NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND — As a relatively new full-time member of the pet food manufacturing industry, Pavinee Watson, Ph.D., is ready to hit the ground running. Following the achievement of his Ph.D. against many odds, as well as a successful internship at ZIWI Ltd. during his undergraduate studies, Watson is now using his expertise in pet nutrition to benefit ZIWI’s research and development team.
“Innovation is something that, as a business, we look forward to expanding in terms of new technologies and pet food concepts and, as an R&D technologist, it’s exciting to be a part of that,” he said.
In the following Q&A, this young pet industry professional provides timely advice for other aspiring leaders and shares top trends and consumer preferences set to move the industry forward.
PFP: Tell us about your business or career in the pet industry.
Watson: I work as an R&D Technologist at ZIWI Ltd, a premium pet food manufacturer based in New Zealand. We develop and manufacture products with a high meat content in the ultra-premium market. Lately we’ve experienced a lot of growth within the company and there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that we’re excited about.
PFP: How did you get started in the pet industry, and how did that experience get you to where you are today?
Watson: My career in the pet food industry began in the summer of 2015. As part of my undergraduate degree in Food Technology, we had to complete a summer job in the food industry and I ended up working at a local company that makes pet chews and treats. . From there I completed another practicum at ZIWI Ltd the following summer, followed by my fourth year project in Food Technology, then my master’s and finally my Ph.D. for the company with funds from various scholarships.
I have now been an employee of ZIWI Ltd for about 18 months and have really seen it all as a student specializing in pet food research and how it differs from the industry — in a good way.
PFP: What is your biggest challenge — personal or professional — related to your work in the pet industry?
Watson: For me, I had quite a challenging time in my Ph.D. and my first six months as a working professional.
I started my Ph.D. in August 2019, and we all know that 2020 will be a challenging year for everyone. Obviously, my project was affected by supply chain delays, travel restrictions and lockdowns, but by some miracle, I got there in the end.
In addition to those setbacks, I started working for ZIWI before completing my dissertation, so I spent the first month not only adjusting to full-time work but also finishing my writing. You’d think that would be hard, but fast forward to Valentine’s Day 2023, when our city and workplace were hit by flooding from hurricane Gabrielle. That day also happened to be the day I was notified when my oral exam was, and since we had no reception or cell phone service, it was an absolute nightmare trying to contact the university to lock in the date — but, again, everything worked out.
PFP: Tell me about a professional achievement in the pet industry that you are proud of.
Watson: Honestly, I am proud to have completed my Ph.D. in a rather timely matter, considering all the difficulties I faced at the time. I am also grateful to have two publications to my name, exploring topics I am passionate about and playing my part in contributing to pet food research.
PFP: What is top of mind for you and/or your business in the industry right now?
Watson: I think sustainability is on the mind of all pet food businesses today, not just in packaging but in terms of ingredient sourcing and making sure we’re all doing everything we can to be the best. I also believe that innovation is something that, as a business, we hope to expand further in terms of new technologies and pet food concepts and, as an R&D technologist, it is exciting to be a part of this.
PFP: If you could pick three trends influencing the industry today, which would be the most important and why?
Watson: Premiumization and humanization have always been two major trends that go hand in hand and are still prevalent today. Also related to this is the need for functional foods because pet owners are more aware of what they are buying for their pets, so foods that provide specific benefits are highly on their radar. Finally, sustainability, as previously mentioned, is important and has attracted a lot of attention in the industry.
PFP: What is one thing about the pet industry that people outside the industry might not realize?
Watson: There are many regulatory requirements to consider when making pet food. Of course, there is AAFCO and FEDIAF but, especially within America, some states have additional regulations to consider, which keeps things interesting.
PFP: What advice would you give to young people starting their careers in this industry?
Watson: I’d say stick with it, and you’ll find yourself part of a cool industry. For me, I already know many professionals in the pet food industry in New Zealand and I am starting to meet pet food professionals from around the world. It’s a really tight community, and who knows what opportunities might come your way.
Watson’s former cat, Tank.
| Source: Pavinee WatsonPFP: Just for fun, do you consider yourself a dog person or a cat person? Or, if you have your own pets, tell us a little about them.
Watson: My Ph.D. involved in feeding cats, so I’m more cat than dog person. I do have a ragdoll, but she now lives with my sister-in-law because we moved across the country for work and many rentals don’t allow pets. That was a bit confusing, but he was living his best life on the farm.
PFP: Any final advice for other women in the pet industry?
Watson: My advice is don’t be afraid to reach out to people, ask for help when you need it, and ask questions. I struggled with it as a newbie in the industry, but I slowly learned that you don’t need to know everything under the sun, and reaching out is not a sign of weakness but in fact takes a lot of courage and really does help you in the long run.
Pavinee Watson, Ph.D., is a recent graduate of Massey University in New Zealand, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Food Technology and doctoral degree in Animal Science. The title of his Ph.D. thesis is, “Identifying Palatability Drivers in Beef and Lamb Ingredients used in Commercial Pet Food.” Watson served as an R&D intern for ZIWI Pets from November 2016 to February 2017, before moving to ANZCO Foods where he served as an R&D technical assistant from November 2017 to February 2018. He joined ZIWI in September 2022 to begin his post-doctoral career in pet nutrition.
Continue reading about other female leaders featured in our Female in the Pet Industry series.
