Dr Bhavnita Patel is a Sector Lead for AgriFood at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), supporting food and drink manufacturers to adopt technologies that improve productivity, efficiency and growth. Before joining MTC, she spent over a decade in R&D roles with leading manufacturers including Mondelez International and PepsiCo. Drawing on both her industry experience and MTC's independent, technology-agnostic approach, Bhavnita works with businesses to evaluate opportunities, de-risk investment decisions and turn innovation into practical commercial outcomes.

Iain Mortimer is Group Technical Manager at apetito and brings more than 30 years of experience in food safety, quality assurance, and technical compliance across a broad range of food manufacturing sectors.

Throughout a distinguished career, Iain has worked extensively with industry associations, third-party certification bodies, the Food Standards Agency, and DEFRA, contributing to the development of guidance, standards, and regulatory frameworks on a variety of food safety and quality topics. Recognised as a respected technical leader, Iain is passionate about driving continuous improvement and delivering excellence in food safety, quality, and compliance.

Alongside extensive professional expertise, Iain offers a personal perspective on food hypersensitivity management through supporting three daughters with coeliac disease. This combination of industry leadership and lived experience provides a unique insight into the importance of robust food safety systems and consumer trust.

For Iain, advancing food safety and quality is more than a professional responsibility—it is a long-standing commitment and passion.

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