The Earle Travel Fellowships in Technology

The Earle Travel Fellowships are for the support and encouragement of young food technologists and professional engineers so that their knowledge and skills can be increased by an overseas experience from which they will return with enhanced ability to improve technology in New Zealand. The development of creativity, and the generation of new product or process ideas for practical application, are important elements in the concept of the Fellowships.

The Fellow will study or gain practical experience overseas in either:

• Product development and innovation management, or
• Process development in bioprocessing or food processing
  

In 2007, one Fellowship of up to $10,000 will be awarded; (the amount may be increased to $15,000 under special circumstances). The Fellowship is tenable with other awards, but account will be taken of the aggregate circumstances of the individual and of the desirability of using available funds to best advantage. The Fellow will be overseas for a maximum of three months within twelve months of the Fellowship being awarded. They must agree to return to New Zealand and work for at least one year in New Zealand.

The applicants must be under 40 years of age, and employed in one of New Zealand's technological industries (products or services), or an associated research organisation, and New Zealand citizens or permanent residents with at least three years proven residence in New Zealand immediately preceding the year of selection. Applicants must be Professional members of either the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) or the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ).

In considering each Fellowship application, the Fellowship Committee shall take into account: practical relevance of the proposed trip to New Zealand technological industries (products or services); possible outcomes of the trip for innovative technologies and exports; company's/research organisation's support for the trip; ability and previous experience of the candidate; creativity and innovative ability shown by the candidate.

Previous Winners

John Rutland - Technical Account Manager

John Rutland MNZIFST has been awarded the 2007 Earle Travel Fellowship. John works at Orica Chemnet as Technical Account Manager for dairy, food and beverage customers. The company supplies process cleaning technologies, food ingredients, water treatment and a variety of industrial chemicals. He advises solutions and troubleshoots problems in the plant, particularly safety, health and environmental issues.

John has degrees in chemistry, and chemical and process engineering, and before moving to his present position, worked for Heineken DB Breweries. He has a diploma of brewing from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (UK), and is continuing his interest in brewing by helping Richard Archer from Massey University’s Institute of Food, Health and Nutrition to build a pilot plant brewery for teaching and research.

He is going on a two-week brewing study tour in Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic with the World Brewing Academy of Chicago. He will visit some of Europe’s largest breweries, brewing-industry suppliers and brewing research organisations. He plans to increase his knowledge and understanding of brewery technology (equipment and suppliers) emanating from Europe. He also hopes to visit the Brewing Research Institute and other brewing organisations in Britain.

Neil Betteridge - Process Engineer

The 2006 recipient of the Earle Travel Fellowship in Technology was process engineer Neil Betteridge MIPENZ, CPEng. Neil used the Fellowship to travel to the United States where he explored innovation associated with both ethanol and caseinate production by attending a fuel ethanol workshop and visiting a milk protein manufacturing plant.

Neil graduated with a BE(Hons) from the University of Canterbury and then completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Dairy Technology at Massey University. Since graduating, he has been employed by Fonterra Co-operative Group for nearly nine years in a variety of roles including plant operator, project engineer and maintenance co-ordinator. Currently Neil is Plant Manager, Protein and Ethanol, at the Reporoa factory.

Attending the 22nd Annual International Workshop and Expo enabled Neil to listen to and interact with internationally recognised and experienced ethanol industry personnel, and discuss innovations in ethanol from a wide variety of stocks. In addition, the last day included a visit to a state-of-the-art ethanol plant. Neil learned more about yeast types, efficiencies and reuse rates, as well as energy conservation. Another major objective was to develop some expertise in the fuel ethanol market, exploring the learnings companies have had in developing and entering new markets. Neil’s goal was to return to New Zealand and develop a business case to expand Fonterra’s ethanol producing capacity and help to drive the biofuel industry into a reality.  

Since returning to NZ, the fuel ethanol market in NZ has opened up and Fonterra is currently finalising several options to supply that local market