About Us
Industry Advisory Committee
VFITB operates an industry advisory committee which enables us to draw expertise directly from industry. 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.
Currently the following organisations are represented on VFITB's Industry Advisory Committee by:
Tom Hale (Chair)
Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union
thomas.hale@amwu.asn.au
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.
Leanne McPherson (Deputy Chair)
Turi Foods
leanne.mcpherson@turifoods.com.au
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?'
Barrie Chalkley (Executive Committee Member)
Australian Meat Industry Employees Union
meatbarrie@gmail.com
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.
John Bowyer (Executive Committee Member)
Baking Industry Association of Victoria
jbowyer@bigpond.com
John is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Baking Industry Association of Victoria.
Amanda Solly
Mars Petcare Australia.
amanda.solly@effem.com
Amanda is currently the P&O Manager – Supply at Mars Petcare Australia. She also sits on the national AgriFood Skills Australia Food and Beverages Standing Committee. Prior to working at Mars she worked for Murray Goulburn Cooperative and 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.
Andrew Pajic
Bakers Delight
andrew.pajic@bakersdelight.com.au
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.
Mani Iyer
Dairy Australia
miyer@dairyaustralia.com.au
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
info@diaa.asn.au
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.plarre@fergusonplarre.com.au
Michael has been the Production Manager of this family owned company since 1988.
Brian Neylon
McCain
bneylon@mccain.com.au
Brian has been at McCain Foods since 2005 having moved from New Zealand in 2001. Brian previously worked 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
tkennedy@nuw.org.au
Tim Kennedy has served as the Victorian Secretary of the NUW since May 2010.
Daniel Cox
Nestlé
daniel.cox@au.nestle.com
Daniel is the HR Manager at Nestle Campbellfield. Daniel has been at Nestle since 2007.
Jeremy Harrison
Ridley Agri Products
jeremy.harrison@ridley.com.au
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".
