Guest biography

Dr Karen Abbey is an aged care and foodservice specialist Dietitian with 21 years of national and international experience in foodservice.

In the past, she has presented nationally and internationally on topics concerned with aged care nutrition and foodservices. Dr Abbey’s previous roles include: working with Queensland Health, Queensland Meals on Wheels and working in the residential aged care sector.

Dr Abbey is currently, and has been for 16 years, the Director of Nutrition and Catering Consultancy – a business that provides specialist foodservices to a number of industry sectors. She is also the editor of the Nutrition and Catering Global Hub – an online nutrition foodservice resource.

Dr Abbey recently completed her PhD, which focussed on menu planning and the meal environment in residential aged care in Australia.

In this episode of the Dietitians in the Industry series, we discuss:

– Dr Abbey’s passion and how she developed an interest in aged care nutrition.

– Dr Abbey’s career journey, including clinical dietetics, menu and kitchen design, nutrition service management and running her own company.

– Dr Abbey’s role as the Director of Nutrition & Catering Consultancy.

– The rewarding aspects of being a leader in foodservices.

– The essential characteristics of menu planning.

– The dynamic nature of mentorship in Dr Abbey’s career – both as a mentor and in being mentored.

– How Dr Abbey continues her learning process and how this contributes to her business success.

Additional Resources:

Click here to visit the Nutrition & Catering Consultancy website