Archives: Speakers

A senior Data Analytics consultant with over 10 years of professional experience in designing analytics solutions and driving insights through web behavioural analytics, data science and machine learning methodologies to hit business objectives for leading global firms. An expert in creating data strategies and implementing analytics solutions with rich experience in building high-performance data teams, owing end-to-end accountability from data collection to insights to activation. An engaging leader that builds and inspires loyal, high-performance global teams that drive for results.
Masters in Advanced Computer Science with specialization in Machine Learning from one of the top universities in the world for computer science (The University of Manchester, UK).

Venura’s career has spanned both academia and business, primarily focused around data and technology. After a number of years working within the healthcare sector, he joined LV=General Insurance, as the Data Science Manager and then as Director of Data Science Innovation and Proposition. In this initial role, he has helped to develop the key partnership with the University of Bristol. In doing this, he has maintained close academic ties to stay at the forefront of world class research. In the January of 2022, Venura established the Innovation and Development team for Allianz in order to diversify the business portfolio outside the insurance domain.

Jo Phillips leads the Direct Wealth business at Aviva, where she and her team are democratising the notion of Wealth by making it easier for people to save and invest via a market leading digital platform. Throughout her career Jo has built teams and products that have grown businesses and transformed customer experiences. Prior to joining Aviva she held multiple executive leadership positions at American Express and BlackRock; with career highlights including include transforming American Express’ billion-dollar B2B payments platform and re-imagining BlackRock’s award-winning web and mobile ecosystem.

Jérémy Peyrol, M.Sc. in Biotechnology, joined Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in 2013 as an Upstream Development Scientist. Since then, he has been working on various projects including high-throughput process development on bacteria and yeast, and has served as Project leader on mAb and other complex protein expression systems. In his current role, Jérémy is an Upstream Innovation Expert within our Life Science Services CTDMO business, and focuses on testing and developing next generation solutions for cell line development, upstream processes, and process analytical technologies. ​ 

Laurent Foldès is Global Market Development Manager with experience in spearheading sustainable and innovative strategies at Klöckner Pentaplast. Skilled in fostering partnerships with FMCG brands all around the world to significantly reduce innovation’s time to market for the brands to reach their sustainable target by 2030. Chairman of the label working group at PETCORE, Laurent is also leading the cPET consortiums for promoting recyclable shrink sleeves as the next generation of labels for the industry.

Cor has been working as a banker for more than 30 years. First at ABNAMRO but as of 2006 with ING and always in the Food and Agriculture domain. He is a specialists the agricultural and food sector for ING in EMEA. With clients and within the bank he addresses al kind of market related topics and is often involved in sustainability discussions in the sector. Topics like decarbonisation (ING Terra approach), deforestation etc.

He is involved as an adviser for the sustainable dairy chain in the Netherlands and is member of the OECD-FAO Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group on Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains.

He is educated as an agricultural engineer and has done his MBA at the university of Groningen. Next to his daily work he is a backyard farmer with beef cows and chickens.

Dr. Lourdes Mato has over 30 years of international experience as a researcher in food science and technology and working within both academia and industry. Areas of expertise includes dairy science and manufacturing with emphasis is fermented dairy products including cheeses. Strong research background in Lactic Acid Bacteria and probiotics, protein science, and protein analysis. Lourdes joined Edlong 13 years ago and have been working in developing dairy concentrated ingredients for flavoring purposes and dairy flavors. Lourdes own Food Science master’s degree, a Biochemistry master’s degree from The University of Havana, and a Doctoral degree in Food Science with a major in Food Technology from the University of Helsinki.

Susan O’Shaughnessy is an Edlong Sr. Scientist, where she works in the Ireland based applications lab on a variety of different customer projects and applications including bakery, snacks, sauces, beverages and vegan products. Susan joined Edlong in 2018 and has a bachelor’s degree in Food Technology from the Technical University of Dublin and an MBA from the Dublin Business School. Prior to joining Edlong, Susan managed the development of private label food products for a major Irish retailer and was a product development manager for an ingredient’s manufacturer prior to that. Susan also has trained professionally as a chef with 9 years’ experience in the restaurant sector.

Anne Marie Butler has been in the food industry for nearly 15 years. With a varied background covering manufacturing, R&D and applications focusing on cheese, processed cheese, dairy alternatives, and flavours she has a passion for all things food! Recently her focus has been on the plant-based market and understanding the challenges manufacturers experience and finding solutions to create great tasting products.  Anne Marie has the unique position of having specifically contributed to plant-based market introductions in the EU, which is where the trend started.