In October 2019 Hungry Jacks launched their Rebel Whopper - a burger using a plant based “meat” patty developed by v2food and CSIRO. Shortly after launch, v2food closed a $35 million series A investment round to build a global business.

Hear the development and commercialisation story behind this innovative product from key individuals involved.  Nick Hazell CEO of v2food and Nathan O’Callahan Director of CSIRO’s Precision Health Future Science Platform will talk about the background science and need for plant based meats and the next generation of products being developed between CSIRO and v2food.  The success of v2food has also been borne of a new innovation model for commercial collaboration, which Duncan Ferguson, CSIRO’s Director of Company Creation will explore in the context of the relationship between v2food, Hungry Jacks and the lead investors, and introduce how CSIRO is seeking to scale this model.

So why not order a Rebel Whopper from your favourite delivery app and munch along whilst listening to this fascinating story.

OUR SPEAKERS
Nick Hazell, CEO & Founder, v2food
Nick Hazell is an experienced food innovator, lecturer and consultant who is CEO and Founder of Australian startup v2food. Launched nationally in October 2019, v2food has developed plant-based meat, building on a close collaboration with CSIRO to create tasty, sustainable and healthy products. Nick holds a Master of Manufacturing from Cambridge University. He worked in aerospace and chocolate manufacturing before moving into research and development in the food industry, working at global multinationals in The Netherlands and Australia. He was R&D Director at Masterfoods and at Pepsi Co Australia and New Zealand, working on products like Grain Waves, Red Rock Deli, Sunbites and Smiths. He lectures in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation at UTS and has consulted to CSIRO and the meat industry.

Dr Nathan O’Callaghan – Lead, Precision Health Future Science Platform, CSIRO
Nathan currently leads CSIRO’s Precision Health Future Science Platform. Precision Health aspires to“Empower individuals to improve their lifelong health through: Enhanced knowledge, Customised health insights, and Optimised intervention strategies, Personalised health building plans…providing people with choices to act earlier.” A key aspect of this 5yr, $25M initiative, is to build new opportunities in Precision Health through detailed strategic consultation, collaboration and co-creation from across the health ecosystem.

Duncan Ferguson, Director, Company Creation, CSIRO Agriculture & Food
Duncan is currently Director of company creation with CSIRO agriculture and food, having primary responsibility for leading new venture deals in collaboration with corporate partners. He brings over 18 years of experience in industry and commercially focused research collaboration, investment, IP management, commercialisation and start-ups.  Duncan has held several start-up board roles and is currently a director of NutriV; board observer on v2food and Nourish; and formerly chair of Bioherbicides Australia. Duncan is the current LESANZ President.