September 14th

3:00 pm

Registration

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

Panel: FSQ’s Top Issues and Ideas – Where Are We, Where Are We Going, and How Are We Doing?

Moderator

Peter Begg

Chief Food Safety & Quality Officer

Lyons Magnus

Lee Perry

EVP Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory

Maola Dairies

Eduardo Martínez Debeza

Head of Quality Assurance International & Global QA CoE

Restaurant Brands International

Sara Mortimore

Former VP Global Food Safety Compliance

Walmart

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  • Technology: More and more tools are becoming available to FSQ professionals, including new generations of blockchain, AI, and data analytics. How are we using them? Who is finding the most success? What should we be preparing for next?
  • Supply Chain Optimization: How are we adjusting our strategies to optimize food supply chain with a focus on visibility, fraud prevention, and the implementation of policies to ensure a secure, transparent, and efficient system that ultimately heightens safety and quality?
  • Regulatory Compliance and Global Standards: In a world that keeps getting smaller, the move towards global standards or taking the highest standards and applying them across the board as a way to stay ahead of the curve is increasingly persuasive, but also complicated. What should we do to meet and exceed expectations?
  • Consumer Safety and Education: What role does fostering awareness play in demanding high-quality, safe food choices?
4:25 pm - 5:00 pm WELCOME DAY SPECIAL CONTENT

AI & Predictive Analytics in Food Safety – What’s Real Today and What’s on the Horizon?

Angela Nardone

Chief Operating Officer

Share-ify

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Join us for AI & Predictive Analytics in Food Safety – What’s Real Today and What’s on the Horizon, a no-nonsense seminar designed to cut through the buzz. Discover how AI is actually being used to improve traceability, predict risks, and strengthen compliance—while separating real solutions from overhyped tech.

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

Panel: Attracting and Retaining the FSQ People and Compliance Professionals We Need Now and for the Future

Moderator

Peter Begg

Chief Food Safety & Quality Officer

Lyons Magnus

Ray Kosmicki

Vice President of Global Quality and Regulatory Affairs

Prinova NAGASE Group

Moazzam Chaudhry

Director Food Safety, North America

McCain Foods Inc

Heather Waelterman

Vice President of Quality & Regulatory Affairs

The Honest Kitchen

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  • Identifying, supporting, and cultivating the future leaders of your organization to reinforce and carry on your values and Food Safety Culture
  • Broadening and deepening the pool of available talent requires new ideas. How do we attract new Top Talent in a crowded, competitive marketplace?
  • How is workforce training and leadership development changing in a high-turnover, tech-enabled, rapidly evolving business environment?
  • Mobilizing your organization’s unique culture as the difference maker that attracts and retains people who value what you do and want to be a part of it
6:00 pm

September 15th

Stream 1 Chair

Peter Begg

Chief Food Safety & Quality Officer

Lyons Magnus

Stream 2 Co-Chair

Mark Morales

Head of Food and Beverage – Global

LRQA Inc.

Stream 3 Co-Chair

Samuel Tolleson

Regional Sales Manager - F&B North America

Centric Software Inc.

7:30 am - 8:15 am

Registration & Breakfast

8:15 am - 8:30 am

Opening Remarks, Announcements & Chair’s Welcome Address

Peter Begg

Chief Food Safety & Quality Officer

Lyons Magnus

8:30 am - 9:05 am KEYNOTE

reThinking Food Safety: Changes Needed to Bend the Curve of Foodborne Illness

Frank Yiannas

Former Deputy Commissioner, Food Policy & Response

FDA

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  • Breaking down contemporary trends, obstacles, and prospects in the food safety and quality ecosystem to see where we need to adjust our thinking to the needs of today
  • Offering key takeaways and a forward-looking perspective to how we must empower food safety and quality leadership
  • Charting the course ahead for FSQ leaders in an evolving landscape
  • Staying ahead of the curve when it comes to food regulation requires vision and strategy. Are we thinking big enough?
  • Walking through industry and FDA case studies to identify and understand valuable insights
9:05 am - 9:40 am KEYNOTE

Sustainable Leadership: A Journey on Navigating Change and Elevating Excellence

Fabian Smith

VP Global Product Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Compliance

Cargill

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  • Insights into fostering a culture of innovation in supply chain quality and product safety
  • The impact of strategic planning on elevating product safety, quality, and regulatory compliance
  • Key takeaways on strategic leadership, cross-industry expertise, lifelong learning, and innovation at Cargill
9:45 am - 10:20 am Workshops
Stream One

