Food Safety & Quality

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October 5th

October 6th

October 7th

3:00 pm

Registration

3:30 pm - 4:20 pm WELCOME DAY SPECIAL CONTENT

Advancing Food Safety & Quality: What’s Working, What’s Changing, and What’s Next

Frank Yiannas

Former Deputy Commissioner, Food Policy & Response

FDA

Mahirwan Bhagia

Vice President - Chief Food Safety & Quality Assurance Officer

PepsiCo

Bill Marler

Lawyer

Marler Clark Inc, PS

Session Details

Programs & Culture: Are current programs driving real improvement, or fostering complacency? How do we foster curiosity, accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement?
Technology & Data: How are AI, blockchain, and predictive analytics transforming daily FSQ operations? Which tools are delivering actionable insights without overwhelming teams?
Supply Chain Resilience: What strategies ensure visibility, traceability, and fraud prevention across complex, global food systems? How are reactive measures becoming long-term solutions?
Regulatory Compliance & Global Standards: How can organizations harmonize compliance across regions while exceeding expectations? How do we balance global standards with local adaptation?
Consumer Safety & Education: How do we empower consumers and frontline teams to make safer, higher-quality food choices? What role do behavioral nudges, training, SOPs, and campaigns play?

4:25 pm - 5:00 pm WELCOME DAY SPECIAL CONTENT

Workshop: From Data to Action - Turning Food Safety Metrics into Business Impact

Session Details

Showcasing how real-time data collection and predictive analytics can identify risks before they escalate
Translating FSQ metrics into actionable insights that drive operational efficiency and reduce waste
Demonstrating case studies where data-driven decision-making prevented recalls or compliance issues
Exploring tools and frameworks that make FSQ performance measurable, visible, and tied to business outcomes

5:05 pm - 5:55 pm WELCOME DAY SPECIAL CONTENT

The Next Generation of FSQ Leaders: Talent, Culture, and Succession

Rosalind Zils

Vice President, Global Quality

Ingredion

Allison DeGraffenreid

Vice President Food Safety & Quality Assurance

Monogram Foods

Session Details

Talent & Recruitment: How are organizations attracting and retaining the next generation of leaders in a competitive, tech-enabled talent landscape?
Leadership Development: How are mentorship, training, and rotational programs preparing emerging leaders for strategic FSQ roles?
Culture & Engagement: Are current FSQ cultures fostering accountability, curiosity, and innovation? How do we keep teams motivated and aligned with organizational values?
Succession Planning: How can organizations ensure continuity of knowledge and leadership across FSQ, QA/QC, and regulatory functions?
Cross-Functional Collaboration: How are FSQ leaders working with operations, compliance, and risk management to break down silos and improve decision-making?

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Drinks Reception

October 5th

October 6th

October 7th

7:30 am - 8:15 am

registration & breakfast

8:15 am - 8:30 am

Opening Remarks, Important Announcements & Chair’s Welcome Address

Peter Begg

Chief Food Safety & Quality Officer

Lyons Magnus

Laurie Gerbers

Vice President of Food Safety, Quality, and HSE

Maker's Pride

8:30 am - 9:05 am KEYNOTE

Culture, Compliance, and Confidence: Redefining Food Safety Leadership

Frank Yiannas

Former Deputy Commissioner, Food Policy & Response

FDA

Session Details

Elevating food safety culture from a compliance checklist to an inherent leadership philosophy and foundational business differentiator
Leading the shift from legacy, reactive processes to a proactive, data-driven system that anticipates and eliminates future risks
Leveraging the power of human behavior to drive ownership and accountability, turning every employee into a dedicated safety champion
Building a system so robust and transparent that it instills unwavering trust among the C-suite, regulatory partners, and consumers

9:10 am - 9:45 am Case Studies

Stream One – Food Safety

Liability: The Cost of Failure and the Legal Duty of Care

Bill Marler

Lawyer

Marler Clark Inc, PS

Session Details

Overview of current foodborne illness litigation trends, focusing on class actions, product liability, and the use of punitive damages
Clarification of the executive and corporate legal duty of care to consumers versus simple regulatory compliance, using landmark court examples
Using real-life case studies to demonstrate critical mistakes that exponentially increase corporate liability during an outbreak
Quantifying the financial, criminal, and personal costs of a major outbreak versus the investment required for proactive prevention and control

Stream Two – Quality

Building Quality Talent for the Future: Skills, Partnerships, and Organizational Growth

Amy Wilcox

Senior Director, Food Safety & Quality Systems

McDonald's

Session Details

Developing the next generation of quality leaders.
How quality functions can adapt, evolve, and thrive in a rapidly changing food environment.
Leveraging partnerships and collaborative relationships to grow talent and share best practices.
Strategies for positioning resources and managing risk to ensure consistent quality for all customers.

