MEET THE MENTORS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | RAPTIS & SONS

Chief Executive Officer at A Raptis & Sons, Ken Hartley, serves as the Chairperson of the FSAA Board. With a distinguished career in the food industry, he has held leadership positions, including CEO at Priestley’s Gourmet Holdings, COO and General Manager at Vesco Foods, and CEO at Prepared Foods Australia. Ken is renowned for fostering business performance, strategic growth, and nurturing authenticity within organisations.

HEAD OF FIELD DISTRIBUTORS & FOODSERVICE | FRUCOR SUNTORY

Head of National Field, Leisure & Distributors at Suntory Beverages & Food Oceania, Sam boasts over 20 years in commercial sales within FMCG, spanning global and family-owned businesses across various channels. Progressing from Territory Manager to Head of Channel, she excels in delivering results both individually and through teams. As a mother of two, Sam adeptly balances career and family, recognising the transformative impact of mentorship on personal development.

SENIOR DIRECTOR FOODSERVICE AUSTRALIA | SIMPLOT

Senior Director of Foodservice Australia at Simplot, Rohan brings over 27 years of experience in the FMCG and foodservice sectors. His expertise encompasses strategic planning, operations, sales, marketing, business development, project management, and transformation. Rohan is celebrated for his passionate, inclusive leadership style, marked by perseverance and integrity, making significant contributions to industry growth and innovation.

CUSTOMER DIRECTOR FOODSERVICE, INDEPENDENT RETAIL, ALDI & COSTCO | PRIMO FOODS

Customer Director at Primo Foods, Barton oversees the Foodservice, Independent Retail, Aldi, and Costco divisions. A strategic and commercially astute sales executive, he possesses extensive experience leading businesses in competitive, consumer brand-oriented environments globally. Barton has a consistent track record of building and executing business strategies that meet consumer demands, achieving sales and profit targets, and galvanising teams to deliver superior results.

HEAD OF UNILEVER FOOD SOLUTIONS ANZ - MARKETING LEAD

Head of Unilever Food Solutions ANZ - Marketing Lead, Emily is a seasoned people leader with extensive experience in general management and marketing across Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Based in Sydney, she excels in crafting end-to-end user journeys and brand experiences. Emily's resilience and adaptability, coupled with her grit and composure, make her a steady presence in challenging situations.

CO-OWNER\DIRECTOR | CORE ELEMENT EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PARTNERS

Co-Owner/Director of Core Element Executive Recruitment Partners, Steve leads a specialist foodservice and FMCG recruitment firm in its 13th year. With prior senior sales leadership roles at Simplot and George Weston Foods, he brings a wealth of industry experience. Steve is dedicated to connecting talent with opportunity, enhancing the foodservice sector's growth and development.

FOUNDING DIRECTOR | EXPORT CONNECT PTY LTD

Founding Director of Export Connect Pty Ltd, Najib has over 25 years of experience leading Australian food export businesses and agri-food industry development teams in both private and public sectors. With extensive networks in North and South East Asia and the Middle East, he is renowned for opening and expanding export markets for food businesses and industry clusters, driven by a passion for market development.

FMCG C-Suite Enterprise & Executive Leader

An FMCG C-Suite Enterprise & Executive Leader, Angeline is a respected industry figure with over 20 years of international experience at companies like Mondelez International, Yum Brands, Fonterra, Simplot, and MARS. She co-led the groundbreaking Food Innovation Hub and has launched over 1,000 innovations across APAC markets. Angeline is committed to a sustainable global food system and advancing Australia's role in agrifood value-added products.

HEAD OF DISTRIBUTORS | PATTIES FOOD PTY LTD

Head of Distributors at Patties Foods Pty Ltd, Nick is a results-oriented sales and distribution executive with extensive experience in food and beverage FMCG companies in Australia. His expertise spans sales and marketing, supply chain, operations, strategic business development, and product development, driving business growth and operational excellence.

