NAPIER, New Zealand — As a relatively new full-time member of the pet food manufacturing industry, Dr. Pavini Watson is ready to hit the ground running. Following her Ph.D., Ms. Watson overcame some adversity, successfully completed an internship with her ZIWI Ltd. during her undergraduate years, and now brings her expertise in pet nutrition to her ZIWI Ltd. The research and development team of
“Innovation is something that as a company we want to expand further in terms of new technologies and pet food concepts, and as an R&D engineer, I’m excited to be a part of that,” she said. Ta.
In the following Q&A, this young pet industry expert offers timely advice to other aspiring leaders and shares the top trends and consumer preferences set to move the industry forward.
PFP: Please tell us about your business and career in the pet industry.
watson: I work as a Research and Development Technician at ZIWI Ltd, a premium pet food manufacturer based in New Zealand. We develop and manufacture products with high meat content for the ultra-premium market. We've been experiencing significant growth within the company recently and there's a lot going on behind the scenes that we're really looking forward to.
PFP: How did you get into the pet industry and how did that experience lead you to your current position?
watson: My career in the pet food industry began in the summer of 2015. As part of my bachelor's degree in food technology, I was required to complete a summer job in the food industry and ended up working for a local company that manufactured pet chews and treats. . From there I completed another apprenticeship at ZIWI Ltd the following summer, followed by a fourth year of food technology projects, then a master's degree and finally a PhD. Contribute to companies with funding from various scholarships.
I have now been an employee of ZIWI Ltd for about 18 months and as a pet food research student I have seen it all first hand. We've also really seen how pet food research is changing in the industry, and how it's changing in a good way.
PFP: What is your biggest personal or professional challenge related to working in the pet industry?
watson: For me, the doctoral program was quite a challenging period. And my first six months as a working adult.
I started a doctoral program. In August 2019, we all know that 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone. Obviously, my project was affected by supply chain delays, travel restrictions, and lockdowns, but by some miracle we were able to reach our destination in the end.
In addition to those setbacks, I started working at ZIWI before completing my thesis, so I spent the first month not only getting used to my full-time job, but also finishing my thesis. You might think that's hard enough, but look ahead to Valentine's Day 2023. On this day, our city and workplace were flooded by the aftermath of Cyclone Gabriel. Coincidentally, that day was also the day I was informed of the schedule for the oral exam. There was no cell phone signal and phone lines were not working, so contacting the university to confirm dates was an absolute nightmare. But again, everything worked out.
PFP: Please tell us about a professional accomplishment in the pet industry that you are proud of.
watson: I am honestly very proud to have completed my Ph.D. This was somewhat timely considering all the challenges I faced during that time. I'm also grateful to have two of his publications under my name, exploring topics I'm passionate about and playing a role in contributing to pet food research.
PFP: What is top of mind for you and businesses in your industry right now?
watson: I think sustainability is a top priority for all pet food companies right now. It's not just about packaging, but also about sourcing raw materials and making sure we're all doing everything we can to be the best we can be. Innovation is also something that as a company we want to expand in terms of new technologies and pet food concepts, and I'm excited to be a part of that as an R&D engineer.
PFP: If you could name three trends impacting the industry today, which would be the most important and why?
watson: Premiumization and humanization have always been two important trends that go hand in hand and are still very prevalent today. Also, in this context, the demand for functional foods is also increasing, as pet owners are becoming increasingly aware of what they are purchasing for their pets, offering specific benefits. Food is attracting attention. Finally, as mentioned earlier, sustainability is important and is receiving a lot of attention in the industry.
PFP: What is something about the pet industry that people outside the industry don't realize?
watson: There are so many regulatory requirements to consider when making pet food. Of course, there's AAFCO and FEDIAF, but especially within the United States, there are additional regulations that certain states have to consider, which keeps things interesting.
PFP: What advice would you give to young people looking to start a career in this industry?
watson: If you keep at it, you'll find yourself part of such a cool industry. In my case, I have now become acquainted with many professionals in the New Zealand pet food industry and am beginning to meet pet food professionals from around the world. It's a really close-knit community and you never know what opportunities will come your way.
Tank, Watson's former cat.
| Source: Paviny WatsonPFP: Just kidding, do you consider yourself a dog person or a cat person? Or if you have pets of your own, tell us a little about them.
watson: My PhD job involved feeding cats, so I'm more of a cat person than a dog person. I had a Ragdoll, but he now lives with his sister-in-law because we move around the country for work and many rental properties don't allow pets. . It was a little difficult, but he lived his best life on the farm.
PFP: Do you have any final advice for other women in the pet industry?
watson: My advice is to not be afraid to reach out to people, ask for help when you need it, and ask questions. I struggled with this as a newbie in this industry, but I learned that you don't have to know everything, that reaching out is not a sign of weakness, that it actually takes a lot of courage, and it does. I learned that gradually. It will help you in the long run.
Dr Paviny Watson has just graduated from Massey University in New Zealand with a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Food Technology and a PhD in Animal Science. Her PhD title was: Her thesis was 'Identifying palatability factors of beef and lamb ingredients used in commercial pet foods'. She was a R&D intern at ZIWI Pets from November 2016 to February 2017, after which she moved to ANZCO Foods and from November 2017 to February 2018 she was a R&D technical assistant. I did. She joined ZIWI in September 2022 to begin her postdoctoral career. pet nutrition.
Continue reading about other women leaders featured in this article. Women in the pet industry series.