Driving ROI From AI Investments – Avoiding the Pitfalls That Get in the Way of an Effective AI Strategy

Paul Bradley

Senior Director of Product Marketing

TraceGains

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  • Where we are (and where we aren’t yet) in AI evolution for F&B brands.
  • Applied AI for the real world – hype vs. substance.
  • Goal setting and value measurement – do’s and don’ts.
  • Data security considerations and risk management.
  • AI Accuracy and Hallucination risk.
  • Evaluating AI partnerships, future-proofing your investment.
Stream Two

How Restaurant Brands International Harnessed Operational Complexity to Scale Supplier and Product Quality Assurance

Chris Rice

Chief Product Officer

CMX1

Eduardo Martínez Debeza

Head of Quality Assurance International & Global QA CoE

Restaurant Brands International

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  • The operational complexity RBI manages across 120+ countries and 33,000+ restaurants
  • How RBI achieved consolidation and a single source of truth for global supplier, quality, and risk management
  • How RBI built a global quality assurance program that can flexibly scale to meet evolving needs and demands
  • What to prioritize when building a QA Center of Excellence
  • Best practices, pitfalls, and advice from a global QA leader
Stream Three

Leveraging Advanced Cold-Chain Monitoring Systems and Data Integrations to Enhance Food Safety and Quality Protection, Supply Chain Traceability, and Operational Efficiency

Rajah Nagarajah

Director of Sales – F&B

Tive

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  • Discussing how in-transit cold-chain monitoring is evolving, what being ahead of the curve looks like, and how to educate people internally and externally to get the most out of new capabilities
  • Reviewing how stronger collaboration between the supplier and receiver can drive stronger business outcomes, and to strengthen relationships
  • Illustrating how advancements in this category can help organizations achieve goals focused on waste reduction, improved quality, and operational efficiency enhancements
10:25 am - 12:05 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.

  • 10:30 am – 10:50 am: Meeting Slot 1/Networking
  • 10:55 am – 11:15 am: Meeting Slot 2/Networking
  • 11:20 am – 11:40 am: Meeting Slot 3/Networking
  • 11:45 am – 12:05 pm: Meeting Slot 4/Networking
12:10 pm - 12:45 pm Case Studies
Stream One

Elevating Global Food Safety: Nestlé’s Risk-Based Approach in Practice

David Clifford

Director Food Safety

Nestlé

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  • How risk-based thinking and HACCP principles enable long-term resilience and consumer trust

  • Integrating continuous improvement cycles with verification of system effectiveness

  • Using predictive tools, digital solutions, and real-time data to enhance risk assessment and close the loop on corrective actions

  • Lessons learned in implementing pragmatic, scalable food safety systems across global operations

Stream Two

The Culture Continuum: Keeping Food Safety on Track Through Change

Laurie Gerbers

Vice President of Food Safety, Quality, and HSE

Maker's Pride

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  • A look at the dynamic nature of culture and how it is a continuum.
  • Food Safety Culture is just the same, there are drifts and you must constantly work to sustain your values.
  • Exploring ways to keep Food Safety on track through change including a case study.
Stream Three

FSIS Regulatory Update: Optimizing Inspection and Food Safety Practices Through Innovation in Science and Technology

Dr. Denise Eblen

Deputy Administrator of FSIS

Food Safety and Inspection Service

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  • Discussing our work to advance food safety and protect public health while ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled
  • Explaining the Agency’s data-driven approach to inspection systems, policies, and the strategic use of science and technology to modernize food safety oversight
  • Outlining agency updates to regulations, guidelines, and initiatives at FSIS, including USDA’s new comprehensive plan to bolster meat and poultry safety
  • Detailing our ongoing commitment to expanding processing capacity and building a more resilient supply chain through enhanced support for small and very small meat and poultry establishments
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.