Stream Three – Regulatory

Navigating the Regulatory Divide: Strategic Compliance in a Converging World

Session Details

Demonstrating how teams establish a global regulatory strategy to proactively manage the increasing divergence between major trade blocs (e.g., EU, US, China)
Discussing why reliance on a single, most-restrictive regional standard is an insufficient strategy, necessitating an agile, data-driven framework for maintaining multi-market compliance
Looking at the necessary cross-functional integration between Legal, Regulatory, and R&D to translate complex international changes into compliant product specifications and sourcing decisions
Highlighting the strategic advantage of participating in global harmonization initiatives to influence future standards and reduce the organizational compliance burden

9:50 am - 10:25 am Workshops

STREAM 1 WORKSHOP

The Digital Edge: Achieving Global Food Safety and Quality Compliance with AI and Automation

Executive to be Announced

Tracegains

Session Details

Demonstrating how AI and machine learning are utilized to analyze vast supply chain data for predictive risk assessment and continuous supplier scoring
Outlining the methods for fully automating the collection, verification, and renewal of supplier compliance documents, ensuring 24/7 audit readiness
Showcasing how a unified, cloud-based platform centralizes critical data, enabling rapid management of product specifications and quality events
Demonstrating the tools for automatically tracking and mapping global regulatory changes to current product specifications and internal compliance standards

STREAM 2 WORKSHOP

Enterprise Quality Management: Leveraging Technology to Standardize and Elevate Quality Systems

Executive to be Announced

CMX1

Session Details

Demonstrating how to digitally standardize global Quality Management System (QMS) processes, ensuring uniformity across all manufacturing and operating sites
Outlining the methods for transforming site-level quality audits and inspections into dynamic, data-driven workflows that mandate effective closed-loop corrective actions (CAPA)
Showcasing how integrated non-conformance and incident management tools provide enterprise visibility to quickly manage and mitigate high-risk quality events
Looking at the value of centralized Quality Intelligence and metrics for identifying systemic risks, prioritizing resources, and driving continuous improvement (CI) initiatives

STREAM 3 WORKSHOP

Ensuring Food Safety and Quality Through Real-Time Cold Chain Visibility

Executive to be Announced

Tive

Session Details

Establishing end-to-end, real-time visibility into the location and temperature conditions of shipments to meet mandated regulatory record-keeping requirements
Transforming cold chain management by utilizing immediate alerts to proactively prevent quality degradation and avoid costly, non-compliant temperature excursions
Implementing granular, traceable shipment data to build an unbreakable digital audit trail, ensuring swift compliance with global rules like FSMA 204
Looking at how tracking data optimizes logistics and provides documented evidence for carrier performance review under supplier verification rules

10:30 am - 12:10 pm Pre-Arranged One-To-One Meetings Arrow Icon

These mutually agreed-upon conversations are arranged and facilitated by Executive Platforms staff to ensure attendees have valuable discussions about their top-of-mind questions, challenges, and opportunities.

10:35 am – 10:55 am: Meeting Slot 1/Networking
11:00 am – 11:20 am: Meeting Slot 2/Networking
11:25 am – 11:45 am: Meeting Slot 3/Networking
11:50 am – 12:10 am: Meeting Slot 4/Networking

12:15 pm - 12:50 pm Case Studies

Stream One – Food Safety

Sanitation as a Capital Investment: Executive Governance for Pathogen Control

Session Details

Demonstrating how to build the business case for capital investment in sanitary design and automated sanitation technology, focusing on ROI through liability reduction and operational efficiency
Discussing why the C-suite must own the accountability for persistent pathogen control, requiring a governance model that links sanitation KPIs directly to executive performance metrics
Looking at strategic frameworks for conducting a comprehensive corporate-wide assessment of pathogen risk, ensuring consistency across all facilities and co-manufacturers
Highlighting the non-negotiable standards for Environmental Monitoring Programs (EMP) and incident response, positioning them as a core component of organizational resilience against major outbreaks

Stream Two – Quality

Strategic Quality Leadership: Managing Risk and Compliance in a Complex Global Flavor Supply Chain

Martha Zapata

Vice President, Quality and Regulatory, Americas

McCormick

Session Details

Real examples of developing and implementing Food Fraud Vulnerability Assessments (VACCP) to safeguard high-risk raw materials like spices and botanicals
Discussing why it is critical to harmonize Quality and Regulatory standards across diverse geographic regions (e.g., North, Central, and South America) to ensure brand consistency and compliance
Looking at advanced techniques for supplier assurance and upstream monitoring, specifically how to audit and verify compliance for complex, agricultural supply chains at the point of origin
Highlighting the role of Quality Leadership in translating complex regulatory changes and consumer demands into effective, scalable enterprise quality management programs

Stream Three – Regulatory

The Knowledge Gap: Moving Beyond Compliance to Embed Expertise in Food Safety Systems

Sara Mortimore

Former VP Global Food Safety Compliance

Walmart

Session Details

Demonstrating how the reliance on third-party compliance and certification can inadvertently lead to complacency regarding fundamental food safety knowledge
Discussing why it is essential to transition from a purely culture-based approach to one that ensures frontline personnel possess the necessary technical skills and expertise to manage risk
Looking at the failure of current industry education models to adequately prepare food safety professionals and plant operators to identify and mitigate complex risks
Highlighting the strategic shift needed in leadership to prioritize critical thinking and curiosity over checklist execution in daily food safety operations

12:50 pm - 1:50 pm THEMED LUNCH DISCUSSIONS

Explore this year’s themed lunch discussions led by industry leaders, where executives engage in focused conversations over a meal, discussing topics they’re passionate about alongside their peers.

What FSQ Risks Are Emerging as Tariffs Force New Customer Decisions?

Sue Holbert

Director, FSQRA Customer/Consumer Engagement

Conagra Brands

How Do You Standardize Quality Systems While Expanding to New Facilities

David Melton

Corporate Manager, Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory

Daisy Brand

How Are FSQ Leaders Building Readiness Plans for Transparency and Emerging Risks

Elysse Salumbides

Director, Quality Systems

Maker’s Pride

Jen Griffin

VP, FSQA

Novus Foods

Quality in Innovation: Balancing New Product Development with Standards

James Longo

Director of Compliance

OverSeas Food Trading

Compliance Without Complexity: Streamlining Processes for Teams

Navigating Product Recalls: Regulatory Reporting and Best Practices

Compliance Without Complexity: Streamlining Processes for Teams

Navigating Product Recalls: Regulatory Reporting and Best Practices

How Can We FSMS Governance Evolve Without Burdening HACCP/HARPC?

How Are FSQ Teams Preparing for Shifting FDA Packaging & Labeling Rules?

1:55 pm - 2:30 pm Case Studies

Stream One – Food Safety

Rethinking Freshness: Meeting Guest Expectations While Managing Quality and Shelf Life

Executive to be Announced

Target

Session Details

Where the industry stands today on freshness and how expectations have evolved.
The impact of freshness and shelf life pressures on retail food safety and quality systems.
What resonates most with today’s guests — reliability, consistency, and trust in fresh foods.
Practical insights on balancing shelf life, waste, safety, and quality.

Stream Two – Quality

From the Floor to the Boardroom: Embedding QFS Culture Across the Organization

Yanyan Huang

Global Vice President, Quality and Food Safety

ADM

Session Details

Driving Behavior Change at the Frontline: Practical strategies to embed food safety into daily habits and shift cultural mindsets on the floor
Why today’s FSQ leaders must evolve to coaches to build trust and accountability
Rethinking Recruitment: How are we Integrating Food Safety Expectations directly into job design, onboarding, and role clarity from day one?
Push Culture Upward, Not Just Downward: Why Tactics for getting buy-in and visible participation from executive leadership in FSQ initiatives are imperative in today’s landscape?
How can we Make Food Safety & Quality a boardroom conversation — not just a plant-floor responsibility

Stream Three – Regulatory

FSMA 204: Architecting the Digital Traceability Mandate at Scale

Session Details

Demonstrating how executive teams are strategically re-architecting ERP and data systems to handle the high volume and complexity of Key Data Element (KDE) capture mandated by FSMA 204
Discussing why achieving verifiable, end-to-end interoperability with critical supply chain partners presents a significant vendor management and resource allocation challenge at the director level
Looking at the development of enterprise-wide risk modeling to prioritize and resource the implementation of Critical Tracking Event (CTE) monitoring across high-volume facilities
Highlighting the financial and operational risk profile associated with non-compliance, framing enhanced traceability as a core organizational resilience strategy rather than just a regulation

2:35 pm - 3:10 pm Workshops

STREAM 1 WORKSHOP

Digital Transformation: Leveraging Integrated Data for Predictive Food Safety

Executive to be Announced

Trustwell

Session Details

Strategies for achieving end-to-end data integration across supplier management, QMS, and regulatory compliance to identify systemic vulnerabilities
Defining the roadmap for transitioning from reactive incident tracking to predictive risk modeling, using aggregated supply chain data to anticipate hazards
Building the digital command center that guarantees immediate, auditable access to all necessary records (HACCP/FSMA, specifications) for regulatory and third-party inspections
Quantifying the financial returns of implementing robust, granular traceability systems that minimize recall scope and protect brand reputation

STREAM 2 WORKSHOP

Mastering Quality and Performance Across Multi-Unit Operations

Executive to be Announced

FranConnect

Session Details

Defining the executive strategy for harmonizing quality and operating standards across thousands of geographically diverse franchise or retail locations
Implementing a unified quality scoring system that effectively translates corporate standards into actionable, site-specific KPIs for franchise owners and operators
Leveraging mobile technology and centralized platforms to ensure training, audits, and corrective actions are deployed consistently and verified efficiently across the enterprise
Understanding the legal and commercial mechanisms required to enforce quality standards and accountability within the franchise agreement structure

STREAM 3 WORKSHOP

Global Market Access: Navigating Non-GMO, Authenticity, and International Regulatory Hurdles

Executive to be Announced

FoodChainID

Session Details

Strategies for establishing a resilient product regulatory strategy to successfully navigate conflicting compliance requirements for non-GMO, allergen, and clean label claims across major markets
Building a sophisticated food authenticity program (VACCP) that goes beyond simple compliance to safeguard against the increasing threat of global economic adulteration and fraud
Assessing the strategic value and business case for pursuing third-party, market-driven certifications (e.g., Non-GMO, Organic) as a tool for competitive advantage and consumer trust
Implementing a data-driven platform to manage complex ingredient documentation and regulatory submissions, accelerating time-to-market for new products globally

3:15 pm - 4:25 pm Pre-Arranged One-To-One Meetings Arrow Icon

3:15 pm – 3:35 pm: Meeting Slot 5/Networking
3:40 pm – 4:00 pm: Meeting Slot 6/Networking
4:05 pm – 4:25 pm: Meeting Slot 7/Networking

4:30 pm - 5:05 pm KEYNOTE

Operationalizing Culture: Leading the Shift to Total Quality Ownership

Session Details

The leadership model used to transition ownership of quality and compliance to Operations Management
Methods for aligning incentives using shared KPIs (e.g., First-Pass Yield) across Quality and Production teams
Frameworks for assessing and scaling cultural maturity across multi-site organizations
Empowering frontline leaders to become the first line of defense in process control

5:05 pm - 5:10 pm

Chair’s Closing Remarks

5:10 pm

Drinks Reception

October 5th

October 6th

October 7th

8:00 am - 8:45 am

Breakfast

8:10 am - 8:45 am breakfast workshops

Stream Two

Investment in Prevention: Mastering Sanitation and Foreign Material Control

Executive to be Announced

Amerisan

Session Details

Justifying capital investment in equipment and facility design that supports superior cleanability and reduces harborage points for pathogens
Implementing a multi-barrier approach against foreign material, focusing on color-coded systems, detectable products, and standardized 5S visual programs
Utilizing tool-tracking software and visual aids to drive frontline accountability and embed sanitary practices as a core part of operational discipline
Demonstrating the Return on Investment (ROI) of comprehensive sanitation programs, linking reduced waste, lower water/chemical consumption, and risk mitigation to profitability

8:50 am - 9:00 am

Chair’s Opening Remarks

9:00 am - 9:35 am KEYNOTE

Global Harmonization: Managing Quality Standards Across 190+ Countries

Executive to be Announced

Unilever

Session Details

Establishing a unified global quality framework while adapting to regional regulatory differences and infrastructure realities
Managing conflicting compliance requirements across major markets (EU, US, China, emerging economies) without stalling innovation
Scaling audit and verification programs across hundreds of facilities when capabilities and third-party support vary dramatically
Leveraging digital platforms for real-time visibility, compliance tracking, and rapid issue response across diverse geographies

