Jane Lancaster Consultant
Jane has been active in R&D in New Zealand and internationally for 30 years. Jane specialises in commercial innovation in food, natural products and biotechnology.
Following a successful career in science and science management with what is now Plant and Food Research, Jane created Catalyst R&D® Ltd in 2000. Jane and Malcolm saw an opportunity for businesses to use science and technology more effectively to develop new products and services with higher value for their customers.
Jane worked with ZESPRI International for five years as Innovation Manager for New Cultivar Development. New cultivars are a key to ZESPRI and part of her role was to review and re-design their commercial and science tools to deliver successful commercial cultivars.
Jane has worked with many other businesses in reviewing their commercial goals and designing R&D programmes and projects to deliver on them. This has also involved accessing investment funding for the companies to support their R&D. Companies worked with include: Encoate a developer of innovative probiotic foods, Market NZ, a nutraceutical company, Sealord, ANZCO, Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC), Bomac - a developer, manufacturer and exporter of animal remedies.
Since 2005 Jane has consulted with Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) reviewing and designing product certification systems for NZ export industries. She has also consulted with and reviewed industry certification systems for Organic Products Exporters of New Zealand Inc and Bee Products Standards Council.
Her education was at Canterbury University (B.Sc. Hons Ist class) and she is a professional member and certified practicing agriculturalist (CPAg) with New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science and professional member of New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology.
Jane is currently a Board member on AsureQuality, New Zealand’s leading quality and food assurance company.
Jane was made a Member of the NZ Order of Merit (MNZM) in the Queens Birthday Honours 2006.
Jane is co-owner of a blackcurrant plantation. Her interests are gardening, cooking and sharing good food.