Spotlight Interview: Jude Mason and Frank Schreurs from NSF International and Dominic Watkins from Food Group DWF

Jude MasonJude Mason,

Director, Client & Product Services, NSF International

Jude has overall accountability for our UK and European trading law team and services provided to our clients in the retail and food service sectors. She is a specialist in food safety and technology with over 20 years’ experience in the retail food industry, covering product development, private label programme development, product launches, supplier auditing and supplier and product quality assurance. Jude also leads our client account management for larger global and multi-market clients, working in close liaison with our teams in the U.S., Europe, the Far East and Latin America.

1. What are you hoping to achieve from the webinar? 

People to attend and listen!  Once they are on the webinar I hope that people get a greater understanding of a challenging topic.

2. What are you looking forward to explaining to the audience?

The joys of FSMA and how all countries who go through legislative changes do not have all of the answers.

3. How did you get into the food industry? 

I love eating so it was a natural progression.  I completed a degree in food manufacture and the rest is history.  I got the food bug!

4. Where would you recommend visiting in the world and why? 

Grand Canyon, it combine natural wonder and space with a real sense of how small and insignificant we really are.

5. And finally…

Beach or skiing? Skiing
Gin or whiskey?  Gin
Sky dive or bungee jump? Sky dive

 

Frank SchreursFrank Schreurs,

Global Managing Director of Consulting & Technical Services, NSF International

With over 29 years experience in quality and food safety management, training, auditing and consultancy, Frank works closely with many companies, national associations and NGOs to provide risk management solutions, developing and implementing HACCP systems, and training management and staff on food safety and risk assessment principles.

1. What are you hoping to achieve from the webinar?

Communication and outreach to the UK market and how NSF as U.S company can bring solutions and knowledge to that market.  Also hope to leverage my personal experience in Canada as the largest exporter of food products to the U.S. as a benefit to UK/EMEA clients.

2. What are you looking forward to explaining to the audience?

Awareness of the verbiage and/or language of FSMA and how it aligns or differs from current UK & EMEA practice.

3. How did you get into the food industry?

Its always about who you know.  I got an opportunity right out of University to work for the Kellogg Co. who were good at investing in their people. They were also investing a lot in technology so gained a lot of experience real fast on operational efficiencies associated with technology and food safety.

4. Where would you recommend visiting in the world and why?

I agree with Jude on the Grand Canyon.  A very awe inspiring experience!

5. And finally…

Beach or skiing? Beach
Gin or whiskey? Whiskey
Sky dive or bungee jump? Bungee Jump

 

Dominic WatkinsDominic Watkins,

Partner and Head of Food Group DWF

Dominic specialises in both contentious and non-contentious regulatory issues in three primary areas: food law, trading standards and safety advising household name retailers and food manufacturers. He has spent a significant amount of time on secondments to some of the UK’s best known retailers and food businesses, advising on a range of issues including food law. This experience has provided him with a clear understanding of the role that legal advice plays in making a commercial decision.

1. What are you hoping to achieve from the webinar? 

The FSMA is a significant change in the way that the US regulates the food industry and it is important that we all consider the practical challenges and opportunities that it provides.   I hope to help with this process and perhaps get a little insight from our North American colleagues about how it looks from their side of the pond.

2. What are you looking forward to explaining to the audience?

I will be focussing on what this is means for a EU audience familiar with the requirements of EU and highlighting some of the areas where there are similarities and others where systems will need to be adapted .

3. How did you get into the food industry? 

I have spent my whole career advising the food and food retail industries.  I love it as the issues are things that are real to us as consumers as well as being people in the industry.

4. Where would you recommend visiting in the world and why?

The USA – so many different experiences – it literally has something for everyone.  My favourite places are the national parks of Utah and also the Portland area of Oregon.  Both areas of incredible natural beauty.

 5. And finally…

Beach or skiing? Beach
Gin or whiskey? Neither, but I guess Gin over Whiskey
Sky dive or bungee jump? Sky dive

Jude, Frank and Dominic are presenting their webinar ‘The six essential steps to FMSA compliance’ on the 14th May at 10am New York/3pm London. Click here to register.

 

 

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