Australia
Thanks for visiting my profile! I'm an Operations Director with 20+ years of international experience leading manufacturing and production operations across the chemical, flavors, and food industries. Originally Australian, I built my career with global companies including Givaudan — one of the world's top flavor and fragrance companies — before taking on the role of Operations Director at Selegroven AG in Switzerland. Now relocating to Brisbane, QLD, I bring a global perspective and a track record of transforming operations, scaling production, and building high-performing teams. What I deliver: ✔ Strategic growth — developed and executed 5-year strategies that doubled sales and production volumes, then delivered an additional 50% growth ✔ Lean leadership — led Lean transformation programmes achieving €5M+ in cost savings across multiple facilities ✔ Operational excellence — streamlined processes across chemicals, powder blends, spray dry, and liquids manufacturing ✔ Certification leadership — delivered FSSC 22000, ISO, RSPO, SEDEX, Halal, and Kosher certifications ✔ AI-augmented operations — creator of SwissAIMaster.com and zyon-ai.com, an AI training platform for professionals and an AI platform. I thrive in complex, fast-paced manufacturing environments where accountability, continuous improvement, and sustainable growth are non-negotiable. I'm equally comfortable presenting to boards, leading frontline teams, and navigating multi-stakeholder environments including government authorities and international auditors. Industries I've worked in: Flavours & Fragrances · Food Ingredients Manufacturing · Chemical Manufacturing · Supply Chain I'm actively looking to connect with operations leaders, HR professionals, and recruiters in the Brisbane and Queensland market. If you're looking for a senior operations leader who brings global best-practice, a results-driven mindset, and a genuine passion for building great teams — let's connect.
As Plant Manager and Operations Director at Selegroven AG, I am tasked with aligning strategies with organizational goals as well as optimizing production processes and resource utilization. I excel in budget management, finance and accounting, ensuring cost control and alignment with objectives. Further, my expertise extends to leading supply chain initiatives, enhancing operational efficiency, cultivating positive relationships with local authorities, and fostering a culture of accountability and excellence within the team. Highlights of my notable contributions in this position include: • Strategic Vision: Developed and executed a 5-year strategy, doubling sales and production volumes in the first four years and achieving an additional 50% growth in the subsequent two years. • Operational Efficiency: Streamlined processes to create an efficient production site, resulting in increased production capacity. • High-Speed Growth: Managed the company's high-speed growth, maintaining equal overheads while doubling sales and volumes. • Certification Leadership: Led the acquisition of FSSC, ISO, RSPO, SEDEX, Halal, and Kosher certifications, elevating the company's credibility and market position.
Swissaimaster.com Founded and launched an AI training platform specifically designed for business professionals — built entirely using AI tools including Claude, HeyGen, and Netlify. ▶ Designed a 28-day interactive curriculum covering AI fundamentals, LLMs, prompt engineering, AI ethics, regulation (EU AI Act), and AI strategy ▶ Built a fully functional e-learning platform with AI-powered tutor, video lessons, quiz system, and verified completion certificates ▶ Launched with live Stripe payment processing, payment integration, and automated student access management ▶ Demonstrates practical AI application: ideated, built, and shipped a commercial AI product from concept to revenue-generating platform
Throughout my tenure with Givaudan, I advanced to hold significantly expanded responsibilities, ultimately holding accountability for crafting strategic plans and providing directional leadership as the Group Leader. In the same capacity, I ensured that all plans were in line with market trends and compliant with food safety regulations, with a focus on hygienic zoning for baby food and pharmacy flavor production. I consistently adapted strategies to align with changing market demands and emerging industry trends. Some of my key achievements in this position include: • Audit Leadership: Led customer, supplier, and government audits, meeting industry standards and implementing corrective actions to enhance overall operational excellence. • Training and Continuous Improvement: Planned and delivered training sessions, coaching my team on implementing continuous improvement methodologies. • Performance Tracking: Established reporting mechanisms to track key performance indicators, providing valuable insights for decision-making. • Cost Optimization: Monitored budget performance and implemented cost-saving initiatives, successfully decreasing costs and optimizing productivity. • Operational Efficiency: Introduced initiatives to improve factory reliability, decrease downtime, and increase overall operational efficiency.
During my tenure overseeing daily operations, my chief duties involved orchestrating the creation supply plans, facilitating monthly supply meetings with external manufacturing partners, and managing fragmentations outside of the system. Additionally, I effectively oversaw project timelines, resource allocation, and deliverables to ensure successful implementation. My major accomplishments include: • Lean Project Leadership: Spearheaded Lean projects, achieving a total cost savings of €5M, contributing significantly to the financial success of the production plant. • Project Management Excellence: Implemented project management and reporting systems, resulting in the creation of over 100 projects led by trained employees, with an anticipated savings of €2M. • Operational Efficiency Improvement: Introduced 5S and a performance management process, significantly improving operational efficiency and employee engagement. • Strategic Cost Reduction: Successfully managed a €1000K savings project, achieving targeted cost reductions through strategic planning and execution. • Visibility Enhancement: Implemented robust reporting systems and set up key performance indicators, leading to improved visibility and performance measurement across the organization. • Integrated Lean Methodologies: Integrated Lean methodologies, including performance management and 5S, across chemicals, powder blends, spray dry, liquids sites, and within the supply chain, enhancing operational efficiency.
Lean implementation and improvement projects in 3 different production facilities.