Roberta has over 20 years’ Food and Drink experience across academia, industry and government. In her current role as Director of Cambridge Food Science, she provides expert support and knowledge to the global food and beverage sector with market relevant practical solutions throughout a product’s lifecycle, solving scientific, nutrition and regulatory challenges. Roberta now brings these skills, into her role as Food and Drink Investment Specialist, to the Department for Business and Trade.

In this role she supports Food and Drink businesses, navigate through the regulatory framework, as well as identify centres of expertise to facilitate market entry and expansion into the UK. She supports engagement among stakeholders and facilitates business networks through identifying contacts within Government agencies and Governments departments.

Roberta graduated with a Doctorate in Pharmacy in Italy, then moved to the University of California, Berkeley, and obtained her PhD in Biochemistry from Kings College London before joining the Medical Research Council Human Nutrition Research Unit (MRC HNR) in Cambridge. After several years in the academic research environment, Roberta then moved to Leatherhead Food Research in 2007 where she managed the Human Nutrition Research Unit providing scientific support to the global food and beverage industry for health claim substantiation. In 2015 Roberta became Director General of the World Sugar Research Organisation (WSRO). She was awarded an MBA from the University of Sussex at the beginning of 2015 and she is a Mentor for Accelerate Cambridge Entrepreneurship Centre at Cambridge Judge Business School.