Methods to Improving FSQ Supply Chain Compliance through Audits & Technologies

Finding Allies and Willing Partners as We Bring Food Safety and Quality Initiatives to Others

FSMA 204: Turning Regulatory Challenges into Catalyst for Positive Change

Always Prepared: Building an Organization that is Ready for Unannounced Audits – Without Burning Out Your Team

Dr. Zena E. Glover

Director of Quality Assurance

Chartwells Higher Education

Navigating Food Packaging Regulations: Current Landscape & Future Outlook

Modernizing Food Facilities: Groundbreaking Technologies for Bacteria Mitigation and Facility Advancement

Food Safety Challenges and Opportunities – Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

Muhammad Shahzad

Director - Safety, Quality, Compliance

Hillandale Gettysburg, LLC

Strategies to Assessing and Evaluating your Food Safety Culture & its Maturity Levels

Investing in Future Food Safety Professionals in the Face of Continued Budget Cuts

Top 3 FSQA Priorities – What is at the Top of Your Team’s List for The Next Two Years?

Angela Nardone

Chief Operating Officer

Share-ify

The Evolving Food Safety Leader: Mastering Risk, Compliance, and Innovation Across the Supply Chain

Plastic Particles Real Problems – Navigating Microplastics in Modern Manufacturing

Andrea Watson

Director of Quality and Food Safety

Wilderness Asset Holdings LLC

1:45 pm - 2:20 pm KEYNOTE

Priority, Purpose, and the Power of “Why Not?”

Mahir Bhagia

Chief Food Safety & Quality Assurance Officer

PepsiCo

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Reflections on Food Safety crisis management, cultural differences, and the adventure of saying yes to the unknownfrom Pioneer to Poppi

2:25 pm - 3:00 pm Workshops
Stream One

Panel: FSMA 204 Building Blocks: Laying a Strong Foundation for Supply Chain Traceability

Julie McGill

Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy & Insights

Trustwell

Takashi Nakamura

VP, Corporate R&D and Food Safety

Del Monte Fresh Produce

Hiba Kakish

Director of Global Food Safety & Quality Assurance

Little Caesars

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This presentation provides a clear overview of FSMA 204 requirements and outlines the essential building blocks needed to establish a strong traceability foundation. Attendees will learn how to prepare their supply chains for compliance by implementing key data practices, managing data accuracy, aligning with regulatory expectations, and strengthening end-to-end visibility.

Stream Two

Transforming Food Safety: Overcoming Challenges on the Path to Data Driven Operations

Bruce Beilfuss

Vice President, Veeva Quality Strategy

Veeva Systems Inc.

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  • Rethinking Ways of Working to Streamline, Manage Change, and Proactively Act on Insights
  • Identifying and Breaking Down Barriers to Adoption
  • Preparing for the Future of Food Safety with Advanced Capabilities from Analytics to AI to Agents
Stream Three

Advancing Food Safety through Technology and Maturity Model

Cindy Jiang

Global Food Safety Ambassador

Franconnect

Dallas Henderson

Solution Specialist

Franconnect

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  • Present Food Safety Maturity Model and Assessment Tool
  • Provide practical applications across food service, retail, distribution, and manufacturing
  • Share examples of using the tool to assess and benchmark progress
  • Equip attendees with insights to elevate food safety practices
3:05 pm - 4:15 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.

  • 3:05 pm – 3:25 pm: Meeting Slot 5/Networking
  • 3:30 pm – 3:50 pm: Meeting Slot 6/Networking
  • 3:55 pm – 4:15 pm: Meeting Slot 7/Networking
4:20 pm - 4:55 pm KEYNOTE

Back to the Basics: Focusing on the Basics of Food Safety in a Rapidly Evolving World of Distractions

Charles Leftwich

Vice President, Food Safety & Quality Assurance

Sysco

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  • The basics matter now, more than ever – Identifying and counting the costs of losing focus on the basics
  • While the world is rapidly evolving the foundations of food safety haven’t changed – Naming, claiming, and recommitting to the foundations of food safety that protect consumers
  • Creating clarity in a world of chaos – Stepping back and identifying what is pulling us away from the fundamentals
  • Diligent prioritization in a world of conflicting and competing high priorities – Evaluating what our focus should be and how to prioritize our time by refocusing on the basics
  • Culture is more than a tagline, it is foundational – How to ensure our teams stay anchored to executing the fundamentals that assure the safety and quality of our products
4:55 pm - 5:30 pm KEYNOTE

Foodborne Illness Litigation: Protecting Consumers, Shaping Industry

William D. Marler, Esq.

Lawyer

Marler Clark Inc, PS

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  • Examining landmark cases that have shaped foodborne illness litigation.

