast, we interview professionals across the food processing sector to uncover the stories behind their unique roles Discover what they do, why they do it and how they are shaping the world of food. Whether you're a student figuring out your next steps, a young professional seeking career guidance, or an industry veteran exploring new opportunities, this podcast offers valuable insights to help you navigate your career journey. Join host Veronica Hislop as she speaks with experts from all corners of the food industry. From food scientists to farmers, plant managers to programmers, food safety technicians to skilled trades, supply chain managers to sales, we’ll explore a wide range of exciting careers. We’re here to celebrate food industry professionals and proudly say—That's a Food Job!
Show episodes
Bridging Academia and Industry with Nataly Lopez Baron, Manager of the Guelph Food Innovation Centre (GFIC) (#114)
Nataly Lopez Baron is the Manager of the Guelph Food Innovation Centre (GFIC), an applied research centre that partners with food businesses to transform challenges into practical solutions through research, product development, and pilot plant testing. Originally from Colombia, Nataly earned her undergraduate and mast
Delving into the Craft of Beer Making with Santiago Ampudia Vasquez, Brewer at Blackburn Brewhouse and Assistant Professor at Niagara College (#113)
Santiago Ampudia Vasquez is a brewer at Blackburn Brewhouse and Assistant Professor at Niagara College. Blackburn Brewhouse, based in Niagara Falls, produces a wide range of craft beers—from lagers and pale ales to specialty brews, seltzers, and ciders. Before brewing professionally, Santiago earned a Master’s in Scien
Exploring Opportunities in Food Science with Prairva (Summer) Plepalakon, UC Davis Food Science and Technology Graduate (#112)
Prairva Plepalakon, also known as “Summer,” is a recent Food Science and Technology graduate from the University of California, Davis, one of the most respected food science programs in the world. UC Davis has a big reputation in food science, pairing strong academic programs with deep industry and research networks.
Supporting People and Culture in Ag with Leslie Nienkark, HR Business Partner at KWS Group (#111)
Leslie Nienkark is an HR Business Partner at KWS Group, one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. KWS specializes in breeding and selling seed for crops like corn, sugar beet, cereals, rapeseed, sunflowers, and vegetables. Although Leslie hasn’t spent her entire career in agriculture, her HR experience spans
Inside Food Product Development with Louisa Bachman, Food Scientist at KIND Snacks (#110)
Louisa Bachman is a Food Scientist at KIND Snacks. KIND offers a range of products, including nut and fruit bars, breakfast bars, granola clusters, and refrigerated nut butter bars. Before joining KIND however, Louisa earned her Food Science degree at UMass Amherst, where she both led their school’s Food Science Club a
Inside Food Safety Leadership with Marin Pavlic, Director of QA Programs & Compliance at Sofina Food (#109)
Marin Pavlic is the Senior Director of QA Programs & Compliance at Sofina Foods and the current President of the Ontario Food Protection Association (OFPA). With over 15 years of experience in food manufacturing, Marin brings a deep understanding of food safety, team leadership, and regulatory compliance to his work—al