Carol Thum

scientist

About

I’m a scientist and programme leader who loves turning good research into real-world change. My work sits at the intersection of dairy science, early-life nutrition, and food innovation—where tiny biological details can add up to big outcomes for health and industry.
Right now, I lead AgResearch’s “Enabling Emerging Foods” programme (about $3M per year), working with a multidisciplinary team to design and deliver research that helps shape the future of sustainable, nutrient-dense foods. A big part of my role is connecting the dots: translating complex science into clear roadmaps, practical solutions, and decisions that partners—across government, universities, and companies—can act on.
Scientifically, I use a mix of in vivo and in vitro approaches to explore how foods behave during digestion, how bioactive components interact with the gut and microbiome, and how processing can influence nutritional outcomes—especially in the early stages of life. I enjoy working across disciplines and cultures, and I care deeply about communication: ensuring the story behind the data is understandable, relevant, and valuable.
I’m pursuing an MBA in Leadership & Innovation to strengthen my leadership and scale impact. I’ve seen how the best ideas can stall without the right strategy, governance, and change leadership behind them. The MBA is helping me build the business tools to complement my science—so I can help teams move faster from evidence to action, and from promising concepts to solutions that make a difference.
If you’re interested in collaboration—whether it’s research, innovation strategy, or bringing science closer to people—I’d love to connect.

Contact

I am always open to discussing new research collaborations, consulting opportunities, or speaking engagements. Let’s connect to explore how we can drive innovation in nutritional science together.