  • Understanding the legal and financial consequences of food safety failures.

  • Exploring how litigation drives change and strengthens food safety practices.

5:30 pm - 5:35 pm

Chair’s Closing Remarks

Peter Begg

Chief Food Safety & Quality Officer

Lyons Magnus

5:35 pm

Drinks Reception

6:05 pm

Executive Dinner

(By Invite Only)

September 16th

Stream 1 Chair

Peter Begg

Chief Food Safety & Quality Officer

Lyons Magnus

Stream 2 Co-Chair

Mark Morales

Head of Food and Beverage – Global

LRQA Inc.

Stream 3 Co-Chair

Samuel Tolleson

Regional Sales Manager - F&B North America

Centric Software Inc.

7:30 am - 8:20 am

Registration & Breakfast

8:25 am - 8:35 am

Chair’s Opening Remarks

Peter Begg

Chief Food Safety & Quality Officer

Lyons Magnus

8:35 am - 9:10 am KEYNOTE

Building on a Strong Culture: An End-to-End Approach to Food Safety

Marlenea Jackson

VP of Quality, North America

Mondelēz International

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  • Exploring strategies to re-energize organizational focus on food safety culture.
  • Discussing the importance of rebuilding the connection to the consumer experience and re-focusing daily choices throughout the organization, with the consumer in mind.
  • Looking at how new tools should enhance, not replace existing food safety practices.
9:10 am - 9:45 am KEYNOTE

Unlocking Product Quality Superiority: Tools, Strategy, and Market Demand

Peter Crayton

Vice President Quality & Food Safety North America

Kraft Heinz

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  • Markets in the Food and CPG world are changing and with much higher process comes higher consumer demands against a strong market for unbranded competitors
  • Discuss how quality can be an Transformative Function (Engine 1) as well as a Performance Function (engine 2) for CPG companies willing to take the journey and set themselves apart
  • Discuss current tools used to make product superiority a reality in the food and beverage businesses
  • Understand the market needs along with the technical needs for product superiority
9:50 am - 10:25 am Case Studies
Stream One

Navigating the Evolution of Traceability and Unravelling the Impact of FSMA 204 on Food Safety and Quality Assurance

Catherine Cosby

Director Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance

Kroger

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  • Offering different perspectives on how technologies are shaping the future of traceability, providing unique insights into the journey of food products from source to consumer
  • Delving into the main provisions of FSMA 204 and unravelling the potential implications on food safety and quality, anticipating how these regulations will influence the entire food chain in the years to come
  • What are the implications of regulatory changes, as the food industry adapts to meet evolving standards, and understand how this impacts international trade and partnerships
  • Examining how increased traceability and adherence to FSMA 204 can enhance transparency in the eyes of consumers, fostering trust and loyalty in a market increasingly conscious of food safety and quality
Stream Two

Climate Change: Impact on Food Safety

Takashi Nakamura

VP, Corporate R&D and Food Safety

Del Monte Fresh Produce

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  • Discuss strategies for adapting food safety systems to a changing climate through risk assessment and innovation.
  • Understand the intersection of extreme weather events and their disruption of food safety controls and infrastructure.
  • Explore how climate change is altering the prevalence and behavior of foodborne pathogens across supply chains.
  • Examine the challenges and opportunities of global supply diversification as production expands into new regions.
10:25 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.

  • 10:30 am – 10:50am: Meeting Slot 8/Networking
  • 10:55am – 11:15am: Meeting Slot 9/Networking
10:30 am - 11:15 am Interactive Think Tanks
TOPIC ONE

Building Resilient Food Safety Systems in a Changing World

TOPIC TWO

Harnessing Technology for Next-Generation Food Safety

TOPIC THREE

Food Safety Culture: From Compliance to Commitment

TOPIC FOUR

Emerging Food Trends and Novel Risks

11:20 am - 11:55 am Workshops
Stream One

Beyond Audits: Transforming Food Safety with Real-Time Risk Scoring

Kevin Davies

CRO

Provision

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At this session, Provision introduces a practical approach to risk scoring: turning everyday FSQA records into real-time insights that drive continuous improvement, cross-functional alignment, and smarter investment. Rather than viewing food safety through an audit lens, risk scoring provides a dynamic, business-specific benchmark that surfaces patterns, prioritizes issues by severity, and supports action from the floor to the boardroom. With the right digital foundations — intuitive tools, structured data, and automation — teams can move from reactive compliance to proactive decision-making. Drawing on real-world case studies, including an 82% complaint reduction at a major manufacturer, we’ll show how risk scores can unify teams, inform strategy, and make food safety visible every day — not just when something goes wrong.

