Valkenswaard, North Brabant, Netherlands
I help QA Directors move from compliance to control by improving decisions, ownership, and execution under pressure. After 25+ years in the food industry, I see the same pattern. Systems look compliant. Audits are passed. Procedures are in place. But when pressure increases, the system does not always work as intended. Findings repeat. CAPAs do not create lasting change. Decisions slow down. And QA becomes the team that holds everything together. This is rarely a knowledge problem. 👉 Most teams already know what to do. The real challenge is turning GFSI and regulatory requirements into daily decisions, clear ownership, and consistent execution. Because when ownership is unclear and decision-making is not defined, even experienced teams hesitate under pressure. Many organisations try to solve this with: ❌ More procedures ❌ More training ❌ More checks But more complexity does not automatically create more control. I work with QA Directors to strengthen how food safety decisions are made at the point of risk — across QA, Regulatory Affairs, R&D, Operations, and senior leadership. So teams do not wait. Do not escalate too late. And do not depend on QA to carry the system. As co-founder of Food Safety Experts, IFS Academy Trainer, and IAFP member, I translate GFSI schemes, regulatory requirements, and real industry experience into practical system control. No theory. Only what works under real pressure. To support this, we developed The Compliance Accelerator™, based on the CARES Method™. A structured system that helps teams: • Prevent issues instead of reacting • Recognise common mistakes before they repeat • Apply requirements in daily work • Build systems that work under pressure • Strengthen ownership and alignment • Reduce dependency on QA 👉 I help QA Directors build teams that make better decisions, act faster, and stay in control — even when it matters most.
At Food Safety Experts, I help QA Directors and Food Safety leaders build confident, capable, and GFSI-compliant teams that prevent compliance surprises — not react to them. Our focus is on transforming QA, RA, and R&D teams into high-performing professionals who understand exactly how to implement food safety requirements in real life. As an official IFS Academy Trainer Company and member of IAFP, we deliver practical, technical, and implementation-focused training trusted by companies worldwide. What we do: • Develop advanced online and on-demand training for QA, RA, and NPD/R&D teams • Translate GFSI (IFS, BRCGS, FSSC) requirements into simple, actionable steps • Provide toolkits, templates, and ready-to-use materials that accelerate implementation • Support companies through monthly Open Office Hours and continuous expert Q&A • Train global teams using our proprietary CARES Method™ for capability building • Deliver The Compliance Accelerator™ — a structured 12-module system for real-world food safety performance Who we support: ✔ QA Directors & Senior Leaders ✔ QA/RA Managers ✔ Food Safety & Quality Teams ✔ Multi-site organizations needing consistent training and execution What makes our approach effective: • Practical training focused on real operations, not theory • Clear, step-by-step guidance aligned with GFSI and regulatory expectations • Focus on ownership, daily routines, and system stability • Training designed to reduce recalls, NCs, and recurring root-cause failures Our mission is simple: Equip professionals with the clarity, tools, and confidence they need to protect their company — and themselves — from avoidable compliance risks. https://www.foodsafety-experts.com
In this role, I led the QHSE Department and Tenderdesk across six European countries, managing a complex portfolio of 17 certified standards. My focus was to bring clarity, structure, and system reliability to a highly technical environment operating under strict regulatory and client requirements. I supported senior leadership with periodic performance reports, providing data-driven insights for strategy, risk management, and long-term planning. I analyzed large volumes of operational data, identified emerging trends, and delivered recommendations that improved compliance, safety, and process consistency across business units. A key part of my work involved the food industry, where I performed Due Diligence audits and implemented client-specific guidelines. I helped organisations in the food, beverage, bakery, and meat sectors strengthen their quality, safety, and environmental controls by translating standards into practical, workable procedures. My responsibilities also included: - Managing internal and external audits across multiple locations - Ensuring adherence to QESH requirements at European level - Supporting tender processes with compliance expertise - Responding to high-priority, ad-hoc business requests - Leading cross-functional cooperation with senior staff and CEOs - Maintaining budget, timelines, and project scope across all assignments This role strengthened my expertise in quality management systems, regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and operational performance, forming a strong foundation for my later work in GFSI-aligned food safety leadership and team capability building.
