Sonia grew up with a family passionate about crafting quality food products from scratch, such as homemade bakery products and desserts. Sonia was fascinated with not just the techniques of cooking; but the values of craftsmanship, dedication, and the transformative power of food. She embarked on an educational journey that would blend her love for science with her passion for baking. Choosing to study Chemical Engineering, she focused her academic pursuits on the intricacies of the food industry. It wasn't just a major; it was a deliberate choice to bridge the world of science with the artistry of food creation, to understand the alchemy behind every recipe and process, and to contribute to a field that had been an integral part of her upbringing.

Looking back on her 25-year career, she held critical roles at renowned companies such as Yum! Restaurants International, Pepperidge Farm, and Furlani Foods. As the Quality Assurance/R&D Director at Furlani Foods, she spearheaded the management of QA and sanitation departments. Her role involved the development and maintenance of technical procedures and systems for continuous improvement, including the establishment of HACCP prerequisites, recall policies, and employee training.

Moving forward, as Ingredient Technology Manager at Pepperidge Farm, Sonia monitored food supply quality and safety for six plants and facilitated collaboration between Pepperidge Farm and Campbell Soup Company to optimize suppliers and ingredients across all plants. Notably, she supported the Strategic Saving Initiative Program, demonstrating her commitment to cost-effective yet high-quality solutions.

As Quality Assurance Manager at Yum!, Sonia played a key role in ensuring the supply of wholesome ingredients to 1300 restaurants across Canada. Her responsibilities included managing supplier quality and food safety audit programs for over 300 suppliers in the US and Canada, aligning food safety and quality programs, and overseeing allergen, nutrition, and regulatory affairs.

Bita Saidi, CEO of FIC, is a Food Safety Trainer and Consultant who is well versed in delivering virtual courses to spread the latest food safety knowledge in affordable and accessible formats. Graduating from the University of Toronto with a specialization in Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Bita's academic journey laid the foundation for her innovative contributions to food science. From her research in microfluidic procedures and lab-on-a-chip devices, she seamlessly transitioned into FIC, where she worked with the product development team in the creation of low-salt, gluten-free bread formulations, and many more, addressing a variety of consumer demands for healthier options while optimizing production processes.

Her multifaceted role encompasses not only R&D endeavors but also the design and implementation of cutting-edge eConsulting platforms, streamlining FIC's commitment to advancing food safety knowledge and accessibility within the industry. She has developed several self-paced courses and has managed a variety of Learning Management Systems for seamless and quality online learning. Bita is a dedicated trainer, including a FSPCA Lead Instructor PCQI for Human Food, Animal Food, FSVP and IAVA curricula. Her 2023 FSPCA awards for Top 10 Lead Instructor and 1000 Club recognizing FSPCA Lead Instructors who have collectively trained over 1,000 FSPCA course participants across the four FSPCA training curricula, leading to the issuance of FSPCA certificates, is just one sample. Her commitment and expertise are a testament to FIC's mission in elevating standards and accessibility in food safety education, ensuring a safer and more informed industry landscape for all.