Dr Rachel Ward has more than 25 years’ experience in international strategy and standards for the food chain, covering emerging issues, contaminants and residues, food allergens, labelling and claims to ensure effective consumer risk protection and robust regulatory compliance.

Rachel has BSc (Hons) in Applied Biochemistry, a PhD from Nottingham University in in vitro skin toxicology models, and a wide experience in regulatory affairs and quality assurance. She was the lead risk manager for PepsiCo Europe on food, promotional toys and novel ingredients, worked as a freelance independent consultant for 10 years on various food and food supplements risk management, regulatory, QA and supply chain projects for SME, larger manufacturers and UK retailers and was Scientific Policy Director for the Institute for Food Science and Technology for 2 years before joining Exponent International in 2021.

Exponent is a multi-disciplinary engineering and scientific consulting firm that brings together more than 90 different disciplines to solve important engineering, science, regulatory, and business issues facing our clients. We have offices in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany and throughout the USA and Asia.

Our Chemical Safety and Food group at Exponent International has in-depth scientific capability in nutrition, dietary exposure, food safety and toxicology, quality assurance and risk management in food supply chains and significant food and food contact material regulatory expertise. We routinely provide regulatory and risk management support and advice, both pre-market and post-market for chemical substances, food and feed additives, ingredients, food products and supplements as well as food contact materials.