Lankan prof. gets New Zealand’s top food, science and technology award

The New Zealand Institute of Food Science & Technology (NZIFST) has presented the most prestigious J.C.Andrews Award to Prof. Conrad O. Perera of the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

The award recognises Institute members who have made a substantial contribution to science and technology and leadership in the food industry.

Prof Perera was presented with the award.at the NZIFST annual conference held in Hamilton NZ on July 4, 2018. He delivered the keynote address at the conference.

Prof. Perera followed a physical science degree at the then University of Ceylon (1968) after which he joined Lever Brothers Ltd as a chemist. Then he won a fellowship to study for a Master’s degree in Food Technology at the FAO Inter national Food Technology Training Centre at the Central Food Technological Research Institute ( CFTRI) in Mysore, India.

After working in Mozambique for an edible oil company for a short period, he left for the United States to complete a doctorate in Food Science at the Oregon State University. Later he was offered a professorship at the State University of Londrina in Brazil.

Prof Perera migrated to New Zealand in 1981, where he worked as technical manager for a leading food manufacturer, Hansells ( NZ) Ltd. This was followed by him joining the then Department of Scientific and Industrial Research ( DSIR), which is now referred to as Crown Research Institute.

In 2000, Prof Perera was offered a professorship at the National University of Singapore ( NUS) where he worked for five years and then returned to New Zealand to accept a similar position at the University of Auckland. He has served as the Director of the Food Science Programme in charge of undergraduate and graduate students including supervising several masters and doctoral candidates.

Prof Perera has won several awards including the NZ Ministerial Award, Winston Churchill Fellowship and now the J. C. Andrews Award, the most prestigious one offered by NZIFST.

He is married to Dr Anne Doloras Perera, a Sri Lankan and food and nutrition consultant and author. Prof. Conrad Perera began his schooling at St Mary’s School in Welivita and continued his studies at St Benedict’s College in Kotahena until he entered the university. He is the second in a family of five of the late Joseph F. Perera and the late. Mary Agnes Vilathgamuwa of Welivita.