Food Safety & Quality

October 5th

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

Bill Marler

Lawyer

Marler Clark Inc, PS

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • 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

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

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • 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

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • 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 6th

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 Arrow Icon
  • 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 Arrow Icon
  • 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

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

Yanyan Huang

Vice President, Quality and Food Safety

ADM

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • 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

Navigating the Regulatory Divide: Strategic Compliance in a Converging World

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • 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 Arrow Icon
  • 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 Arrow Icon
  • 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 Arrow Icon
  • 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

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

Sara Mortimore

Former VP Global Food Safety Compliance

Walmart

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • 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
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 Arrow Icon
  • 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

FSMA 204: Architecting the Digital Traceability Mandate at Scale

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • 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
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.

Predictive Risk Management: Staying Ahead of Foodborne Hazards

Quality in Innovation: Balancing New Product Development with Standards

Compliance Without Complexity: Streamlining Processes for Teams

Navigating Product Recalls: Regulatory Reporting and Best Practices

1:55 pm - 2:30 pm Case Studies
Stream One – Food Safety

Sanitation as a Capital Investment: Executive Governance for Pathogen Control

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • 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

Accountability and Leadership: Structuring the Ops/Quality Divide

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • Demonstrating how executive leadership can successfully redefine the role of Operations to formally own process quality and compliance, moving FSQ into an assurance and verification function
  • Discussing why traditional organizational structures create an inherent “us vs. them” divide, and how to implement shared KPIs (e.g., First-Pass Quality Yield) to align incentives
  • Looking at the strategies for building a unified FSQA culture by leading through transparency and demonstrating the clear link between consistent quality and operational cost reduction
  • Highlighting the leadership behaviors required to enforce high standards, ensuring that “audit ready every day” is achieved through process discipline and not last-minute preparation
Stream Three – Regulatory

Global Regulatory Horizon Scanning: Proactive Strategy for Novel and Functional Ingredients

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • Demonstrating how proactive Regulatory Horizon Scanning provides teams with the necessary data to make multi-year R&D investment decisions
  • Discussing why the lack of harmonization in ingredient classification (e.g., Novel Food vs. Dietary Ingredient) across major global trade blocs demands a high-stakes, region-specific compliance strategy
  • Looking at the governance models required for securing and maintaining the robust scientific substantiation needed to legally defend health and nutrition claims against increased global regulatory scrutiny
  • Highlighting the critical role of the Regulatory function in translating shifting global public health priorities into resilient, multi-market labeling, formulation, and communication strategies
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 Arrow Icon
  • 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 Arrow Icon
  • 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 Arrow Icon
  • 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

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.

  • 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 Arrow Icon
  • 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 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 Arrow Icon
  • 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

Beyond the Audit: Driving Everyday Excellence in FSQ

Bryan O’Donnell

Vice President FSQR - Food Safety, Regulatory & Quality Assurance

Target

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • The leadership framework for shifting accountability for quality and safety from QA teams to Operations Senior Management
  • Strategies for implementing internal systems and shared metrics that maintain process control between annual audits
  • Tactics for building the digital platform and documentation controls needed to guarantee instant readiness for any regulatory or third-party inspection
  • Identifying and rewarding the frontline leadership behaviors that actively drive compliance and engagement on the plant floor every day
9:40 am - 10:15 am Case Studies
Stream One – Food Safety

Allergen Control in Practice: Minimizing Risk and Protecting Consumers

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • Practical guidance on prioritizing and funding capital projects (e.g., dedicated equipment, advanced cleaning tech) to verifiably eliminate cross-contact
  • How to mandate quantitative allergen risk data (like VITAL scores) from high-risk suppliers to improve ingredient approval decisions
  • Strategies for implementing a unified digital labeling system and change control process to remove human error from the specification-to-label lifecycle
  • Defining the operational accountability framework that seamlessly integrates Quality, Operations, and R&D for total allergen risk ownership
Stream Two – Quality

Quality as a Profit Center: Measuring and Investing in Consumer Loyalty

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • Demonstrating how to develop the Board-ready metrics that quantify the Return on Investment (ROI) of quality improvements, linking FSQ spend directly to consumer loyalty and reduced Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
  • Discussing why the integration of consumer experience data (complaints, reviews, social sentiment) into the Enterprise Quality System is essential for prioritizing capital and process improvements
  • Looking at strategies for using Quality Intelligence to drive portfolio rationalization and pricing power, leveraging high-quality performance as a distinct market advantage
  • Highlighting the framework for translating a Quality Mission into shareholder value by proving product consistency reduces financial risk and supports brand premium
Stream Three – Regulatory

Food Fraud as Enterprise Risk: Defensible Strategy & Oversight

Session Details Arrow Icon
  • 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

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.

  • 10:25 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 Arrow Icon
  • 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 Arrow Icon
  • 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 Arrow Icon
  • 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 Arrow Icon
  • 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

Chair’s Closing Address

12:45 pm - 1:45 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.

Evolving Regulatory Landscapes: Preparing for Future Food Safety Laws

Quality by Design: Integrating Risk Assessment into Daily Operations

Facility Optimization for Quality: Processes, Maintenance, and Culture

Operational Continuity: Maintaining Safety During Disruptions

Download The Agenda PDF

"*" indicates required fields

Are you a Delegate or Solution Provider/Vendor?*

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

"*" indicates required fields

Are you a Delegate or Solution Provider/Vendor?*