Anne Doloras Perera MNZM is a Sri Lankan–New Zealand food scientist and author. She was awarded the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology's J. C. Andrews Award in 2022. In 2024 Perera was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to food science and nutrition.
Anne Perera | |
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Born | |
Awards | Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit |
Academic background | |
Alma mater | Oregon State University, University of Peradeniya, Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya |
Thesis | |
Academic work | |
Institutions | Wattie's, State University of Londrina, Institute for Crop and Food Research |
Early life and education
editPerera is from Moratuwa in Sri Lanka. She attended school at the Our Lady of Victories convent, and then at the Holy Family Convent in Bamblapitiya.[1] Perera studied agriculture at the University of Peradeniya, earning a Bachelor with Honours, and then received a Food and Agriculture Organisation scholarship to undertake a master's degree at the International Food Technology Training Centre in India, where she met her husband, Conrad Perera, also a food technologist.[1][2]
Perera completed a PhD titled Vitamin B₆ enrichment of wheat flour: stability and bioavailability at the Oregon State University.[3] She has also completed an Executive MBA at Massey University, and a diploma of psychology obtained when she was working in Singapore.[2][1]
Research career
editAfter graduating with her PhD in 1977, Perera then joined the faculty of the State University of Londrina in Brazil, where she worked for four years.[1] In 1981, the family moved to New Zealand, where Perera worked as a nutrition specialist for Hansels, as research and development manager for frozen food at Wattie's, and the Team Leader for Nutrition and Health at Crop and Food Research.[2] Perera was part of the team that designed food science courses at the University of Auckland.[4]
Perera retired in 2010. After her retirement, she volunteered for Volunteer Service Abroad, working in Tanzania to advise on food and nutrition and small food businesses.[1][4] She also helped rebrand the Tanzania Association of Food Scientists and Technologists.[4][5]
Honours and awards
editPerera co-authored a book, Nutrition 2000, with Auckland food writer Pip Duncan, which was awarded the New Zealand Guild of Food Writers’ Nutrition Writer of the Year award in 1994.[5]
In the 2024 New Year's Honours, Perera was appointed a Member of the Order of New Zealand, for services to food science and nutrition.[5]
The New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology awarded Perera the J. C. Andrews Award in 2022, their most prestigious award.[5][2][6][7]
Selected works
edit- Perera, Anne Doloras; Sanmugam, Devagi; Lister, Carolyn; Hedges, Lesley (2007). Hot potatoes & cool bananas: healthy food, what, why & how. Singapore: SNP Editions. ISBN 9789812481108.
- Duncan, Pip; Perera, Anne (1994). Nutrition 2000. Longman Paul. ISBN 9780582860704.
- Perera, Anne (2010). Thank You for Being My Father. A. Perera, New Zealand. ISBN 9780473168483.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Yatigammana, Gavithri (17 December 2021). "'I Aspire to Inspire Before I Expire.' | Dr Anne Perera written by Gavithri Yatigammana". ශ්රී LankaNZ. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d SrilankaNZ (26 August 2022). "Dr. Anne D.Perera. The Winner of J C Andrews Award in 2022". ශ්රී LankaNZ. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Perera, Anne Doloras (1977). Vitamin B₆ enrichment of wheat flour: stability and bioavailability (PhD thesis). Oregon State University.
- ^ a b c "NZIFST 2022 awards". Food New Zealand. 22 (4): 39–41. October 2022 – via Informit.
- ^ a b c d "New Year Honours List 2024 – Citations for Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)". www.dpmc.govt.nz. 30 December 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "NZIFST – J C Andrews Award Winners". nzifst.org.nz. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "NZIFST 2022 awards". Food New Zealand. 22 (4): 39–41. October 2022. ISSN 1175-4621.
External links
edit- Interview with Dr Anne Perera - Food Scientist, Nutritionist and a Volunteer - SrilankaNZ Newspaper, 18 April 2021, via YouTube