Archives: Speakers

Dr Anton Pluschke works for the Berlin-based start-up vly as Head of Research and Development. He leads all efforts relating to improving the neutrality and functionality of plant proteins for dairy applications. Anton is particularly interested in the circularity of food systems, fermentation processes, functional and novel foods.
Anton graduated from The University of Queensland, Australia, with a Bachelor of Science and First Class Honours in Applied Science specialising in Food Science and Nutrition. He also holds a PhD for which he investigated the impact of soluble dietary fibre on digestive physiology.
Anton lives and breaths vly’s mission which is to develop sustainable and healthy dairy alternatives based on vegetable proteins. He is always open for exchange of ideas and collaborations, please feel free to reach out

CEO at NATURLI’ and true believer in a plantbased diet. NATURLI’ makes change easy by producing vegan noncompromising products in dairy, meat and ice cream – one-stop shopping with benefits for the planet and you!

Katharina was one of the first employees at Willicroft, a fast-growing plant-based cheese company. She’s been building supply chains and was involved in developing products, bringing them to market, as well as scaling production. Katharina ensures impact is an integral aspect within the supply chain and product development. With a background in the agriculture industry, start-ups, and NGOs, her keen interests are in biodiversity, entrepreneurship, and regenerative agriculture. Due to her practical experience and strong moral compass, she is known as ‘The Conscience’ at Willicroft. 

Beverage architect Hanna Kaur has spent most of her 17-year career in the laboratory of 122-year-old Liviko, on the northern shore of the Baltic Sea. She has spent her working life developing new flavours and finding solutions to the engineering issues related to the production of these drinks. Previously Liviko’s liqueur master and master distiller, Hanna has become a beverage architect with an exciting Nordic signature, looking for plants and flavours in the pristine Estonian nature to create new drinks.

Nature and the environment are important for Hanna. It was at her behest that Liviko established an innovative production solution, where juniper berries processed for the distillation of Crafter’s gin are reused to make another drink. A completely new beverage category has been created based on the principle of zero waste production, featuring the non-alcoholic soft drink Re-crafted Crafter’s Junibeer and juniper berry beer with an alcohol content of 3.2%.  

Being passionate about cooking and mixing drinks, Hanna chose to study chemistry and environmental engineering at an early age. After joining Liviko, she enrolled in master’s studies in her field of experience: food technology. She also teaches masterclasses at the Liviko Academy of Beverages.