Freshcare is excited to announce new members to the Technical Steering Committee as the organisation moves towards its 2024 Standards Review.
The new Technical Committee members bring to an already experienced and knowledgeable committee, a diversity of industry-based skill including representation from grower businesses and a commitment to securing the future of assurance, for all Australian producers and businesses.
The new and existing members of the Technical Committee contribute a broad range of professional experience across industry sectors in agriculture, wine and food service.
Chairperson of the Technical Committee Graham McAlpine, says one of the mail goals of the committee, is to ensure the Freshcare’s standards retain their relevance for our participants and industry stakeholders.
“Since Freshcare’s inception the Committee, together with Freshcare staff, have continually worked to benchmark issues and create practical solutions for standards applications and market access.
“The Committee provides practical, technical input to any issues or changes that might need to be made in meet emerging food safety, quality, environmental or sustainability measures industry members need to demonstrate management of,” said Mr McAlpine.
One of the Technical Committee’s newly appointment members Dave Williams comes to the role with over 30 years of experience in a large range of food industries, predominately fresh produce both within Australia and the UK. His current role is as Food Technical Manager at global company SGS which specialises in inspection, verification, testing and certification services.
Mr Williams says his reason for joining the Technical Committee is to assist with building strong, fair and practicable standards that fit-for-purpose now and into the future.
“I hope the Committee can further help to refine, strengthen, and deliver positive change to the standard, bringing safer, streamline audits for the food industry,” said Mr Williams.
The Technical Committee now consists of 14 members, with the four new members including:
- Graham McAlpine – Chairperson & Freshcare Director.
- Belinda Hazell (OAM) – Consultant, Optimum Standard.
- Donella Van der Est – Quality Manager, Mulgowie Farming Company.
- Dr Mardi Longbottom – Manager Sustainability and Viticulture, Australian Wine Research Institute.
- Dr Mark Bradbury – Food Science & Food Safety, La Trobe University
- Joel Dinsdale – Freshcare Trainer, Agroen Services.
- Liz Riley – Viticulturist, Trainer and Freshcare Director.
- Richard Bennet – Food Safety & Quality Assurance Consultant.
- Sally McKay – National Technical Compliance Manager for the Fresh Produce Group (FPG).
- Tundra Howe – Compliance Manager, Harvest Moon.
- David Williams – Food Technical Manager, SGS – newly appointed
- Mark Dawson, Microbiologist & Advisory Committee Member of NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) – newly appointed
- Jonathan Eccles – newly appointed
- Shannon Kirsten – Quality & Assurance Manager, Oz Group – newly appointed
The four new members bring additional skills in:
- QA application on farm with growers of different cultural backgrounds,
- Fresh produce as inputs to value add and food ingredient sectors,
- Food safety, environmental and sustainability standards internationally,
- Certification body and auditing operational management, and
- Accredited verification testing and validation in management of our standards.
In the coming months, the Technical Committee will be reviewing all submissions made to the Freshcare Standards Review for Food Safety & Quality, Environmental and Wine Industry Sustainability Standards.
