Speakers

Marcel Khan has worked at a senior level at some of the fastest-growing businesses in one of the most competitive sectors in the country. From how to inspire a workforce to great customer service and making your brand stand out in a crowded market, he looks at the lessons in brand, people and culture from his time with the Five Guys and Nando’s restaurant chains. As the current CEO of The Fulham Shore, Marcel is responsible for the development and expansion of their The Real Greek and Franco Manca brands.

Spending six years as Operations and Brand Development Director for Five Guys Europe, Marcel launched the US’s fastest growing restaurant chain in Europe. He oversaw over 90 restaurants including what would become eight of the company’s best-performing outlets in the world. Before Five Guys he was Regional MD for Nando’s UK for almost a decade where he helped the brand grow from 42 to over 260 sites. He became the company’s top internal management developer and was also closely involved with CSR and community programmes.

In almost 15 years at the top of some of the most distinctive restaurant brands, Marcel has defined how to stay ahead in a notoriously difficult market. His lessons are simple, but can be easily forgotten in the everyday heat of business. At both Nando’s and Five Guys he and his teams were driven to create a culture where everyone felt valued and passionate about what they did. As businesses they marked out where they could compete and focused on being the best in that area, conveying a clear message about what they offered, and ensuring they consistently delivered on that promise.

Marcel actively believes in maintaining a view from the frontline, and would regularly work in restaurants and talk to customers directly about their experience. Customer service was key, as was how the values of the staff were reflected in the brand and the restaurants themselves. He delivers practical insights and advice on how to lead and inspire a team, define and build a brand and culture, and create a competitive advantage.

Dr Morgaine Gaye is a world-renowned Food Futurologist.

Morgaine looks at food and eating from a social, cultural, economic, trend, branding and geo-political perspective. Her work involves running ideation sessions, consulting to food companies, developing new products and ideas; writing articles/ trend reports for PR and ad agencies; giving public, university and corporate lectures on specific food trends, developing new ideas for food-related TV and radio programmes and doing research on all elements of the eating experience from mouth-feel and texture to olfactory perception. She consults to leading blue chip food companies and manufacturers, delivering bespoke trend briefings and NPD ideation.

Dr Gaye works with all well-known global brands from Mondelez to Mars and Unilever to Nestle. She manages product development and ideation sessions with global teams and innovation chefs. Morgaine looks at trends up to 10 years in the future and works with texture, branding, packaging and consumer drivers. Typically, Morgaine creates and presents a custom slide deck which aims to inspire and surprise, with circa 220 images per 1 hr presentation. Although Morgaine primarily work for F&B brands, she also consults to many technology companies who have an involvement in high end tech such as Panasonic, Siemens, Sony, Samsung, DeLonghi, Braun, and BMW. Their designers and engineers use Morgaine’s trend forecasts to inspire their future products. Organisations such as law and banking (Linklaters & RaboBank) or ingredient and manufacturing companies (Ingredion & Puratos) engage Morgaine to envision future markets.

Amazon’s on-line ‘shop of the future’, features Morgaine’s predictions as one of two Futurologists giving ideas about how we may celebrate and share together in 2050. Morgaine has been a part of a recent think tank project for MoD working with global defence forces to prepare for uncertain future scenarios.

Her academic research papers have been published in a number of journals. She is a guest university lecturer in UK and Sweden and is on the reviewing panel for the International Food Design Conference, an academic journal. Morgaine gives seminars at The Founder Institute, a Silicon Valley business incubator programme. As part of the EU Commission, Morgaine was the chair at the Brussels Parliament for 2015.

Morgaine has given a TedX talk on the Future of Scent and Smelling (It Doesn’t Make any Scents), because part of her work involves haptic experiences such as touch, mouth feel perception and scent. Morgaine’s chapter on the Architecture of Scent is published in Royal Academy of Art book, Interior Futures published by Crucible Press, 2019. Her book Fashion to Fork – Why We Eat What We Eat was published in 2023.

Morgaine is a frequent media contributor. She has appeared on numerous TV shows such as BBC  World News to Sunday Brunch to Netflix, The Future of … series. She co-hosted Channel 4 Future Family and was the weekly futurologist on Chanel 5 Breakfast Show in Australia. She is a frequent contributor on radio – BBC to Five Live to NPR and she is often quoted in media from Glamour to Stylist to the Telegraph and Financial Times.

Dr. Gordon Campbell, former Managing Director of SPAR International (1994-2015), led the company’s expansion into 20 new countries, transforming SPAR into the world’s largest chain of independent food retail stores. His strategic management style and marketing background drove SPAR’s global growth, particularly in developing markets like China, India, and Russia.

