With nearly 30 years of professional experience, Dr Vazgeçer is a recognized expert in international food safety. Her career spans both public authority and academia, providing her with a unique dual perspective that integrates scientific rigor with practical regulatory implementation. She has played an active role in shaping global food standards and contributing to international food safety policies.
Her core areas of expertise include food safety systems, regulatory harmonization, risk assessment, and risk management, with a particular emphasis on Codex standards and their role in international trade. Throughout her career, she has collaborated closely with leading international organizations, including the European Commission (DG SANTE), FAO, WHO, CNFA, and EFSA.
Dr Vazgeçer began her professional career as a Food Engineer and Research Assistant at Hacettepe University in Ankara, where she worked from 1996 to 2004. She holds both a Master’s and a PhD in Food Engineering from Hacettepe University, Ankara in Türkiye. Her Master’s degree specialized in food microbiology, with research focusing on the effects of different gamma irradiation doses on microbiological quality and aflatoxin formation in spices. Her doctoral research focused on improving and modifying traditional methods for pathogen isolation, including the selective elimination of competing (predictive) microorganisms using antibiotics, as well as enhancements to biochemical test assays for more accurate differentiation of Salmonella serotypes from predictive microorganisms.
Clive is Editor‑in‑Chief of the journals Animals and Animal Behaviour and Welfare Cases, and oversees the Animal Welfare and Ethics book series published by Springer and CABI. His interview series with leading experts in livestock production, “Conversations with Clive”, explores the complex social, environmental, and economic issues shaping livestock production in developing countries.
In 2012, he received the Australian Museum’s Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to the Protection of Animals, and in 2025 he was named Australia’s top veterinary medicine scientist and one of Australia’s top 250 scientists by The Australian, the country’s national newspaper.
Richard has been a trusted advisor to government agencies and standards councils, playing pivotal roles in ISO 17025 accreditation, CODEX representation, and the development of food safety standards. His career includes leadership at Nanyang Polytechnic, where he directed the Food Safety Centre and industry innovation clusters, and at ALS Technichem, overseeing GMP testing facilities and QA systems.
Dr Khaw’s contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including an Honorary Doctorate in Food Safety & Food Science (2025), the Singapore Standards Council Commendation Award (2022), and multiple distinctions from the Singapore Accreditation Council. Passionate about advancing sciencedriven governance, Richard continues to mentor emerging professionals, strengthen ASEAN collaboration, and advocate for innovation in food safety and regulatory defensibility.