About Us

Industry Advisory Committee

VFITB operates an industry advisory committee which enables us to draw expertise directly from industry in order to provide quality industry-validated advice to government. The primary purpose of the committee is to identify and establish policy positions and advice on key issues with respect to industry and training and to make recommendations to the VFITB Executive Committee. The IAC committee is also encouraged to identify issues and initiate positions relevant to various industry sectors where specific issues arise.

Industry reference groups are formed to act as a source of advice on issues as they arise. Findings are reported to the other Industry Advisory Committee members.

Through active participation, members can help shape and support the skill development needs of the food processing industries' workforce as well as enhancing personal and professional skills. Please contact VFITB if you would like more information on becoming involved. See our recent and past projects pages to find out about areas we have worked in.

Currently the following organisations are represented on VFITB's Industry Advisory Committee by:

Alan Maguire (Chair)

Australian Industry Group - Education & Training Adviser

Alan has over 25 years experience in the training and education industry, working for major corporations, TAFE institutes and employer associations. Alan is a long term member of the Australian Institute of Training and Development, a member of the Australian Institute of Management and past member of the Australian Organisation for Quality. As Education and Training Adviser at the Australian Industry Group, he continues to work across a range of contemporary issues associated with workforce skills development and the vocational education and training system.

Barrie Chalkley (Deputy Chair)

Australian Meat Industry Employees Union

Barrie Chalkley has worked in the Meat Industry for over 16 years undertaking an array of different roles. Barrie has previously represented the AMIEU as a Health and Safety Representative. Barrie has been involved with the Committee of Management as an observer for 13 years and is joining the organisers to support the members in abattoirs at Stawell, Geelong, Nathalia, Echuca, Cobram, Diamond Valley Pork.

Tom Hale (Executive Committee Member)

Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union

Tom Hale is currently the Assistant Secretary at the AMWU. He heads up the Food & Confectionery Division and has been working in the food field since 2000. He is keen to see food processing personnel develop their skills for career advancement and job satisfaction.

Amanda Solly (Executive Committe Member)

Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co.

Amanda is currently the Acting General Manager, HR at Murray Goulburn Cooperative. She has been at MGC since May 2005. She also sits on the national AgriFood Skills Australia Food and Beverages Standing Committee and Chairs the Dairy Australia Manufacturing Advisory Committee. Prior to working at MGC she was a Senior Industry Consultant at Wodonga Institute of TAFE, and has also worked extensively in the private sector in Employee Relations and ran her own business. She has a Masters Degree in HR Management from Charles Sturt University.

Michael Fryszer

Australian Industry Group (Consultant)

Michael commenced on the VFITB IAC in October 2010. Michael manages a labour hire company with offices in Melbourne and Sydney, with a strong presence in food and confectionary sectors.

Andrew Pajic

Bakers Delight

Andrew's role involves overseeing the training of all new Bakers Delight Franchisee's in Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia. He usually has around 20 trainees at any one time. He works on special projects and on other training, particularly e-learning, for deployment to the entire network.

Garry Higgins

Baking Industry Association of Victoria

Garry has been in the baking industry for 24 yrs, having owned five bakeries in regional Victoria. He has been the CEO of BIAV for 3 years, and is working to improve the business culture with training, better financial and production management. He seeks to improve the self image of the industry, to bring it into the 21 Century, and to embrace the new status of food in society.

Trevor Lange

Curriculum Maintenance Manager - General Manufacturing (observer)

Trevor has many years experience working with food and meat industry curriculum, via his role as the CMM for the General Manufacturing industry cluster. He is responsible for the management, accreditation and maintenance of curriculum for the food and meat industry sectors. He develops the Victorian purchasing guides for the food, wine, seafood and meat processing training package qualifications and also reviews the training packages on behalf of Skills Victoria as part of their endorsement process. Trevor is the first point of contact for RTOs enquiries in relation to training products and delivery issues and also advises on apprenticeships and traineeships in conjunction with VFITB

Mani Iyer

Dairy Australia

Mani has 35 years experience in various roles throughout the Dairy Industry. Mani completed a PhD in Food Technology at Massey University in New Zealand, in 1987. His research was on ultrafiltration in cheese-making to improve yield and quality of cheese. He taught Dairy Technology for The University of Melbourne. His current role at Dairy Australia revolves around building capability in dairy manufacturing, and encouraging product innovation. He chairs the Manufacturing Advisory Committee and has strong links with DIAA and AIFST.

Kristine Manser

Dairy Industry Association of Australia

Kristine Manser has been Federal Secretary/National Executive Officer for the Dairy Industry Association of Australia for many years. She primarily manages the corporate affairs responsibilities and assists with major annual projects such as awards and conferences. The DIAA is one of the oldest industry associations in Australia having its roots in the Butter Factories' Managers Association which began in the 1890s. The DIAA represents individual members involved in post farm-gate activities of the dairy industry and its mission is to promote excellence in the Australian dairy industry by providing a forum for communication, continuing education, professional growth, recognition and fellowship for all members, sectors and participant organisations involved with the dairy industry.

Michael Plarre

Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses

Michael has been the Production Manager of this family owned company since 1988.

Brian Neylon

McCain

Brian has been at McCain Foods last 5½ yrs having moved from NZ 9 yrs ago, worked previously for Saizeriya Japanese company making Italian food items, like soups, meat patties, sauces. Brian's career has been in HR predominantly.

Tim Kennedy

National Union of Workers

Tim Kennedy has served as the Victorian Secretary of the NUW since May 2010.

Daniel Cox

Nestlé

Daniel is the HR Manager at Nestle Campbellfield. Daniel has been at Nestle for the past 4 ½ years.

Jeremy Harrison

Ridley Agri Products

Jeremy has been with the Ridley company for nearly 16 years and started out in the mill environment. He then moved into the ISO/ HACCP Quality program. Over the last 10 years he has been actively involved with getting 120 employees through Certificate 2 and 3 in Food Processing at eleven mills in South Australia and Victoria. He also provides on going refresher training to meet the growing demands of customers, around industry standards like "Feedsafe".

Geoff Yarham

Swift Australia

Geoff has worked in the meat industry for over 35 years commencing at Dinmore, near Ipswich Queensland, and is presently the National Training and Safety Manager for JBS Australia. His roles have included Plant management, OHS and Training Manager. He has also been responsible for developing databases for improved Payroll, First Aid, HR and Training efficiency. He has sat on the MINTRAC Board since 2008.

Leanne McPherson

Turi Foods

Leanne has worked in the Poultry Industry for 25 years as a HR Generalist and now OH&S Manager. She manages all the training for 6 sites for Turi Foods from Livestock to Cheese. Everyone at the Geelong site has completed or are in the process of completing Certificate II or III in Food Processing. The Farming personnel have completed Certificate 111 in Agriculture. She also worked with the Gordon on an interactive approach to Food Industry communication and safety. The package was called 'How do you know?'

Linda Quinton

Coles

Linda has been involved in the Meat Industry for 7 years and the Training & Development field for 11 years.