NUS FoodTech Challenge 2026
FORMULATE THE CHANGE
Meet The Finals Judges
Local Finals
Mr. Eric
Currently working in Kang Shi Fu as R&D Manager, Eric is leading a multidisciplinary team of 18 professionals across food regulatory affairs, food development, consumer insights, and quality assurance. He holds a degree in Food Science and Technology and a master’s degree in Safety, Health and Environment from the National University of Singapore (NUS). With over 20 years of experience in food production environments, he has developed food products and maintained/implemented HACCP systems in both SMEs and MNCs across the food industry.
R&D Manager
Kang Shi Fu
Dr. Balaji Balagurunathan
Senior Scientist
A*STAR SIngapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation
Senior Scientist with a PhD in Biotechnology and master’s in chemical engineering. Over two decades of experience in industrial biotechnology research and development. Proficient in managing interdisciplinary research projects with Industry and IHLs, extensive experience working in teams with researchers from diverse scientific backgrounds. Research focus area: Biotechnology solutions for Food Industry
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Alternative proteins (plant-based and microbial) and food ingredients
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Food and agro-industrial side stream valorization
-
Integrated bioprocess development (Microbial strain, fermentation and downstream process development)
-
Project Management and R&D Strategy Development
Dr. Vinayak Ghate
Lecturer
Department of Food Science & Technology, National University of Singapore
Dr. Vinayak Ghate is a Lecturer in the Department of Food Science & Technology at the National University of Singapore, where he teaches advanced courses in food engineering, processing, and colloidal science. His academic and professional work lies at the intersection of food safety, emerging processing technologies, and science education.
Dr. Ghate obtained his PhD in Food Science & Technology from NUS and has since built a strong research portfolio focused on innovative, non-thermal food preservation methods. His work on photodynamic inactivation and the use of visible light technologies has contributed to advancing chemical-free approaches to microbial control and shelf-life extension. He has published extensively in leading international journals and holds multiple patents in the area of light-based food preservation and disinfection technologies.
In addition to his academic role, Dr. Ghate is the Founder and Director of SafeLight Pte. Ltd., a technology venture developing continuous visible light disinfection systems for applications in food, healthcare, and built environments. His work bridges fundamental science with real-world implementation, reflecting a strong commitment to translational research and innovation.
Mr. Ryan David
Senior Tea Industry Researcher
APAC R&D CHAGEE
A researcher and innovator with deep roots across the beverage world, now channeling cross-category expertise into the science, culture, and formulation of tea.
Ryan David is the Senior Tea Industry Researcher at CHAGEE APAC, one of Asia's fastest-growing premium freshly-brewed tea brands and Nasdaq-listed global beverage company. He leads tea industry research across the APAC region — driving product innovation, beverage formulation, sensory evaluation, and tea brewing optimization at scale.
Ryan brings a rare combination of scientific rigour, cross-category beverage expertise, and commercial sensibility. He has been featured on Singapore's Class 95 (Muttons in the Morning) as a voice on modern tea culture and R&D, and has lectured at NUS's Department of Food Science and Technology on the art and science of tea production.
An alumnus of the National University of Singapore Food Science & Technology Department, Ryan is currently pursuing an industrial part-time PhD at NUS, with clinical research focused on the postprandial effects of tea polyphenols on human glycaemic response — work that sits at the intersection of beverage science, nutrition, and metabolic health.
His credentials span the full breadth of the beverage world:
· Tea Master — International Tea Education Institute
· Diploma in Tea Blending — Australian Tea Masters
· WSET Level 3 Award in Sake — Wine & Spirit Education Trust
· WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits — Wine & Spirit Education Trust
· WSET Level 2 Award in Wines — Wine & Spirit Education Trust
· Chinese Baijiu Certificate — CBC 中国白酒认证体系
· BarSmarts Professional — Pernod Ricard
Ms. Liyan Huang
Senior Sport Dietitian and Team Lead for Sport Nutrition
High
Performance Sport Institute (HPSI)
Liyan Huang is a Senior Sport Dietitian and Team Lead for Sport Nutrition at the High Performance Sport Institute (HPSI), where she has been providing evidence-based nutritional support to national athletes since 2012. In her role, Liyan works closely with athletes across a range of sports to deliver tailored nutritional advice, field assessments such as hydration testing and skinfold measurements, and nutrition workshops and cooking classes for teams, coaches, and athletes' families. She currently oversees sport science support for aesthetics and artistic sports and serves as the lead sport scientist for table tennis.