As a Project Manager responsible for large, international Due Diligence assignments across Europe and Asia, I supported clients in the food and beverage industry, bakery sector, meat and fish industry, and global manufacturing organizations. My role focused on helping senior teams understand operational risks, verify compliance, and make confident investment or strategic decisions. I managed multiple QHSE Due Diligence projects simultaneously, often under strict timelines and demanding conditions. I worked closely with CEOs, senior leadership teams, and cross-functional experts to deliver clear, actionable insights that reduced uncertainty and accelerated decision-making. My responsibilities included assessing food safety and quality management systems, evaluating regulatory and GFSI-aligned compliance, reviewing environmental performance, analysing technical risks, and identifying gaps that could impact business continuity. I communicated findings in structured reports, highlighting the most critical issues and practical solutions. To ensure project success, I coordinated internal teams, subcontractors, laboratories, and subject-matter experts, keeping each project within budget and on schedule. The role required strong stakeholder communication, clear reporting, and the ability to translate complex technical information into practical recommendations. This experience strengthened my expertise in operational risk assessment, international compliance, food industry processes, and strategic project delivery—laying the foundation for my later work in building capability, clarity, and system stability for QA and Food Safety teams worldwide.
As Quality Manager for Tauw Netherlands and Tauw International, I was responsible for implementing, maintaining, and improving a wide range of quality, environmental, and safety management systems across multiple business units. I ensured system stability, process consistency, and regulatory compliance in a complex, multi-standard environment. I implemented and managed numerous guidelines and certifications for both internal operations and external food industry clients. My work covered ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 17025, VCA**, HACCP, and multiple BRLs, ensuring alignment with legal, regulatory, and customer expectations. As an internal auditor, I performed full-scope audits, identified systemic weaknesses, and guided management teams in corrective and preventive actions to strengthen compliance and operational performance. I was the driving force behind improving product quality and process capability, working closely with technical specialists, laboratory teams, and senior leadership. My role required analysing performance data, spotting trends, and reporting results to support strategic decision-making. I delivered periodic reports for leadership, supported continuous improvement initiatives, and managed ad-hoc problem-solving requests from the organization. Key contributions included: • Implementing and maintaining robust quality systems across multiple standards • Leading internal audits and coordinating external audit readiness • Strengthening product and process quality through risk-based improvements • Providing data-driven insights to support strategy and performance management • Ensuring consistent compliance across diverse projects, clients, and business units This experience formed the foundation of my expertise in quality systems, risk management, compliance, auditing, and operational excellence — skills I now apply at Food Safety Experts to help QA and Food Safety teams achieve high performance and GFSI-aligned control.
In this role, I supported more than 25 dairy production locations across the eastern Netherlands with professional cleaning, sanitizing, and hygiene solutions. My work focused on helping site managers strengthen their hygiene standards, reduce contamination risks, and ensure compliance with industry expectations long before GFSI standards emerged. I provided consultancy, technical recommendations, on-site assessments, and practical guidance on implementing effective cleaning and sanitizing routines. This included supporting managers in solving hygiene challenges, optimizing cleaning regimes, and selecting the right products and tools for consistent results. Training played a central role. I delivered structured training sessions for both management and operators on hygiene best practices, sanitation routines, chemical safety, and effective cleaning workflows. These sessions improved operational performance and helped teams understand not only what to do, but why hygiene and sanitation matter for product quality and safety. Through this work, I built a strong foundation in food industry operations, hygiene management, and cross-functional communication—experience that later shaped my ability to support QA, RA, and Food Safety teams in more advanced compliance and GFSI-aligned environments.
As Quality Officer in the QC laboratory at Cacao de Zaan, I performed a broad range of quality controls to verify the safety, purity, and consistency of cocoa products. My work included routine analyses, specification checks, and documentation of results to support process adjustments and product release decisions. This role provided a strong technical foundation in analytical methods, laboratory accuracy, and ingredient quality verification—skills that later supported my work in QA, internal auditing, and due diligence across the food industry.
As Sales Promotor for FrieslandCampina at the cheese farm in Huis Ten Bosch (Japan), I delivered daily presentations on cheese production to visitors from Japan, Korea, and China. I presented in both Japanese and English, demonstrating cultural adaptability and communication skills. I frequently appeared in interviews for Japanese television and radio, representing Dutch dairy expertise abroad. A career highlight was presenting to members of the Japanese Imperial family. This international role strengthened my confidence, public speaking ability, cultural awareness, and professional communication — qualities that later supported my leadership and training work in the food industry.