Empowering the Strategic Voice of Food Safety Culture
Aotearoa Food Safety Culture (FSC) Champions Community of Practice
This page recognises the critical role of the Food Safety Culture Champion as a strategic enabler within Aotearoa’s food industry. While many individuals contribute to daily safety, this space is dedicated to those who influence long-term mindsets and organisational conditions. We move beyond what we do to why we do it, providing a collective voice to reduce professional isolation and build a stable, behaviour-led safety culture across the entire team.
Those Who Strengthen the Work
Our research is strengthened through the support of organisations, industry collaborators, and national partners who share a commitment to advancing food safety culture. These relationships provide practical insight and help ensure that our work remains grounded in real-world practice.
Through ongoing collaboration, our supporters contribute valuable perspective, connection, and context, helping to sustain meaningful research and practical impact across the wider food system.
How the Lab and the Champions CoP Work Together
The Food Safety Culture Lab and the Aotearoa Food Safety Culture Champions CoP are two distinct but closely aligned initiatives. Together, they connect research and practice to support meaningful culture change across the food industry.
Industry Co-Design & Network
Aotearoa Food Safety Culture Champions
This forthcoming national network will be our Lab’s primary bridge to the New Zealand food industry. Rather than a one-way information stream, we view this network as a collaborative engine where research meets real-world practice.
Co-Innovation: We use the network as a source of inspiration to co-develop research projects that solve actual industry "pain points".
Peer-to-Peer Knowledge: The network is designed to reduce professional isolation for those tasked with cultural change, providing a space to share challenges and co-create "what works" solutions.
A National Hub: Once launched, the network will be hosted on the NZFSSRC platform and will feature New Zealand-specific case studies and practical tools developed by our research group.
An initiative of the University of Otago, in partnership with NZFSSRC and Food Surety Limited.