Liyan completed her undergraduate studies in Food Science and Technology at the National University of Singapore before pursuing a Masters of Nutrition and Dietetics at Flinders University of South Australia. She began her career at DSO National Laboratories, where she developed expertise in military and sports nutrition and exercise physiology. She has since furthered her qualifications through a sports dietetics course organised by Sports Dietitians Australia and holds the International Olympic Committee Diploma in Sports Nutrition. Liyan is also actively involved in research, having published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences across Asia and Europe.
Ms. Iap Bee Hong
Bakery & Sweet Solution Lead
ofi CSC Singapore
Bee Hong is the Bakery & Sweet Solution Lead at ofi CSC Singapore with over 20 years of experience in bakery, ingredient applications, and food product
development.
She has worked across the Asia-Pacific region supporting innovation and commercialization of bakery and sweet solutions. Bee Hong holds a Bachelor of Technology (Hons) in Food Technology from Universiti Sains Malaysia and is passionate about nurturing future food innovators.
Mr. Evan Kee Wee Boon
Category Manager, Chocolate and Confectionery
ofi CSC Singapore
• Experience: 13 years in the food industry.
• Specialization: Specialty oils & fats, cocoa ingredients, chocolate and compound chocolate.
• Focus Areas: Product innovation/development, creating solutions based on market trends and consumer demands.
• Proven Track Record: Commercialized products
in Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Oceania.
• Customer Interaction: Worked with regional/global key accounts to enhance product pipelines, solve problems, and support growth in emerging markets.
• Interests: Mentoring, engaging with the younger
generation to understand their views on product development/innovation, and inspiring future food technologists.
Evan is an experienced food technologist with a strong background in specific ingredients and product development, a history of successful commercialization in key Asian/Oceanian markets, and a passion for mentoring the next generation in the field.
Ms. Chang Li Ying, Hannah
15 years in Dairy Specialty Ingredients industry. Expertise in product development, commercialization and functional dairy application
and dairy processing.
Solution Lead, Dairy and Beverages
ofi CSC Singapore
Ms. Chong Nyet Chin
Director, Food Safety & Compliance Management
FairPrice
(enclosed)
Dr. Gan Heng Hui
Founder, Principal Consultant
Kairos Integrated Food Solutions
Dr. Gan Heng Hui is a distinguished food scientist and industry veteran with over 25 years of experience in food safety, quality management, and innovation. Currently the Founder and Director of Kairos Integrated Food Solutions, she bridges the gap between scientific research and commercial application, specializing in process optimization, shelf-life extension, and the development of functional foods for the elderly.
Prior to her consultancy work, Dr. Gan spent over 15 years at Nanyang Polytechnic, where she led ISO-17025 accredited food safety teams and spearheaded industry-collaborative projects. Her extensive background includes serving as an ISO 22000 Lead Auditor and a technical advisor to the Singapore Manufacturing Federation. A recognized expert in food safety systems and product development, she has guided numerous industry-funded initiatives in alternative proteins and nutrition. Dr. Gan’s commitment to advancing food science standards—evidenced by her roles in national standards committees and her academic contributions, bringing deep technical rigor and commercial perspective to the next generation of food innovators.
International Finals
Mr. Eric
Currently working in Kang Shi Fu as R&D Manager, Eric is leading a multidisciplinary team of 18 professionals across food regulatory affairs, food development, consumer insights, and quality assurance. He holds a degree in Food Science and Technology and a master’s degree in Safety, Health and Environment from the National University of Singapore (NUS). With over 20 years of experience in food production environments, he has developed food products and maintained/implemented HACCP systems in both SMEs and MNCs across the food industry.
R&D Manager
Kang Shi Fu
Dr. Balaji Balagurunathan
Senior Scientist
A*STAR SIngapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation
Senior Scientist with a PhD in Biotechnology and master’s in chemical engineering. Over two decades of experience in industrial biotechnology research and development. Proficient in managing interdisciplinary research projects with Industry and IHLs, extensive experience working in teams with researchers from diverse scientific backgrounds. Research focus area: Biotechnology solutions for Food Industry
-
Alternative proteins (plant-based and microbial) and food ingredients
-
Food and agro-industrial side stream valorization
-
Integrated bioprocess development (Microbial strain, fermentation and downstream process development)
-
Project Management and R&D Strategy Development
Dr. Vinayak Ghate
Lecturer
Department of Food Science & Technology, National University of Singapore
Dr. Vinayak Ghate is a Lecturer in the Department of Food Science & Technology at the National University of Singapore, where he teaches advanced courses in food engineering, processing, and colloidal science. His academic and professional work lies at the intersection of food safety, emerging processing technologies, and science education.
