FHA Seminar Speakers

Ang Khim Wee

Head of Business Development - Lim Kee Food Manufacturing

Khim Wee currently heads the Business Development Team at Lim Kee Food Manufacturing (Lim Kee), a Singapore-based food manufacturer specialising in ready-to-eat steamed buns. At Lim Kee, he designs and implements new innovation initiatives. Over the years, several key implementations took place, including re-designing of workflow and customer-experience, new product and process developments, digitalisation and data-analytics, and more recently, internationalisation.

António Tavares

President & Managing Director - FILPORC

Antonio Tavares, swine producer and industry leader in his native Portugal, as well as the EU, for over 40 years. As President of the FPAS between 1986 and 1988, and Director of the CAP, from 1985 to 1991, he led the effort to control and eradicate ASF and other animal health issues in Portugal during that period. Antonio has also served as the Chairman of the COPA-COGECA Working Group for Pork and pig meat (European Commission) since 1995, where he is involved in EU efforts to control and eradicate ASF and other swine disease outbreaks. He’s currently director of FILPORC – the interprofessional organisation for pork in Portugal.

Camelia Paraschiv

Team Leader External Communication And Promotion Policy - European Commission

Since 2022, Camelia works as Head of Sector for Events in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development. Her responsibilities include overseeing the implementation of economic diplomacy activities EU agri-food products. These include participation to international food fairs, high-level missions for EU agri-food companies led by the European Commissioner for Agriculture and promotion campaigns – such as the ‘Perfect Match’ campaign promoting the qualities of European food and beverages in Singapore which ended in 2022. Camelia is a well-experienced professional, having served in the European Commission for the past 14 years, covering mainly topics related to EU external affairs, including trade and economic issues.

Chong Nyet Chin

Director (Food Safety & Quality) - NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Ltd

Ms Chong has over 20 years’ experience in the areas of quality assurance and food safety, well-versed in organic standards, total quality and food safety management systems. As a technical professional, she currently serves as the Chair of the Technical Committee on Food Processing, Distribution & Services under the Singapore Standards Council’s Food Standards Committee. She has collaborated with government agencies such as the Singapore Food Agency and Enterprise Singapore on organic certification, cold chain management, FMCG standards, and food safety regulations. In her current position in FairPrice, she is responsible for the overall control of the food safety and quality assurance system as well as regulatory management for the Co-operatives. She has helped Fairprice in developing the risk management framework and various control measures in fulfilling the vision of assuring food safety from source to store.

Christycia Goh

Project Manager of Ishikawa Division - JETRO Singapore

Daryl Chung

Deputy Manager - Asian Culinary Institute

Daryl Chung is the Business Development Lead at ACI, bringing a wealth of experience in training, adult education, and the hospitality industry.

Diana Beetsma

Head, Governance and Standards | Halal Development - Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS)

Diana Beetsma, Head of Governance and Standards in Halal Development at the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), ensures the quality and integrity of Halal certification in Singapore through enhanced frameworks and digital solutions. Combining her expertise in assurance and governance as a Chartered Accountant (CA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), she strengthens trust in Halal certification through robust systems and controls. Among ongoing developments, the Halal Competency Framework and risk-based approaches reinforce industry standards while building bridges between businesses and communities in Singapore.

Eunice Ng

Technical Director - Ugene Laboratories Pte Ltd

Eunice Pang

Ph.D, Deputy Director, Policy and Strategy Development - Health Promotion Board

She leads the Policy and Strategy Development team in HPB. Her expertise includes upstream supply chain strategies tackling nutrition-related issues at the population level. She is a pioneer in helping to grow the Healthier Choice and has a wealth of experience working with industry colleagues on R&D solutions. Prior to joining HPB, Eunice was a Post-Doctoral Associate at the Human Nutrition Research centre on Aging-USDA in Boston, MA.

Fazal Bahardeen

CEO - CrescentRating & HalalTrip

Passionate about revolutionising the travel industry for Muslim travellers, Fazal Bahardeen is an entrepreneur and the driving force behind CrescentRating and HalalTrip. With over three decades of experience in both corporate and entrepreneurial sectors, he is dedicated to creating solutions that cater to the unique needs of Muslim travellers. In 2008, Fazal founded CrescentRating in Singapore to address Muslim travellers' challenges. Over 16 years, CrescentRating has become the world's leading Halal travel authority, serving key markets across the Middle East, South Asia, Western Europe, North America, and Asia. Its rating system is the globally recognised standard for Halal/Muslim-friendly travel services, providing various services, including insights, research, consultancy, and destination marketing. The partnership with Mastercard led to the development of the groundbreaking Global Muslim Travel Index. Fazal's career began in the telecom industry, where he held senior positions in Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. His entrepreneurial venture into Halal travel began in 2008 with CrescentRating and the HalalTrip platform, which was launched in 2014. Under his leadership, CrescentRating has grown into a trusted name, offering research, consultancy, training, and rating services. HalalTrip has become a trusted advisor for Muslim travellers worldwide. Fazal's work with CrescentRating has significantly impacted the travel industry, providing valuable insights through the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) and hosting the Halal In Travel Global Summit and Awards. These initiatives have established CrescentRating as a leader in the Halal tourism industry, driving innovation and positive change. Widely quoted in the media and a keynote speaker at major industry conferences, Fazal's insights have influenced the development of the Halal travel sector. He was listed in Singapore's Straits Times "Life Power List 2016" among the top 20 individuals and the "Top 50 Leaders of the Islamic Economy" by Islamica 500. Outside his professional endeavours, Fazal advocates continuous learning. He has completed programmes at Stanford University, the National University of Singapore, and other prestigious institutions. He holds an International Master's in Management, a Master's Degree in Computer Applications, and a Bachelor's in Telecommunications. Additionally, he has a Diploma in Islamic Banking and Finance. Fazal enjoys travelling and exploring new cultures, which fuels his passion for enhancing others' travel experiences. His journey and experiences as a frequent traveller underpin his professional mission, making his work personal and impactful.

