About SIFT & Our Team

Discover the driving force behind WA's food innovation.

Building on our foundation as “The Gateway to Innovation”, SIFT continues to be a pivotal force in nurturing the growth and evolution of Western Australia’s food sector.

The facility stands as a beacon for startups and established enterprises alike, offering not just access to cutting-edge facilities but a community where ideas are nurtured, tested, and brought to fruition.

Our mission extends beyond providing resources; we’re here to guide you through the intricacies of product development and market introduction, ensuring your venture not only succeeds but sets new benchmarks in the food and beverage industry.

The SIFT Project is delivered for the Future Food Systems CRC, by Murdoch University, who see the benefits and synergies it will provide to it’s Food technology program. 

At the co-located Murdoch Food Centre, courses are provided for postgraduate studies in Food Technology, and a number of food research programs are being commenced.

Some of the companies using SIFT are expected to take the opportunity of researching their products with Murdoch researchers, and collaborating with other partners in the Future Food Systems CRC. A program to attract internationally renowned scientists to work in the Murdoch Food Centre is underway.

However SIFT is a Technology Centre, and a good definition of Technology in the context of food businesses, is the Application of Science to Industry.
In other words, we will apply known solutions to your food production, quality, engineering and innovation goals and plans. Science is a broad field, and research is considered to be best implemented in an industry focused technology center such as SIFT.

Meet the Experts Behind SIFT

At the core of SIFT’s mission is a commitment to fostering sustainable growth and innovation within the food and beverage sector.

Our unique collaboration with leading institutions and industry experts provides startups and established businesses with access to comprehensive resources, expert mentoring, and advanced technologies. From concept development to commercialization, SIFT is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs through every step of their journey, ensuring their projects are not just viable but thrive in competitive markets.

Stuart Johnson

Managing Director
With a rich history in food manufacturing, Stuart leads SIFT with a focus on innovation, product development, and scaling businesses for market success.

Stuart Johnson

With a career deeply rooted in technology in food manufacturing sectors across Australia, Stuart Johnson brings vast experience to the team. Stuart embarked on his food industry journey with Peters Foods Group, at a time when it had diverse operations in Western Australia, including fresh milk (Brownes), bakery goods, frozen vegetables, ice cream, and fresh poultry.

Throughout his career, Stuart has led dynamic teams that have successfully developed and launched over a thousand new products to markets in Australasia and Southeast Asia. His leadership extends beyond product development, having managed significant capital works across a variety of sectors including fruit, vegetable, meat, dairy, and ready-to-eat meals.

Before joining us at SIFT, Stuart held the position of General Manager at Vesco Foods. There, he oversaw a diverse team responsible for innovation, quality assurance, capital engineering, and purchasing. With Stuart now spearheading our facility, we are set to embark on a journey of technological advancement and innovation in food manufacturing.

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Cat McDaid

Food Quality Assurance
Catherine brings extensive experience in quality assurance, driving SIFT’s commitment to excellence and compliance in food technology and innovation.

Catherine McDaid

Catherine McDaid, our esteemed Quality Assurance Manager, brings a wealth of expertise to the table. With a rich background in quality assurance across the food manufacturing landscape of Europe and Australia, Catherine’s journey began at Moy Park, one of Europe’s premier poultry producers. Her career path has seen her make significant contributions to high-growth sectors, including ready-to-eat salads and frozen meals.

Catherine has been at the forefront of guiding quality sensory teams to successfully launch hundreds of new products and quality standards for existing offerings. At the heart of our operations, Catherine's role is pivotal in ensuring our commitment to excellence in food technology and innovation.

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Mark Holycross

Food Engineering
Specializing in engineering and manufacturing, Mark applies his expertise to enhance SIFT's operational efficiency and product innovation capabilities.

Mark Holycross

SIFT’s Food Engineer Mark Holycross, has had a significant career in Engineering and Manufacturing. Mark's journey began during his undergraduate studies, solving problems relating to sub-irrigation, and developing a tunnel sprayer designed to revolutionise care for dwarf orchard fruit trees.

Upon completing his university education, Mark delved into agricultural electrification research, sharing his knowledge and expertise by training the next generation of agricultural engineers. Following this, Mark worked on control and automation projects with the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University.

Mark's return to Australia led him to build factories and design and install production lines for various companies. Before bringing his vast experience to SIFT, Mark served as Senior Project Engineer with Patties Food Group.

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We acknowledge that Murdoch University is situated on the lands of the Whadjuk and Binjareb Noongar people. We pay our respects to their enduring and dynamic culture and the leadership of Noongar elders past and present. The boodjar (country) on which Murdoch University is located has, for thousands of years, been a place of learning. We at Murdoch University are proud to continue this long tradition. Find out more about our commitment to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

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