Under Campbell’s leadership, SPAR’s annual retail sales reached €33 billion by 2015. His focus on building strong organisational structures and management teams contributed to this success. In 2016, he received the Outstanding Leadership Award at the World Retail Congress, recognising his contributions to the retail industry.

Currently, Campbell consults with retail and manufacturing businesses in Europe and the Middle East. He is an experienced speaker on topics such as global retail food trends, growth-driven leadership, and entry strategies in developing markets

Melissa Rodriguez has been a part of Circana for nearly 20 years, engaging and energizing clients for growth across multiple areas of the store.  As a Principal in Retail & Consumer Protein, Melissa leads client relationships with some of the largest protein companies in the world.  She is a trusted advisor to her clients, assisting with consumer focused and customer centric data analytics to drive business decisions.  She also participates in many of Circana relationships with industry associations including IDDBA, NFI and NAMI, and her insights have appeared in webinars, blogs, and Thought Leadership publications.   

After a formal education in logistics and purchasing, Tom Bundgaard worked for 13 years in procurement as a Purchasing Manager. This naturally involves all the traditional aspects of purchasing, especially with sourcing in the Far East. This work had a heavy focus on materials, commodities and semi-finished products.

 

From 2000 onward, Tom Bundgaard specialised in commodities from an analytical forecasting standpoint based on technical and fundamental analysis. Three educations have supported this specialisation: An ongoing mentoring education, an MSTA degree from the Society of Technical Analysts in London and a Master of Financial Technical Analysis degree from IFTA in the USA.

 

Tom Bundgaard has been given lectures all over Europe since 2008 in various conferences, both on commodity price forecasts and macro economy, as well as being frequently interviewed on radio and TV. 

Amanda is a dynamic procurement leader with a passion for tackling challenges and transforming them into opportunities for success. With extensive experience in strategic procurement and team leadership, Amanda has built a reputation for driving meaningful change and delivering enhanced value across diverse industries. Currently serving as Group Procurement Director, Amanda spearheads initiatives that go beyond cost savings to deliver sustainable benefits for the entire business. 

Over 20 years, Amanda has developed and executed strategies that achieve measurable results in cost management, commodity sourcing, risk mitigation, and service enhancement. Combining analytical expertise with a collaborative mindset, Amanda ensures procurement is not just a functional support but a catalyst for innovation and value creation. 

Adept at building and leading high-performing teams, Amanda cultivates a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and strategic alignment. By fostering strong partnerships both internally and with external suppliers, she has consistently enhanced operational performance and mitigated supply chain risks, ensuring business continuity and competitive advantage. 

Amanda’s passion for strategic sourcing extends to delivering results that align with broader organisational goals. This includes enhancing service delivery, optimising supplier relationships, and generating long-term value through innovative procurement practices. 

Marcel joined Expana in 2019, bringing a wealth of experience in price reporting, analytics, and risk management. At Expana, Marcel leads the proprietary agri-food and industrial coverage, empowering stakeholders across the value chain to make informed business decisions and mitigate risks through best-in-class price benchmarks, news, and analytics. Since joining, Marcel has been instrumental in transforming Expana into the largest IOSCO-assured Price Reporting Agency (PRA) in the agri-food sector, leveraging advanced in-house capabilities and strategic M&A.

Marcel’s expertise in enhancing transparency within physical commodity markets stems from his outstanding achievements at global firms such as S&P Global. Marcel holds an MSc in Energy, Trade & Finance from Cass Business School and outside of work, Marcel enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.

Floris has more than 10 years of experience in trading physical commodities, derivatives, and equity derivatives. Since 2019 he worked in procurement of agricultural commodities, first at Kraft Heinz and since 2022 at Forfarmers.  

At ForFarmers he works at group level as a raw material director. 

Scott Wellcome is the Director of Grain Risk Management & Sourcing at GoodMills Group GmbH, based in Vienna, Austria. The GoodMills group is Europe’s largest milling company, operating in 7 EU countries with 24 milling operations, alongside its innovations, planted based-protein and pulses facilities. 

His day-to-day focus is helping the group manage its operational risks, whether they be raw material price risk, energy needs or supply chain logistics related. 

His career began in 1988 in London and as well as currently working in Austria, has also worked in Switzerland & Dubai, for both multi-national and private trading commodity companies. 

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Thomas Wandler is the Managing Director for Kloepfel Consulting. With over 20 years in procurement experience, Thomas’s duties at Kloepfel include development of procurement strategies and material group strategies, process optimization along the supply chain with AI use and outsourcing analysis in the field of international purchasing. Wandlers procurement background and current role specializes in the transportation sector, where he has many automotive and special vehicle projects.  

Luana has nearly two decades of experience in the agri-food industry, including roles at major manufacturing companies such as Nestle and AB InBev. During her career, she focused on leading data and intelligence strategies to support industry players in making informed strategic decisions.

At Expana, Luana leads global multifunctional data and analytics teams. Her role involves growing and developing teams that apply quantitative and statistical analysis, as well as machine learning techniques, to enhance Expana’s data, insights, and forecasting capabilities. She also plays a critical role in integrating other businesses as part of Expana’s ambitious expansion efforts.

Luana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business. Outside of her professional life, Luana enjoys spending quality time with her daughter, often cycling or solving puzzles together. She’s also an avid swimmer, rugby fan, and adventurous diver, constantly seeking new spots worldwide.

John Rich is a highly experienced senior business executive with a strong background in agribusiness operations, development banking and investment. 

Nationality: Australian 

Joined the Board: 2006 

Positions: Member of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee and member of the Sustainability & International Affairs Committee 

Career and prior highlights experience: 

• Member of the Australian College of Veterinary Science and a registered financial member of the Australian College of Veterinary Surgeons; 

• 1990-2003: Executive Director, Austasia Pty Ltd (agribusiness conglomerate SE Asia); 

• 1995-2002: Director AN-OSI Pty Ltd (supply chain management for feedlot beef, poultry and dairy operations SE Asia/China); 

• 2006-2019 Senior Consulting Agribusiness Industry Specialist IFC and Agribusiness consultant to IFC invested clients until 2020; 

• 2017-2021 Financial Board Advisor to ADM Capital and Independent Non-Executive Director at three other poultry-related companies; 

Current roles: 

• Managing Director of Australian Agricultural Nutrition and Consulting Pty Ltd (AANC); 

• Recently appointed to the Food and Agribusiness Advisory Council of the London based Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC); 

• Non-Executive director of Zambeef Product Limited (Zambia); and 

• Non-executive Director of Zalar Holding (Morocco). 

Jan Vanbrabant, EW Nutrition CEO, holds an MBA and a PhD in microbiology. Decades spent in leading positions in the industry made him a firm believer in a good future for animal protein.

He is leading EW Nutrition’s strategic development and overseeing its commercial success around the world.

Vinay joined Expana in 2023 as CPO and is, currently, also the interim CTO. As a leader of Expana’s Product and Technology team, he leads product strategy and execution, including development of Expana’s user friendly SaaS platform. Vinay has 25+ years of experience in product development and leadership, including Motorola (Symbol), Qlik and Interos. He is skilled in developing successful products that delight customers, having helped scale startups as well as transform product organizations at large enterprises. In particular, he has focused on helping companies find product market fit and deliver against key business goals and metrics. Vinay holds a Masters degree from Harvard University as well as a BE in Computer Science and Engineering.

Vinay is a supporter/volunteer for WeSeeHope, helping create sustainable change for vulnerable children in East Africa through education, child rights and economic empowerment initiatives. Vinay is an avid runner and scuba diver in his free time.

With 25 years in the hospitality industry, Bledi has been building experience in developing and enhancing food offerings, managing operations and leading teams.  Currently in the role of Head of Food at Pizza Pilgrims – an award-winning group with a purpose to make people happier, one pizza at a time – Bledi is responsible for evolving and elevating the food offer, whilst developing relationships with supply chain partners to safely procure the best-in-class commodities.  

Bledi leads a team that implements ways of working internally to support and deliver excellent quality, safe and diligent working practices, improved team engagement and regular and clear communication.  

Francesca Diazzi, a graduate in Food Technology from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, has for several years held the role of Senior Buyer at CIRFOOD, a leading company in Italy’s collective and commercial catering sector, with offices also in Belgium and the Netherlands. 

With over 6 years of experience in the sector, she has developed strong expertise in sourcing, negotiating, and managing food and beverage supplies for large-scale operations. Francesca has collaborated with numerous institutions, including schools, hospitals, and corporate facilities, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective solutions that meet diverse dietary requirements. 

Skilled in market analysis, vendor relationship management, and supply chain optimization, Francesca has a proven track record of reducing procurement costs while maintaining product quality and sustainability. She is adept at managing multi-million-dollar purchasing portfolios, negotiating favorable contracts, and implementing food safety and regulatory compliance standards. 

Passionate about staying ahead of industry trends, Francesca is committed to innovation and sustainability in sourcing practices. Her strategic approach to procurement, combined with a deep understanding of client needs, has consistently driven success in complex catering environments. 

Clive is widely recognised as one of the World’s leading commodities and derivatives specialists and is the founder of Contango Markets – a company that he has built into one of the world’s foremost commodity and derivatives trading and market technology consultancies, offering a full range of business development services across the product lifecycle.

His knowledge of the many products and sectors within the commodities and derivatives sphere is unrivalled. It is his unique combination of trading and exchange experienced twinned with his understanding of the role of innovation in product and market development that have made his services and those of Contango Markets a ‘must have’ for any organisation wishing to develop its commodity and derivatives market capabilities and offering.

Clive’s passion and flair for product and operational development have led him to work closely with a number of the world’s leading exchanges, banks, brokers, clearing houses and technology companies. His innovative approach to the challenges faced by exchanges wishing to establish new markets and services attracts clients who wish to differentiate themselves from the crowd.

Between 1993 and 1999 Clive was a senior executive at LIFFE/London Commodity Exchange (LCE), where he held the posts of Director of Business Development (LCE), Director – Commodity Products, Market Development and Communications Director and Director – Account Management.

Prior to this Clive was a successful coffee and cocoa trader for 16 years – first as a floor trader with GNI and then running futures and physical books for the J.Aron Coffee division of Goldman Sachs International. Whilst at Goldman he was elected to the Board of the London Commodity Exchange, was chairman of the LCE options and coffee markets and was chairman of the coffee-grading panel.

Clive is a regular speaker and presenter at conferences around the world on a variety of commodity and derivatives related issues.

Mat has over 20 years trading and management experience  at a number of large trade houses and energy company, covering a wide variety of products including Ocean Freight, Sugar, Corn, Coffee, Cocoa, combining physical and dedicates trading.  Recently he has moved into consultancy for a number of companies including Group Sopex,  a Belgian softs company where he is a global strategist and board member.  Mat has also set up his only university program Called the Liverpool Business School Commodity Trading Hub (LBSCTH), where he is introducing students the commodities business as well as finding them employment in the sector. 

Jeroen Floris is an experienced and metrics-focused Commercial Director, MSU Director, Trade marketing Manager and Entrepreneur with over 30+ years international experience in the Food and Retail industry, coupled with vast expertise in International Marketing and Sales, International Business Development, Team Management, Operational Management, multiple country P&L management and Building organizations across multiple countries and markets.  As a results-driven Leader, Product Developer and Project Manager, Floris has been accountable for delivering sustainable and profitable growth and innovation for leading brands and categories including Beemster cheese and Bertolli Olive Oil, in various and highly competitive markets and channels. 

As part of his Education, Training, and professional development, he has completed a certificate in Food & Innovation as part of an Executive MBA, a bachelor’s degree in Small Business & Retail Management, and a wide range of Management courses related to developing Food Chains, Marketing, Sales, Product development, Retail Management, Accounting and Corporate Finance.   

Having worked as a core part of the management with Beemster, Floris built a new brand from scratch to what is now the #1 cheese brand in Netherlands.   He implemented a sustainability program (Cairing Dairy), building its USP and growth driver in Retail and Foodservice, whilst also developing and sustained a strong international organization at Deoleo to build the category and drive sales growth.  At the Storteboom Food Group he developed and built a strong sales organization to build a new strategy to change into retail and added value organization (Within 6 years 35% share in retail and significant growth in Foodservice / QSR).  

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Ann-Nina is a seasoned geostrategic communications advisor with over 25 years of experience across multinational corporations, government, and the NGO sector. She specializes in a 360-degree approach to geopolitics, strategic communications, and stakeholder management, with expertise spanning retail, energy, foreign affairs, government, and media.

Previously, Ann-Nina served as Global Senior Vice President for Public Affairs at Burson, advising multinational clients on high-level geopolitical and geoeconomic matters. She also led global public affairs at Ingka (IKEA Group), overseeing public affairs teams across 30+ markets. Prior to that, she directed corporate communications and political affairs for E.ON in the Nordic countries and Poland.

Ann-Nina also has experience from regional politics and spent nearly 15 years in journalism, including roles as a war correspondent and national anchor. She holds a Master’s degree in history and political science from Åbo Akademi University, Finland, and is fluent in English, Swedish, and Finnish.

Heleen Blesgraaf is an experienced Corporate Engagement Manager at Solidaridad Europe, an NGO dedicated to promoting fair and sustainable value chains for commodities such as cocoa, coffee, and palm oil. She works closely with European market actors, including corporations and governments, to drive commitments toward sustainability. Heleen’s current focus includes upcoming European sustainability legislation, such as the EUDR and CSDDD.  

Seasoned sugar market research analyst with a deep understanding of supply-demand dynamics, price forecasting, and risk analysis. Working with Viterra, Arun integrates macroeconomic trends, statistical modelling, and industry intelligence to navigate the complexities of the global sugar market’. 

Robert Veldhuizen serves as Client Success Manager at Sibylline, overseeing clients and business development opportunities across EMEA and APAC regions. Robert specializes in helping organizations navigate complex intersections of political and macroeconomic risk, market dynamics and broader societal and sociocultural trends to identify both emerging challenges and opportunities. His integrated approach enables clients to make informed decisions across various industry domains and contexts, backed by comprehensive analysis spanning geopolitical intelligence, stakeholder research, and deep-dive assessments of consumer, financial and industry markets.

Mindy McBee is a dynamic leader with over a decade of experience at Cargill, where she has excelled in diverse roles across functions and regions. She began her Cargill career in grain merchandising and has been in Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health since 2014. She has held leadership roles across pricing, formulation, sales, and sourcing.  

Mindy played a key role in integrating Southern States after its acquisition in 2017, ensuring a smooth transition for employees and systems. As Strategic Accounts Sales Leader, she built strong relationships with major agricultural retail customers which led to the expansion of long-term partnerships. During COVID, Mindy guided teams and customers through unprecedented demand surges and global supply chain disruptions, ensuring business continuity. 

Currently, Mindy is the Global Sourcing Senior Director for Cargill’s Risk Management & Sourcing team, based in Geneva, Switzerland. She leads a global team managing micro-ingredient sourcing and logistics, driving supplier partnerships, and negotiating strategic agreements to support global supply chain resilience. Her leadership also extends to Cargill’s Micronutrition & Health Solutions business as a member of the global leadership team. 

An alumna of Kansas State University (B.S. Agribusiness) and the Kellogg School of Management (MBA), Mindy was recognized as Kansas State Distinguished Young Alumni in 2020. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring Europe with her husband, Tyler, and their two young children. Mindy’s career reflects her passion for leadership, agriculture, and Cargill’s purpose of nourishing the world. 

Justin van der Sluis is responsible for managing Rabobank’s global Food & Agribusiness research team.  

Justin brings 20 years of experience in research and business development within the banking sector, and over 10 years in the food and agriculture industry. Prior to joining RaboResearch, Justin served as the Commercial Director at Banco Regional, Rabobank’s Food & Agribusiness partner bank, based in Asunción, Paraguay. Previously, he was responsible for establishing knowledge-sharing platforms and developing customer-oriented value propositions for Rabobank’s SME clients in The Netherlands. Justin holds a PhD in Economics and Business from the University of Amsterdam. 

Jan-Willem Wits (1968) worked as a spokesman and public affairs manager for several organizations. In 2014 Jan-Willem started his own company as an independant consultant. One of his oldest clients is the Dutch Association of Dairy Producers (NZO), especially on sustainability issues. In 2022 he became the spokesman of Johan Remkes, a former Deputy Prime Minister. Remkes was asked to lead stakeholder discussions with the prime minister and several senior ministers, farmers, trade associations and environmental organizations on the future of the agricultural sector in the Netherlands. Following Jan-Willem was the spokesman of the Agricultural Agreement, in which senior members of the cabinet negotiated with representatives of farmers, the food industry FNLI), retail companies (CBL) and other chain parties about the transition of the agri-food sector into a more sustainable industry, from an environmental and economic perspective.   

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Stuart Ritson is a coffee consultant, Director of Osito Coffee & Cacao’s European branch and former Board Member of the Specialty Coffee Association. Throughout his time in the coffee industry he has been fortunate to spend time working directly with cafes, roasters, exporters and importers around the world.  Having lived in China, Germany, the UK and now the Netherlands, he has spent time cultivating a strong sense of different coffee cultures, markets and how they connect. His broad range of experience and expertise has allowed him to work on complex projects, solving novel issues, developing new products, and sourcing green and roasted coffees efficiently. Stuart also frequently writes for coffee trade publications such as Coffee Intelligence, Caffeine Magazine and others. In more recent years, Stuart has begun working on projects with cacao/cocoa growers and bean to bar chocolate makers. 

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Andrew is the US Managing Editor of the Non-Protein PRA Team at Expana, where he directs a multinational team of price reporters covering agri-food commodities, and who produce proprietary prices in many opaque US markets as well as regular reports and insight for Expana clients. Andrew has years of experience in commodity risk management, creating and executing hedging strategies for soft commodities and leading commercial cost price negotiations with some of Europe’s largest CPG companies. In addition to covering the coffee and cocoa markets within Expana, Andrew leads on engagement with finance industry professionals to develop risk management solutions. 

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Sandro Schulz is the EMEA Protein Team Lead at Mintec. During his career at Mintec, Sandro has worked on implementing and expanding Mintec’s protein coverage in Europe. His primary duties include reporting on the pork and dairy market and leading the EMEA protein team. Sandro graduated from IHK Niedersachsen, with a Bachelor Professional Degree in Business

Andrew Woods is an Industrial Market Reporter at Expana. As part of his role, he leads coverage in the glass markets and has launched benchmarks for many different products in the industry, a world first. He also covers plastics, energy and macroeconomics. With a background in International Relations and degrees from the University of St Andrews and the University of Hong Kong, Andrew enjoys exploring the relationship between geopolitics and commodities. He is a Member of the Society of Technical Analysts and is currently learning Chinese.

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Rutika Ghodekar is a meat market reporter at Expana, focusing on beef and chicken markets.  As a market reporter, she provides strategic and actionable insights on commodities through in-depth market reports and client presentations. Rutika has over 12 years of experience in analysing, and interpreting commodity and agricultural market intelligence across the food and beverage industry. Before joining Expana, she worked as a market analyst and consultant for various fast-moving consumer research companies/agencies.

Rutika has a degree in Horticulture and Master’s in Business Administration (Marketing) from the University of Pune, India.

Kyle is a senior market reporter responsible for covering the European Oilseeds and Oils markets and with significant experience Kyle has a well-established network of key industry people as his regular contacts.

Kyle’s aim is to always provide unbiased and transparent information on the market which he shares with the industry through webinars, blogs and his weekly veg oil reports.

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Dineo Komane is a Market Reporter at Urner Barry, she provides market coverage on UK beef and European whitefish markets. Dineo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from South Africa. She has over 5 years experience in the Agri-commodity and food sectors. Prior to market reporting, she has held  Account Manager roles both in South Africa and in France. Dineo lives in the South of France with her family.

Kika Buhrmann, CEO of Nespresso Netherlands since April 2023, is an inspiring leader with diverse international experience in Spain, Switzerland, and the USA.   

Leading  Nespresso Netherlands, she fosters a culture of intentional collaboration and innovation, driving positive impact in the coffee industry and sustainability. She is fueled by the desire to create a better world for future generations. With over 20 years of expertise, she knows how to put the customer experience and employee experience at the core of her thinking, whilst being a strong advocate for diversity initiatives at Nespresso and beyond.  She’s on a mission to make every sip of coffee count!  

As the keynote speaker at WFA Europe and a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, Kika will provide an honest and inspiring look at the challenges an experienced leader in the coffee sector has faced throughout her career, the lessons learned, and the tools she has found and used along the way. Her reflections and actionable strategies will empower you to craft your own recipe for success. 

Kika is a Dutch and Brazilian citizen. She has 3 children and in her free time enjoys making jewelry as well as exploring the world through her children’s perspective.  

Her personal mantra is “Do something today that your future self will thank you for”. 

With 21 years of professional experience, Seda Gumuspala is a seasoned expert in Strategic Procurement, Marketing, and Sales within multinational companies across diverse business areas in Istanbul, Milan, and the Netherlands. Known for an exceptional ability to lead cross-functional teams, negotiate contracts, develop long-term commodity strategies, and perform comprehensive cost analysis, Seda has made significant contributions in various prestigious roles. 

Currently, Seda works as the Global Procurement Director at Unilever, managing 1.8 billion € annual spend on Soft Commodities for the largest ice cream company in the world. Seda`s leadership extends to managing a global team of 25 people, developing comprehensive category risk management programs, and creating strategic visions for complex and dynamic environments. Seda is also leading the Joint Buying Program with other FMCG companies across all Unilever BGs. 

Prior to this, Seda was CPO at Coca-Cola Beverages in Istanbul, 5th biggest bother of Coca-Cola Company, managing direct and indirect procurement for 11 countries with a 3 billion € spend and leading a team of 100 people. Seda played a crucial role in developing and implementing group procurement strategies, ensuring sustainability, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to meet organizational goals. 

In addition to procurement, Seda also worked as Head of Sales for Global Key Accounts at ThyssenKrupp Stainless in Milan, Seda managed global sales activities and negotiations for key accounts in consumer goods. Seda`s strategic acumen and focus on profitability analysis and customer satisfaction drove significant business growth. 

Early in her career, Seda held significant roles at Erdemir, Arcelik/Beko, and Toyota Tsusho, in procurement, marketing, and supply chain management. 

Seda’s extensive experience and strategic mindset makes a valuable asset in any organization, consistently delivering exceptional results and driving sustainable growth. 

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Sunil Nayak is Zone President for Europe, region CEO of Continental Europe and the executive sponsor for Global Strategic Accounts at Sodexo.

Sunil’s passion for food began when he opened a food cart on the streets of Mumbai in 1989, and continues today at Sodexo – a world leader in delivering sustainable food service and valued experiences in over 50 countries.

Sunil joined Sodexo in 2009 as CEO Sodexo India. He went on to grow and transform the business in India and held global strategic roles including CEO Corporate Services Asia Pacific and in 2019 CEO Corporate Services worldwide. He has been a member of Sodexo’s group executive leadership team since 2019 and in November 2022, he was appointed Zone President for Europe with responsibility for the implementation of Sodexo’s strategic roadmap across the Zone and in January 2023, he was also appointed CEO of the Continental Europe region, leading 18 countries.

Sunil is an executive sponsor of diversity, equity & inclusion at Sodexo, providing direction and leadership to SoTogether – a global advisory board driving gender balance by advancing women at all levels of the organization. He is also a sponsor of SheLeads, a program aiming to accelerate the development and empowerment of female leaders across Sodexo, as well as a mentor for the program.

Externally, he is a member of the advisory boards of Women in Food and Agriculture (WFA) and Catalyst Europe.

Beyond his professional work, Sunil champions inclusion and founded Ra Foundation, an NGO that supports children’s education, a cause close to his heart. Sunil is Indian and speaks English and Hindi.

Prior to becoming Executive Vice President, Sustainability, Corporate Affairs and Transformation in November 2023, Alexandra Brand led one of Syngenta Group’s largest and most profitable businesses as the Crop Protection Regional Director for EAME.

From 2018 – 2020, Alexandra Brand was Chief Sustainability Officer of Syngenta Group where she led the newly created Business Sustainability Group to evolve existing sustainability initiatives including The Good Growth Plan and to drive forward the company’s sustainability agenda. Alexandra joined Syngenta in late 2015 as Regional Director of Syngenta’s crop protection and seed operations across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Before joining Syngenta, Alexandra held various positions in the BASF Group, including senior vice president of its global Animal Nutrition business unit, vice president of the Global Marketing Pharma Ingredients unit as well as chief of staff for BASF’s chief executive officer. Alexandra gained international experience through her role as director of BASF’s Sub Regional Operating Manager Intermediates in South Asia, with its headquarters in Mumbai, India.

Alexandra studied chemistry at the Technische Universität in Darmstadt, Germany, from 1990 to 1998 and completed her studies with a doctorate.

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Eleonore currently leads procurement & supply chain at Pizza Hut UK & Europe, prior to which she advised numerous organisations in the food industries & beyond as a consultant. Her focus has been on delivering results that combine commercial excellence and sustainability improvement all along the food value chain. – demystifying the perception that sustainability is expensive. 

Eleonore is also a strong advocate of women’s leadership in the supply chain and is dedicated to empowering individuals to build impactful careers, shaping the future of a more resilient and sustainable global food system.  

Jamie Chadwick is Managing Editor, directing the company’s news division in the Americas. She leads an elite team of writers, analysts, and global correspondents responsible for delivering the latest in breaking agricultural and food industry news to our network of subscribers. Serving previously as a livestock analyst for Urner Barry, she developed the framework for reporting impactful and objective intelligence for those operating throughout the entire agri-food space. Jamie has authored numerous educational resources on behalf of the protein industry and her experience has made her a sought-after speaker at industry events in the U.S., Canada and in Europe. She is a champion of the Women in Food and Agriculture initiative, serving as the Summit Chairman and campaign spokesperson.  

Dr. Ayanna R. Cummings, PhD, MBA, CDE®, SPHR, is a trailblazer in agricultural education and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leadership. As Co-Founder and CEO of AgriEmpower, LLC, she leads initiatives to address food deserts, health inequities, and economic disparities through partnerships with community and technical colleges, minority-owned agricultural enterprises, and under-resourced communities. AgriEmpower focuses on empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders with a curriculum that integrates sustainable practices, technological innovation, and community engagement. Its mission, “Where there is food, there is life,” reflects its commitment to fostering collaboration for a healthier, equitable future. 

Dr. Cummings brings a wealth of expertise in inclusion and equity training, with over a decade of experience in cultural transformation, DEI strategy, and community advocacy. A distinguished scholar-practitioner, her work has been recognized nationally, including the Top DEI Officer Award from the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Dr. Cummings holds a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, an MBA in Marketing, and certifications as a Certified Diversity Executive and Senior Professional in Human Resources. 

Her dual commitment to equitable agricultural education and inclusive leadership positions her as a visionary voice in bridging community empowerment with sustainable food systems, making a profound impact on agriculture’s future. 

As Head of HR and a member of the Management Board at Alltech Coppens, Katja Hermans oversees human resources operations across three key locations: the Head Office and Research Center in the Netherlands, the production facility in Germany, and the HR functions for Alltech Netherlands and Alltech Germany. In her leadership role, Katja plays a pivotal part in shaping the strategic direction and organizational culture of Alltech Coppens. 

From the outset of her career, Katja has been passionate about human resources. This enthusiasm has fueled her commitment to continuous professional development and has been a guiding force in her career. She has actively pursued opportunities to deepen her expertise in HR management, labor law, and leadership. 

Prior to her current position, Katja gained significant leadership experience as a Branch Manager. In this role, she oversaw branch operations, led staff recruitment efforts, and managed client relations, delivering strong business outcomes. 

Katja has further enhanced her professional credentials through various certifications and training, including qualifications as an economic mediator and psychological coach. Her passion for employment law has also led her to serve as an independent judge at the labor court in Germany. 

With her unwavering dedication to HR, strong leadership skills, and active participation as part of the management team, Katja is instrumental in driving the success of Alltech Coppens and contributing to Alltech’s broader mission of achieving excellence. 

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From a small village to the global stage, Abir Haddoud’s journey is a testament to resilience, ambition, and the power of strategic thinking. Honored as a top student by the Algerian President at just 16, she pursued her education in France, earning a spot in a prestigious global engineering school. By 21, she was contributing to a leading strategy consulting firm, and by 27, she became the youngest executive in a $2 billion company.

Today, Abir is an accomplished entrepreneur, having founded two successful companies, including an EdTech venture, while advising leaders across industries on strategy, transformation, and leadership.

At Women in Food and Agriculture, Abir will share her insights on navigating male-dominated spaces, authentic leadership, and building strategic alliances for career growth. Her approach emphasizes staying true to oneself while driving impactful results.

Abir’s story is one of empowerment and possibility, inviting others to embrace bold strategies and unlock their full potential.

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Sapphira Waterson is the Chief Executive Officer of Management Development Services (MDS). With over 20 years of experience in leadership, talent development, and organisational strategy, Sapphira is passionate about helping individuals unlock their full potential and build meaningful careers.

At MDS, she leads with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, ensuring that professionals are equipped with the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Under her guidance, MDS has become a trusted name in management training within the food industry, recognised for creating pathways to success for aspiring leaders.

Sapphira’s commitment to empowering others is at the heart of her work. She excels at building strong relationships, fostering growth, and developing strategic solutions that address real-world challenges. Her ability to connect with people and inspire confidence has led to lasting partnerships and a culture where talent thrives.

As an Executive Coach, Sapphira blends insight, strategy, and empathy to support professional growth and career success. Her dedication to helping others realise their potential continues to drive MDS’s mission and success.

Thaís Souza is the Global Marketing Director for Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health, where she drives the development and implementation of global marketing capabilities within the company’s Strategic Marketing & Technology (SMT) organization. She collaborates with sales, technical, marketing, and R&D leaders worldwide to transform market, customer, and consumer insights into impactful strategies that deliver measurable results. 

With over 16 years of experience in brand building and marketing strategy, particularly in B2B markets, Thaís has successfully led large, multinational teams and delivered results at both regional and global levels. Her expertise spans strategy creation through execution, ensuring alignment with business objectives. 

Prior to joining Cargill, Thaís held various leadership positions at AkzoNobel, where she was pivotal in driving marketing excellence, implementing best practices, and providing strategic guidance. In her most recent role at AkzoNobel, she served as Corporate Director of Communications, overseeing the corporate brand’s reputation, internal communications, corporate partnerships, public affairs, and media relations. 

Originally from Brazil, Thaís holds an MBA in Business Management and Competitive Intelligence. Since 2018, she has been based in the Netherlands, bringing innovation and strategic leadership to her work. 

As Director of Market Reporting, Tosin has extensive experience in analysing, interpreting, and communicating commodity and agricultural market intelligence across various markets within the food and beverage supply chain. Leading a skilled team of market reporters, she ensures the delivery of reliable commodity prices, insightful market data analysis, and evaluation of critical event impacts on market dynamics. Beyond overseeing day-to-day operations, she provides invaluable specialist knowledge and actionable insights for stakeholders in the food and agriculture industry.  

 

Tosin has a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan and a Master’s in International Economics, Finance and Development from the University of Surrey.