The Cyril Callister Foundation was established in 2019 to celebrate the life, work and scientific legacy of Australian chemist and food scientist Cyril Callister, the man who invented Vegemite.

When the salty black paste first rolled off the production line in 1923, Australians hated it. Today, it can be found in eight out of 10 Australian pantries and fridges. Vegemite’s rise from zero to national icon spanned two world wars, a depression and a polio epidemic.

It is a lesson in what can be achieved with perseverance, resilience and integrity.