Dr Barry McGookin is an innovation leader who identifies, develops and connects ideas, innovations and companies to food and beverage manufacturers to improve their competitiveness, market success and cost base.
For the past decade Barry has worked across the whole agri-food value network, working alongside companies and researchers with new ideas and scale up initiatives from seed-in-ground to waste-in-ground, and the support services in between. Through FIAL’s Project Fund he has supported more than 100 innovation projects resulting in over $110m of initial income, 28 new to world platforms, an additional 560 jobs and 35 businesses exporting for the first time.
He also brings first-hand experience in building capability from the ground up, having been part of a not-for-profit start up supporting business growth for Victorian food manufacturers.
Barry has a PhD in Food Science but is passionate about building capacity in people, our greatest asset.