Rashed Alarfaj

Rashed Alarfaj, PhD, has a diverse work experience in the fields of food science, biochemistry, and quality management. Rashed currently holds the position of Executive Vice President - Inflight Catering (COO) at Saudi Airlines Catering Company, where they are responsible for overseeing the inflight catering operations. Rashed previously served as the VP of Health, Security, and Standard Control at the same company.

In addition to their role at Saudi Airlines Catering Company, Dr. Alarfaj is also involved in academic advisory roles. Rashed is a member of the advisory council for the Biochemistry Department at King Saud University and the Food Science and Nutrition Department at King AbdulAziz University.

Dr. Alarfaj has also worked as a consultant for a confidential company and as a board member for The Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS). Rashed has contributed to the field of food control as a reviewer for the Journal of Food Control, where they evaluate research articles related to food safety and process control.

Prior to their current positions, Dr. Alarfaj held various roles at SFDA - هيئة الغذاء والدواء, including Executive Director of Monitoring and Risk Assessment, Acting Executive Director of Risk Assessment, Chief Specialist in the Food Sector, and Senior Quality Specialist. Rashed also served as a Biochemistry Lab Specialist.

Dr. Alarfaj obtained their PhD in Food and Nutritional Sciences from the University of Reading. Rashed'sresearch focused on the post-harvest quality of crops, specifically assessing genetic variation and quality traits in a strawberry population.

Overall, Dr. Rashed Alarfaj's work experience spans across the fields of food science, biochemistry, quality management, and academic advisory roles.

Rashed Alarfaj has an extensive educational background starting with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biochemistry from King Saud University, which they completed from 2003 to 2007. Rashed then pursued a Master of Science (MSc) in Food Technology - Quality Assurance at the University of Reading from 2009 to 2010. Rashed Alarfaj further enhanced their academic achievements by obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Food and Nutrition Science from the University of Reading, which they completed from 2013 to 2017.

In addition to their academic qualifications, Rashed Alarfaj has acquired several certifications related to leadership, management, and risk communication. Notable certifications include the INSEAD Business Sustainability Programme from INSEAD Executive Education, the Inspirational Leadership Program from IMD, and the Leadership for Organizational Impact "LOI" from the Center for Creative Leadership. Other certifications include Applied Risk Communication for the 21st Century from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Center for Executive and Continuing Professional Education, The Leadership Challenge Program from Amerian Leadership Consulting Group, and Situational Leadership from The Center for Leadership Studies, among others.