Ilana Taub (MSc Centre for Environmental Policy 2011) is the CEO and Co-Founder of SNACT, a food company dedicated to making wholesome snacks with more taste and less waste. If you joined us for Alumni Weekend at the Imperial Festival 2018 you would have gotten the chance to try SNACT's delicious fruit jerky in your goody bag. We caught up with Ilana prior to Alumni Weekend to hear more about her Imperial journey and what the future holds for SNACT. 

What did you learn during your time at Imperial, in class or out?
The MSc Environmental Technology focuses on sustainability and the tangible solutions we can create to make a positive difference/have a positive impact in the world. I learned how to do that and that eventually lead to SNACT.

Who did you find inspiring at Imperial and why?
Dr Mike Tennant – he lectured the Business & Environment component of the MSc. He sees the world differently, thinks differently and just has an amazing ability to make you think about everything in a completely new perspective. That’s inspiring.

What is your fondest memory of your time here?
I really enjoyed all of it – it was an intense year and I worked really hard but it was all fun, surrounded by a group of exciting and motivating peers and teachers. It’s such a great feeling to spend such a big amount of time with people who care deeply about environmental and social change and want to do something about it.

Tell us a bit about the work you’re doing now.
I am the CEO and Co-Founder of SNACT. We make wholesome delicious snacks from surplus produce to tackle food waste. Our range of fruit jerky and banana bars are all vegan, gluten-free, high in fibre and made with simple natural ingredients. They’re also packed in plastic-free home compostable packaging to fight plastic waste.

What are your plans for the future?
To continue growing the business and our impact. We don’t see SNACT tied to just food or plastic waste – we see it as a vehicle to make delicious snacks whilst driving environmental and social change. That can go in a lot of different directions as we grow.

What would be your advice for current students?
Whatever you want to do, just start doing it – it’s the best way to figure things out.

What makes you proud to be an Imperial alumnus?
Imperial is a great place to study, rooted in science and finding solutions for many of the world’s challenges in all sort of fields.

What one word or phrase would you use to describe Imperial alumni?
Driven.

Want to stay connected with SNACT?
You can follow SNACT on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter