Chrystal Yam

Nutritionist - Simplot Australia

2007

Course you completed:

Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in food science and nutrition (honours)

Organisation that you are currently working for:

Simplot Australia

How long have you been working for this organisation?

3 years

Position title and short job description:

Nutritionist -  I work to advance, apply and promote the understanding of food, nutrition and dietetics. I aid in driving internal health and wellbeing initiatives, aiming to build and facilitate relationships with key health and nutrition industry bodies. Duties include:

• assistance in packaging approval,
• monitoring health claims,
• assisting in product development projects,
• involvement in nutrition related materials (newsletters, brochures, websites, fact sheets), and
• assisting reviews of current product to substantiate nutrition information and claims.

Working highlight so far:

Seeing the launch of products which I have spent hours working on, on supermarket shelves!

What are the things you enjoy most about your job?

I get to interact with multiple divisions within the company from marketing and product development to procurement and packaging. There are always different projects happening which help keep my role interesting.

An area in which you have needed assistance:

Marketing and accounting.

What do you intend to do in the future?

Continue working within the food industry, however I am interested in furthering my studies in public health nutrition or research.

#1 tip for current students studying your course:

Get a good understanding of how the food industry works, and get in as much work experience as you can!