Stream Two

Connected for Safety: How OSI and Foods Connected Built a Data-Driven Food Safety Ecosystem

Roger McCracken

Co-Founder & CEO

Foods Connected

Sharon Birkett

Vice President Global QA Operations

OSI Group

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In today’s complex food supply chains, ensuring safety, transparency, and compliance requires more than just diligence—it demands digital transformation.

  • In this session, Sharon Birkett (OSI) and Roger McCracken (Foods Connected) will share how their partnership has revolutionized OSI’s approach to food safety and supplier management across Europe
  • Attendees will gain insights into how OSI has centralized supplier data, automated compliance processes, and enhanced traceability
  • From real-time auditing to supplier benchmarking and integrated reporting for OSI’s customers, this collaboration has delivered measurable improvements in visibility, accountability, and operational efficiency
  • Whether you’re looking to streamline supplier approvals, improve audit readiness, or drive continuous improvement through data, this session offers practical takeaways and a compelling case study of digital innovation in action
12:00 pm - 12:35 pm Case Studies
Stream One

Proactive by Design: Strengthening Food Safety Through Risk-Based Controls

Rachel Teoh

VP & Head of Global Food Safety and Regulatory

Beyond Meat

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  • Using data and risk assessments to guide proactive food safety decisions from end to end
  • Embedding preventative controls that identify and address hazards before they escalate
  • Leading teams toward a forward-thinking, prevention-first culture in food safety and quality
Stream Two

Panel: Navigating FSMA 204: Strengthening Traceability in QSR Operations

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  • What the new traceability requirements mean for restaurants and how they impact daily operations
  • Best practices to streamline data capture and sharing
  • Addressing barriers such as system upgrades, supplier collaboration, and training staff on new record-keeping processes
  • How proactive adoption of FSMA 204 can improve food safety, enhance operational efficiency, and protect brand reputation
  • Preparing for the 2026 Deadline – Key steps to take now to ensure a smooth transition and avoid regulatory penalties
12:35 pm - 1:35 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.

Managing Laboratory Errors: Strengthening Accuracy & Accountability

Jeffrey Smith

Quality Director

Blue Chip Group

Smarter Environmental Monitoring: Balancing Scheduled and Random Swabbing to Uncover Hidden Risks

Andrea Barwicki

QA & Food Safety Manager

CHS

Making Food Safety Culture Real: Turning Policy Into Practice

Zahra Colley

Corporate Director of Food Safety and Quality

High Liner Foods

Building Food Safety Culture and a Strong Relationship with Foreign Suppliers

James Longo

Director of Compliance

OverSeas Food Trading

Navigating Global Processing Aid Compliance: Overcoming Challenges, Unlocking Solutions

Sheri Kahnke

Director of Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory

Puris Foods

Seed to Shelf: Strengthening Traceability to Know Exactly Where Every Ingredient Originates

Anthony Guzman

Quality Food Safety Director

Snak King

Sanitation Program Best Practices

Tehzin Chadwick

Senior Vice President, Safety

UNFI

Letta Jenkins

VP of FSQA

UNFI

1:40 pm - 2:15 pm KEYNOTE

From Incident to Prevention – Learning from Failures and Near Misses

Tim Jackson

Senior Science Advisor for Food Safety

FDA

2:15 pm - 2:50 pm PANEL

The Future of Food Safety Leadership

Allison DeGraffenreid

Vice President, Food Safety & Quality Assurance

Monogram Foods

Laurie Gerbers

Vice President of Food Safety, Quality, and HSE

Maker's Pride

Julio Sandoval

AVP, Food Protection & Compliance

Hy-Vee, Inc.

Moderator

Peter Begg

Chief Food Safety & Quality Officer

Lyons Magnus

Session Details Arrow Icon

Exploring how the role of food safety leadership is changing, the qualities that will matter most in the years ahead, and how FSQ executives can drive influence across their organizations.

2:50 pm - 3:00 pm

Chair’s Closing Address

Peter Begg

Chief Food Safety & Quality Officer

Lyons Magnus

Sessions From Previous Years

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