Dr. Ghate obtained his PhD in Food Science & Technology from NUS and has since built a strong research portfolio focused on innovative, non-thermal food preservation methods. His work on photodynamic inactivation and the use of visible light technologies has contributed to advancing chemical-free approaches to microbial control and shelf-life extension. He has published extensively in leading international journals and holds multiple patents in the area of light-based food preservation and disinfection technologies.
In addition to his academic role, Dr. Ghate is the Founder and Director of SafeLight Pte. Ltd., a technology venture developing continuous visible light disinfection systems for applications in food, healthcare, and built environments. His work bridges fundamental science with real-world implementation, reflecting a strong commitment to translational research and innovation.
Mr. Ryan David
Senior Tea Industry Researcher
APAC R&D CHAGEE
A researcher and innovator with deep roots across the beverage world, now channeling cross-category expertise into the science, culture, and formulation of tea.
Ryan David is the Senior Tea Industry Researcher at CHAGEE APAC, one of Asia's fastest-growing premium freshly-brewed tea brands and Nasdaq-listed global beverage company. He leads tea industry research across the APAC region — driving product innovation, beverage formulation, sensory evaluation, and tea brewing optimization at scale.
Ryan brings a rare combination of scientific rigour, cross-category beverage expertise, and commercial sensibility. He has been featured on Singapore's Class 95 (Muttons in the Morning) as a voice on modern tea culture and R&D, and has lectured at NUS's Department of Food Science and Technology on the art and science of tea production.
An alumnus of the National University of Singapore Food Science & Technology Department, Ryan is currently pursuing an industrial part-time PhD at NUS, with clinical research focused on the postprandial effects of tea polyphenols on human glycaemic response — work that sits at the intersection of beverage science, nutrition, and metabolic health.
His credentials span the full breadth of the beverage world:
· Tea Master — International Tea Education Institute
· Diploma in Tea Blending — Australian Tea Masters
· WSET Level 3 Award in Sake — Wine & Spirit Education Trust
· WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits — Wine & Spirit Education Trust
· WSET Level 2 Award in Wines — Wine & Spirit Education Trust
· Chinese Baijiu Certificate — CBC 中国白酒认证体系
· BarSmarts Professional — Pernod Ricard
Ms. Iap Bee Hong
Bakery & Sweet Solution Lead
ofi CSC Singapore
Bee Hong is the Bakery & Sweet Solution Lead at ofi CSC Singapore with over 20 years of experience in bakery, ingredient applications, and food product
development.
She has worked across the Asia-Pacific region supporting innovation and commercialization of bakery and sweet solutions. Bee Hong holds a Bachelor of Technology (Hons) in Food Technology from Universiti Sains Malaysia and is passionate about nurturing future food innovators.
Mr. Evan Kee Wee Boon
Category Manager, Chocolate and Confectionery
ofi CSC Singapore
• Experience: 13 years in the food industry.
• Specialization: Specialty oils & fats, cocoa ingredients, chocolate and compound chocolate.
• Focus Areas: Product innovation/development, creating solutions based on market trends and consumer demands.
• Proven Track Record: Commercialized products
in Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Oceania.
• Customer Interaction: Worked with regional/global key accounts to enhance product pipelines, solve problems, and support growth in emerging markets.
• Interests: Mentoring, engaging with the younger
generation to understand their views on product development/innovation, and inspiring future food technologists.
Evan is an experienced food technologist with a strong background in specific ingredients and product development, a history of successful commercialization in key Asian/Oceanian markets, and a passion for mentoring the next generation in the field.
Ms. Chang Li Ying, Hannah
15 years in Dairy Specialty Ingredients industry. Expertise in product development, commercialization and functional dairy application
and dairy processing.
Solution Lead, Dairy and Beverages
ofi CSC Singapore
Dr. Gan Heng Hui
Founder, Principal Consultant
Kairos Integrated Food Solutions
Dr. Gan Heng Hui is a distinguished food scientist and industry veteran with over 25 years of experience in food safety, quality management, and innovation. Currently the Founder and Director of Kairos Integrated Food Solutions, she bridges the gap between scientific research and commercial application, specializing in process optimization, shelf-life extension, and the development of functional foods for the elderly.
Prior to her consultancy work, Dr. Gan spent over 15 years at Nanyang Polytechnic, where she led ISO-17025 accredited food safety teams and spearheaded industry-collaborative projects. Her extensive background includes serving as an ISO 22000 Lead Auditor and a technical advisor to the Singapore Manufacturing Federation. A recognized expert in food safety systems and product development, she has guided numerous industry-funded initiatives in alternative proteins and nutrition. Dr. Gan’s commitment to advancing food science standards—evidenced by her roles in national standards committees and her academic contributions, bringing deep technical rigor and commercial perspective to the next generation of food innovators.