Dr Chris Downs – Director Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA)

Dr Chris Downs joined the University of Queensland as FaBA Director on 4 January 2023. Previously, Chris was General Manager, Crop & Food Science at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in Brisbane. Prior to this, he was Research Director (Food Innovation) for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). As a member of the CSIRO Agriculture and Food Executive, Chris led the delivery of science and innovation underpinning the development and delivery of healthy, safe and sustainable foods, food ingredients and beverages for Australia’s food industry and global consumers. Chris has previously held executive positions in Food Science Australia, CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences, CSIRO Animal, Food and Health Sciences and at the New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research, where he has had responsibilities including; science leadership, organisational innovation strategy, government investment portfolio leadership, business development and commercialisation. He has previously held directorships in organisations involved in innovation and commercialisation in the food, seafood and biomaterials sectors. Chris is currently Director and Chair of the Institute for Food Technologists (IFT) in the USA, and a member of the advisory Board for High Value Nutrition which is one of New Zealand’s National Science Challenges.