What’s Next for Food Safety?

Roberto has 30 years experience in Food business, spent mainly in managerial roles across R&D and in Q&FS, from Innovation to Research, from Product Development to Industrialization.

Roberto holds currently two roles, being Vice President Global Quality & Food Safey and RD&Q Strategy & Portfolio Management at Barilla group.

Over 30 years experience at the highest levels in blue chip companies , regulators, universities and NGOs

leading on food and consumer safety from program, policy and product design to verification of system effectiveness and enterprise risk management

leader of the mondelez food safety team that was recognized in 2021 with the iafp black pearl award

Currently co-chair of the global food safety initiative   and dedicated to developing thinking on the future of food safety management and helping organizations effectively manage their food safety risk

Luiz Guedes is the Global Director of Quality Assurance with Chr Hansen. In this role, Luiz leads a team providing all aspects of developing, maintaining, and follow-up on the quality and food safety system enabling Chr Hansen to effectively comply with customer, market, industry, and regulatory requirements, including developing and implementing the Quality and Food safety strategy, up-to-date quality systems enabling the supply chain to operate effectively and efficiently and ensure proper organizational development to maintain an efficient and capable organization supporting the business. Before joining Chr Hansen in 2021, Luiz worked for 15 years for different organizations, including Fonterra, Nestle, and Danone. In his career, Luiz has led teams in procurement, sustainability, and quality in other geographic areas such as LATAM, NA, Africa, and the EU. Luiz is an MS Veterinary and holds a Ph.D. degree in Food Microbiology. He is also a certified Project Manager and Green Belt Lean Six Sigma.

Dr. Matilda Freund is VP, Global Food Safety at Mondelēz International based in Zurich, Switzerland. She is responsible for leading food safety strategies to include microbiology, thermal processing, contaminants, and toxicology for all categories and brands across diverse markets globally.  After joining Kraft General Foods in 1990 as a microbiologist in Tarrytown, NY, Matilda held various positions in R&D, Sanitation, Manufacturing, Quality and Food Safety. Matilda holds a PhD in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Florida.

A Food professional with a proven track record of 16 Years of management and technical experience in the Wholesale/retail and food industry, especially in the areas of quality management, product development, supplier development, food safety systems and standards. Responsible for Quality assurance function throughout professional career while working with Wholesale/retail and FMCG. An innovative leader and passionate professional who thrives on the challenge of change and maximizing available resources to develop and achieve strategic, long-term objectives. Attributed with the key strength of Global food safety management system implementation, Compliance & Governance, Supplier Management & product development.

During his 35 year career at Mars, David Crean has become a globally recognized expert in Research & Development with particular expertise in Food Safety. Dave joined Mars from the U.K. Public Health Laboratory service, working as a microbiologist in Slough, UK. From there, Dave took on leadership positions in developing markets and newly acquired businesses, living and working in many countries across Europe and North America, as he rose through the ranks in several of Mars’ business segments. Dave’s many contributions to the company include developing novel analytical techniques, establishing global technology and research platforms, and many product and business innovations. More recently, he was the leader behind the further enhancement of Mars’ approach to Food Safety and Quality. Crean led the development of Mars’ Quality Management Process. His vision and passion supported the creation of Mars’ Global Food Safety Center, a center of research excellence focusing on groundbreaking technology breakthroughs and external collaboration. He also established many of the fundamental policies helping to guide and shape Mars’ highly-principled approach to science.  Dave retired from Mars in April 2021 and has embarked on career 2.0 where he intends to focus on impacting the issues of Food Safety and Food Security through working with business.  Dave established and is a director of STRIDE Food R&D Consultancy and is currently advising a number of Food startups and new venture businesses.