Now in its 12th year and growing with each iteration, the awards honor the best and brightest in the industry with a panel of professionals driving each round with their valuable time, expertise, and passion.
Our Judges
Jens Bleiel, Director, Bleiel Food Innovation Consulting
Bleiel is an innovation consultant and co-founder of AnaBio Technologies and of BioEnz Technologies. Previous roles include Vice President Metabolic Health Solutions at DSM and CEO for Food for Health Ireland. Since 2018, Bleiel has mentored for Enterprise Ireland, advising food innovation and technology companies.
Sybille Buchwald-Werner, CEO and founder, Newday
An independent board director, entrepreneur and scientist with over 20 years of experience in the health, life-science and natural products industries, Dr. Buchwald-Wernerbuilt and exited a global health innovation company and now advises organizations on strategy, innovation, governance and international growth.
Philip Calder, Professor of Nutritional Immunology, University of Southampton
An internationally-recognized researcher on nutritional immunology and the metabolism and functionality of fatty acids.
Hamish Clarke, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director at Klynk Ventures
Clarke helps brands grow by providing agile ideas, solutions and products that add true value, contributing over 20 years of experience in category, shopper and brand marketing.
Patrick Coppens, Director Regulatory & Scientific Affairs, Food Supplements Europe,
Representing the interests of the European food supplement sector, Coppens heads the association’s work in the areas of food law and science.
Grégory Dubourg, Founder & CEO, Nutrikéo
After 10 years in marketing and innovation across the food and nutraceutical industries, Dubourg founded Nutrikéo in 2009, a consultancy specialized in nutrition strategy. Since January 2025, he has served as CEO of Nutrikéo and ProtéinesXTC, an independent European leader in food and nutrition strategy consulting.
Mark Evans, Senior Scientist, Holland & Barrett
With experience as a university lecturer and performance nutritionist, Dr. Evans has published peer-reviewed work on ingredients including exogenous ketones, beetroot juice and caffeinated chewing gum, presenting internationally on their effects on human performance.
Joerg Gruenwald, Founder, analyze & realize
Dr. Gruenwald has worked as advisor to the Office of Dietary Supplements at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, was chairman of the American Herbal Products Association’s International Committee and member of the Council for Responsible Nutrition’s Botanical/Quality Standards Committee. He is board member of the American Botanical Council and editor and editorial board member of seven scientific journals.
Jennifer Julian, Chief Operating Officer, GenM
With more than 20 years of experience in commercial and marketing leadership, Julian has extensive experience of new product development within nutritional supplements and a proven track record in global channel expansion, high-impact marketing and building high-performing teams.
Antonio Martinez Descalzo, Founder & CEO, Niche Bioventures
Also working as Chief Growth Officer at Novella Innovative Technology, Descalzo is a biotechnology and microbiome innovation leader with more than 15 years of experience shaping next-gen, biotech-derived ingredients. He has led businesses at ADM and Biosearch Life and served on the Board of the International Probiotics Association.
Dan Richardson, Performance Nutritionist and Consultant, DRN Nutrition
Specializing in youth-to-elite athlete development, Richardson leads Academy Nutrition within professional football while supporting athletes across multiple disciplines. He also educates on food-first, evidence-led strategies to enhance fuelling, recovery, and long-term athlete habits.
Kieran Rae, Scientific Director, Atlantia Clinical Trials
With education spanning biochemistry, neuropharmacology and neuropharmacology and more than 20 years academic experience, Dr. Rae brings extensive experience in mood, pain, microbiome, dietary supplements, clinical studies, the immune system and more.
Sergej Ostojic, University Professor, University of Pecs (Hungary) and University of Agder (Norway)
Dr. Ostojic is a physician and nutrition scientist who has authored more than 350 scientific publications, led multiple international clinical trials and contributed to advancing understanding of conditionally essential nutrients across the lifespan. He is founding editor-in-chief of Clinical Bioenergetics and actively collaborates with industry partners to translate science into nutrition solutions.
Steve Osborn, Director, Technology Scout, The Aurora Ceres Partnership
Having graduated as an analytical chemist and completed a research master’s on Maillard reaction flavors, Osborn held commercial and technical roles with Nestlé, Northern Foods, Ashbury Confectionery and Leatherhead Food Research. He founded The Aurora Ceres Partnership Ltd to support sustainable food and beverage innovation.
Siobhain O’Mahony, Professor, University College Cork
A global leader in neurobiology and women’s health, renowned for pioneering research on the gut microbiome and its influence on brain function. Dr. O’Mahony is developing a clinically validated precision supplement for peri/menopause and leads UCC’s Women’s Health Research and Innovation Group.
Gaia Scalabrino, Executive Director & Life Science Advisor, NatPro Centre, Trinity College Dublin
Dr. Scalabrino brings a Ph.D. in natural products organic chemistry and extensive experience in strategy, operations and programme management. She is board member of The Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Products Research and member of the Irish Bioeconomy Forum Steering Group.
Wilbert Sybesma, Owner/Founder, Microbiome Solutions
Sybesma boasts 25 years of experience in nutrition, health and innovation across both industry and academia. He is co-founder of the Yoba for Life Foundation and has co-authored more than 75 scientific publications in peer reviewed journals. He also founded Microbiome Solutions to support microbiome innovation.
Miguel Toribio-Mateas, Clinical Neuroscientist, Cardiff University
A clinical neuroscientist and nutrition researcher specializing in the gut–brain axis and nutritional psychiatry, he has led multiple nutrition R&D and formulation projects across industry and academia and brings two decades of experience translating complex science into practical, evidence-based solutions.
Gulrez Zairwala, Director, Centre for Nutraceuticals, University of Westminster
Gulrez is a professor of translational physiology with research expertise spanning formulation science, metabolism, neurodegeneration and sports nutrition. He collaborates with industry partners worldwide and has led the clinical validation of multiple nutraceutical products, with 75+ published research articles.
NutraIngredients’ internal judges include: Ewa Hudson, director of insights, Stephen Daniells, editor-in-chief, Nikki Hancocks, editor and Olivia Haslam, deputy editor.
Want these authorities to see your work? The closing date for award entries is Jan. 26, with finalists to be announced on March 25, and winners announced at an awards evening in Barcelona on May 6.
To learn more, or to apply, visit the NutraIngredients Awards website here.