REGIONAL MANAGER | COMCATER

Regional Manager at Comcater, Tony's foodservice journey is inspired by his family's legacy. With two prosperous restaurants, ownership of a wholesale food business, and nearly two decades in the catering equipment supply sector, Tony's leadership thrives on valuing customers and staff, delivering product excellence, and showcasing his extensive industry knowledge.

NATIONAL BUSINESS MANAGER | NOUMI LIMITED

National Business Manager at noumi Limited, Donna is a business-savvy sales leader passionate about enhancing sales processes, fostering a positive work environment, and elevating the customer journey. With a decade of experience at the national level, she excels in stakeholder relationships, strategic planning, and driving profitability, known for her proactive, collaborative, and goal-oriented approach.

MANAGING DIRECTOR | UNOX AUSTRALIA

With more than 45 years in the industry, Wayne brings extensive experience in sales, marketing, and dealer development. After managing Robot Coupe and FED Sales across multiple states, he co-founded Unox Australia in 2008 and has since driven market development across Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Wayne’s expertise in market growth and people leadership positions him as a trusted guide for those entering the commercial equipment market.

DIRECTOR | SANDURST FINE FOODS

Director at Sandhurst Fine Foods, Mimmo co-founded the business over 35 years ago, building the foodservice team to its current success. With a passion for food, music, and people, he remains deeply connected to the industry, leading Sandhurst in bringing winning foodservice products to market in condiments, oils, and canned foods.

COO | PRIESTLEY’S GOURMET DELIGHTS

Chief Operating Officer at Priestley's Gourmet Delights, Xanny built a 16-year career across the UK, NZ, and Australia, leading key operations and driving growth for diverse businesses. Her expertise includes strategic management, process optimisation, and implementing technology for operational excellence, offering holistic leadership across all business functions.

QLD MANAGER | SANDHURST FINE FOODS

Queensland Manager at Sandhurst Fine Foods, Kevin began his journey in 1989 as a van salesperson. With extensive experience across various levels of foodservice operations and sales, including key accounts and national roles, he has contributed to companies like Sales Link Food Service Brokers, Nestlé Professionals, and now thrives at Sandhurst Fine Foods.thrives at Sandhurst Fine Foods (15 yrs).

DIRECTOR FS SALES AU | MISSION FOODS

With more than 35 years of experience in the foodservice industry, Warren has built a strong career across sales and business development. From cold calling and regional sales to export, national sales, and now Director FS Sales AU at Mission Foods, he brings a deep understanding of manufacturing, NPD, and R&D. Warren’s diverse background makes him an invaluable mentor, offering practical guidance and insights to help professionals grow and succeed.

DIRECTOR FOODSERVICE OCEANIA, INGREDIENTS AUSTRALIA | FONTERRA

Victoria is an innovative and strategic leader who balances risk and reward to deliver strong P&L results. As Director Foodservice Oceania at Fonterra, she enables resilience and success for individuals, teams, and organisations. Known for her passion, integrity, and creativity, Victoria is a thought leader skilled in stakeholder management and advocacy. She has led geographically dispersed, high-performing teams and is a strong advocate for diversity and innovation.

FOUNDER | ELEGRE

Alex began his career in foodservice sales in 1998 before founding Elegre, now a recognised food manufacturer and brand in both local and export markets. With over two decades of experience, he excels in sales strategy, marketing, and profit growth. Alex leverages deep industry knowledge to position products, capture opportunities, and build sustainable customer relationships. His mentoring brings a practical, entrepreneurial perspective to help future leaders thrive.

GENERAL MANAGER OF NESTLE PROFESSIONAL OCEANIA

As General Manager of Nestlé Professional Oceania, Kristina brings 20+ years of experience in FMCG & Foodservice across various categories & countries. She is a passionate brand builder with cross-functional experience across Sales, Category and Business Development. Her focus is business & team transformation and high performance leadership. Known to be a caring & candid leader, Kristina takes a real interest in supporting talent to grow and develop.