9:40 am - 10:15 am Case Studies

Stream One – Food Safety

Building Food Safety Culture at Scale: Practical Strategies for Complex Operations

Dan Fone

Vice President - Food Safety, Quality & Sanitation

Dollar Tree

Session Details

Discussing evidence-based approaches to measuring and improving food safety culture across diverse operational environments
Discovering how to translate global standards (GFSI, PAS 320) into actionable programs that drive behavioral change
Exploring strategies for sustaining food safety culture in high-volume, resource-constrained environment

Stream Two – Quality

Connecting the Dots: Leveraging Traceability to Deliver Quality Every Step of the Way

J. Keith Jackson

Vice President of Corporate Quality Assurance

Performance Food Group

Session Details

How PFG uses traceability to ensure consistent quality and verify product integrity across suppliers and operations.
Practical insights on challenges, successes, and strategies for aligning traceability programs with regulatory expectations.

Stream Three – Regulatory

Food Fraud as Enterprise Risk: Defensible Strategy & Oversight

Session Details

Demonstrating how to integrate the Food Fraud Vulnerability Assessment (VACCP) directly into the ERM framework and annual corporate budget cycles
Discussing why managing global adulteration risk requires a strategic shift to contractual mandates and rigorous third-party governance over complex supply chains
Looking at advanced analytical testing and data aggregation to create a legally defensible due diligence package against high-value fraud threats
Highlighting the C-suite’s fiduciary duty to fund and oversee comprehensive mitigation and crisis response plans to protect shareholder and brand reputation

10:20 am - 11:15 am Pre-Arranged One-To-One Meetings Arrow Icon

10:25 am – 10:45 am: Meeting Slot 8/Networking
10:50 am – 11:10 am: Meeting Slot 9/Networking

11:20 am - 11:55 am Workshops

STREAM 1 WORKSHOP

FSQ Under Fire: Decision-Making in a Food Safety Crisis

Session Details

Participate in a simulated foodborne outbreak scenario and make real-time response decisions
Debate risk management, preventive controls, and communication strategies with fellow attendees
Translate lessons learned from the scenario into actionable improvements for your FSQ programs
Explore strategies to minimize organizational exposure and strengthen outbreak preparedness

STREAM 2 WORKSHOP

Modern QMS: Leveraging Data and Integration for Quality Assurance at Scale

Executive to be Announced

Provision

Session Details

Quantifying the Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) and building the business case for migrating from siloed, legacy systems to a unified, modern Quality Management System
Defining the path to seamlessly integrate QMS data (CAPA, Audits, Complaints) with ERP and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) to ensure quality control is preventative
Implementing digital workflows and document control features to guarantee continuous audit readiness and reduce the high operational cost and disruption associated with compliance events
Automating supplier qualification, document review (COAs), and performance scoring to dramatically reduce incoming material risk and accelerate the approval process for new ingredients

STREAM 3 WORKSHOP

Digital Tools for Regulatory Efficiency: Tracking, Reporting, and Insights

Session Details

Strategic investment in Regulatory Information Management Systems (RIMS) to consolidate global compliance documentation and reduce manual effort
Leveraging AI-driven horizon scanning to proactively track and map evolving state and federal regulatory changes to current product specifications
Establishing real-time data pipelines to automate compliance reporting and generate actionable regulatory intelligence for the C-suite
Implementing digital audit trails and documentation controls to guarantee data integrity and minimize legal exposure during regulatory inspections and investigations

12:00 pm - 12:35 pm PANEL

Redefining Excellence: The Future of Risk, Compliance, and Quality Leadership

Fabian Smith

Vice President, Product Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Compliance

Cargill

Marlenea Jackson

Vice President, Quality North America

Mondelēz International

Session Details

Future-Focused Leadership: How can FSQ, Quality, and Regulatory leaders anticipate emerging challenges and shape organizational strategies for the next decade?
Evolving Regulatory Landscape: Which upcoming regulations, international standards, or policy shifts will redefine compliance priorities, and how can companies stay ahead?
Innovating Risk Management: What new approaches to risk assessment and mitigation can help organizations prevent issues before they escalate?
Building Resilient Culture: How can teams embed adaptability, accountability, and continuous learning to sustain excellence amid change?

12:35 pm - 12:45 pm