Simon Burns has been appointed Technical Director of ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University and will succeed Helen Taylor following her retirement at the end of August 2026.
Simon brings more than 27 years of technical experience across a wide range of food categories. Since joining ZERO2FIVE in 2022, Simon has managed the Centre’s pilot plant facilities and provided numerous Welsh food and drink businesses with technical and operational support. His specialist areas include food quality and safety systems, with a particular focus on hygienic factory and equipment design.
Alongside his role at ZERO2FIVE, Simon is an active contributor to the food industry through his involvement in several professional bodies. He serves as Co-chair of the UK committee of the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG), is a committee member of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) Wales Branch and is Student Liaison Officer and a committee member for the United Kingdom Association for Food Protection (UKAFP).
Simon succeeds Helen Taylor, who has served as ZERO2FIVE’s Technical Director since 2016 and has been part of the Centre’s technical team for more than 20 years. During her tenure, Helen has led ZERO2FIVE’s technical team in supporting Welsh food and drink businesses across all product categories, helping the sector to develop and manufacture products that are safe, legal and authentic.
Helen is a highly respected figure within the food and drink industry, serving as Chair of the IFST Wales Branch, as Affiliate Council Chair (2025-26) of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Executive Board, and as a member of the Food Standards Agency’s Wales Food Advisory Committee and SALSA’s Technical Advisory Committee.
Speaking about the appointment, Peter Sykes, Head of ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, said:
“Simon has made a significant contribution to ZERO2FIVE since joining the team in 2022, supporting food and drink businesses across Wales whilst helping to develop our specialist pilot plant facilities. His extensive industry experience and commitment to advancing food quality and safety make him well placed to lead our technical team.
“I would also like to thank Helen for her outstanding contribution to ZERO2FIVE over more than two decades. Her leadership, technical knowledge and dedication have played a major role in supporting the growth and success of food and drink businesses across Wales and beyond.”
Speaking about his appointment, Simon Burns said:
“I am delighted to be appointed Technical Director at ZERO2FIVE. Having worked closely with food and drink businesses throughout my time at the Centre, I have seen first-hand the value of the support we deliver.
“I look forward to building on the strong foundations established by Helen, and continuing to help businesses develop safe, high-quality products while supporting innovation and growth across the sector.”
