Hayesha Edirisinghe, a December 2024 graduate of the Master of Science in Food Safety (MSFS) degree program, is the 2024 recipient of the Edward & Mary Mather Outstanding Food Safety Student Award (Mather Award).

The Mather Award is supported by the MSFS program's founding director, Dr. Edward Mather, and his wife, Mrs. Mary Mather. The award recognizes a student who excelled in their final food safety non-thesis project. Faculty judges review and score projects on originality, quality, and application to a solution for a food safety problem.

“I’m truly honored and excited to receive this recognition,” says Edirisinghe. “I would love to share this honor with everyone who worked and supported me.”

Her applied project involved developing a consultative report addressing a specific challenge faced by her company. She successfully identified the root cause of the issue and identified solutions.

“The project took a lot of time and research, and I was balancing family, work, and studies at the same time,” said Edirisinghe. “I also had to move through a few life-changing events while I was enrolled in this course, but finally I was able to complete it successfully.”

Edirisinghe has had an impressive journey in the field of food safety, marked by a steady progression through diverse roles across the food manufacturing industry. She currently serves as the Regulatory and Compliance Manager at Ivar’s Soup Company in Mukilteo, WA, where she ensures all products comply with applicable government regulations and industry standards. In her role, she leads the implementation and ongoing maintenance of the company's Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification system, oversees food safety and quality programs, and coordinates risk management initiatives. She is also responsible for managing audits, supporting process development, and collaborating cross-functionally to train staff and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

She began her professional journey as a Quality Assurance Supervisor at the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation and served as a teaching assistant in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. After relocating to the United States, she held several roles in the food manufacturing industry, including Lab Technician at Darigold, Inc., and QA Specialist at Oberto Snacks, Inc., where she developed the sensory evaluation program and contributed to process management initiatives. She later served as QA Manager at Gate Gourmet, Inc., an airline catering company, where she oversaw teams in quality assurance, sanitation, safety, and compliance.

“I hope to continue working in the food safety sector, supporting both public and private sectors to ensure the safety of our food,” says Edirisinghe. “I believe the knowledge I gain from this degree will be instrumental in helping me achieve that goal.”