JOINT CNJ & NY IFT DINNER MEETING
NYIFT Presents
The Pros & Cons of Using A.I.: How Artificial Intelligence Can Be Used
As A Tool For Product Development
Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Venue: Grain House Restaurant at Olde Mill Inn, 225 Morristown Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Time: Networking 5:00 – 6:00 pm | Panel 6:00 – 7:00 pm | Dinner 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Speakers: Moderator Dr. Mohamed Badaoui Najjar , Sr. Director – R&D Strategy & Portfolio Sector Food & Beverage at PepsiCo
Panel Speakers- Dr. James Yuan – Sr. Director – Data Science & Analytics at PepsiCo
Alexia Ciarfella – Product Manager at Capital One (former AI Sr. Product Developer for Mondelēz)
Vinay Indraganti – Founder, BCD iLabs (former Global VP, Digital Transformation and Strategy for Ingredion)
Fee: $55 Members | $60 Non-members | $30 Students, Retired & Unemployed
Transportation Policy for NYIFT Student Members
About the Speakers:
Moderator – Mohamed Badaoui Najjar, Ph.D.,
R&D Strategy & Portfolio Management Senior Director – PepsiCo
Dr. Mohamed Badaoui Najjar is the R&D Strategy & Portfolio Management Senior Director at PepsiCo. He partners with all international teams across food and beverage to setup the future R&D strategy as well as build the future of R&D across people, programs and assets.
Dr. Najjar has 14 years global industry experience in leading and shaping new platforms and strategies from ideation to launch. He is passionate about new innovation, trends, and understanding different generational consumer behaviors.
Dr. Najjar believes that motivated engaged and empowered people drive exceptional results. He is passionate about building high performing teams and mentoring of talent.
He is a professional Member of IFT. He believes in the critical role IFT plays in the future of our profession. He had been a volunteer for 17 years leading across sections, divisions, award jury and AMSPAP.
Dr. Najjar received his BS & MS from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon and his doctorate in food science from Rutgers University. He enjoys playing sports, exercise and fitness, the outdoors as well as experiencing new food & beverage innovation.
“AI in the food industry – a view across the product lifecycle”
Vinay Indraganti,
Founder & CEO – BCD iLabs
Mr. Indraganti has, over the course of his 24-year technology career, held multiple roles, from Chief Technology Officer to Global Practice Head and Solution Architect. He has co-founded three startups in the past with successful exits. Prior to founding BCD iLabs, Mr. Indraganti led the global Digital Organization at Ingredion Inc., a Fortune-500 food ingredient multinational corporation as their Global Vice President of Digital Transformation and Strategy focusing on R&D and Manufacturing transformation.
At BCD iLabs, he focuses his knowledge and expertise to improve food production yield at all stages of the food lifecycle, from food formulation, food manufacturing, food logistics and sustainable food production. At BCD iLabs, he is responsible for go-to-market and product development for these cutting-edge, AI-powered products and solutions for the Food & Beverage industry.
More information on the speakers and their topics to follow.