Gan Heng Hui

Founder - Kairos Integrated Food Solutions Pte Ltd

Dr. Gan Heng Hui is a distinguished independent consultant specialising in integrated food solutions, with a strong focus on food safety management in processing and handling of ready-to-eat, cook-chill and quick-frozen foods. As Co-Chair of the Food Products in the Standard Development Organisation (Singapore Food Standard Committee), she leverages her extensive knowledge to enhance food safety standards for the food industry. Dr. Gan adeptly translates advanced food science into practical safety practices, with much emphasis in regulatory compliance, food safety and quality management, food security, and sustainability. Her applied expertise is evident in her development of a mandatory training course on "To Perform Food Cargo Inspection" and training materials for “Good Manufacturing practices (GMP) and Good Handling practices (GHP)” for the SEAFDEC Marine Fisheries Research Department (MFRD). With prior experience managing Regional Supply Quality for YUM! Restaurants International, she honed her skills in second-party supply quality audits and Quality Assurance training. Dr. Gan holds certifications in HACCP, Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), and ISO 17025 laboratory Management Internal Auditor, alongside a series of prestigious qualifications, including BRC Global Standard for Food Safety, CQI and IRCA Certified ISO 22000:2018 Lead Auditor and FSSC 22000 v6 Food Safety Management Systems Internal Auditor. Additionally, she is a Registered Management Consultant and an approved trainer for Singapore’s Food Safety Course Level 4.

Harini Mohanram

Senior Lecturer - Nanyang Polytechnic

Dr Harini is a protein structural biologist by training and skilled in utilising analytical chemistry tools such as LCMS, GCMS to identify key ingredients for media development in cultivated meat.

Ho Wee Fun

Head (Health, Safety & Environment) - FairPrice Group - Food Services

Mr Ho Wee Fun holds a MSc in Food Safety & Human Nutrition, a Specialist Diploma in Microbiology and a BSc in Management (with 2nd Class Upper Honours). He has over 17 years’ experience in the areas of quality assurance and food safety, well-versed in GMP, ISO 9001, HACCP and ISO 22000. He is a certified Lead Auditor for both FSSC 22000 Food Safety & ISO 9001 Quality Management and an Internal Auditor for BRC Global Standard for Food Safety. In his current position as the head of food safety for FPG’s Food Services, Wee Fun provides strategic and technical directions to the orgainziation’s food safety, regulatory affairs, nutrition, and workplace safety activities. He works closely with internal stakeholders as well as various government agencies such as SFA and NEA on regulatory compliance and establishing best practices. Previously, Wee Fun was with FairPrice’s Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) department which also involved food safety matters ranging from packaged food, fresh produce, non-food, warehousing to branch assurance. Due to his keen interest in management systems and passionate belief that a strong foundation in system will build a strong brand, Wee Fun has led FairPrice to be the first retail supermarket in Sinagpore to attain ISO 22000 certification. For that, he was recognised by the Singapore Retailers Association with a Manager of the Year award. In addition, he was presented with a “Leader with a Heart” award by FairPrice, for exemplary leaders who walk-the-talk.

Ir. Muslich

Halal Partnership and Audit Services Director - LPPOM MUI

Obtained Bachelor (S1), Postgraduate (S2), and Doctoral (S3) degrees at IPB University. He was Head of LPPOM MUI Halal Assurance System (2010 – 2015), Head of QA and LPPOM MUI Standard (2015 – 2019), LPPOM MUI Senior Advisor (2020), Team Leader development of MUI halal certification requirements HAS 23 000 (2010 – 2011); He was appointed as Director of Halal Cooperation and Audit Services of LPPOM MUI in 2020 until now.

H.E. Iwona Piorko

Ambassador of the European Union to Singapore

Iwona Piórko began her term as European Union Ambassador to Singapore on 1st September 2021. Prior to her assignment in Singapore, she held several positions in Brussels. Most recently, as Member of Cabinet of European Commission Executive Vice-President for ‘Europe fit for the Digital Age’ Margrethe Vestager, she oversaw a portfolio that included industrial policy, SME strategy, internal market, trade, e-government as well as coordination with the EU Council of Ministers. Previously, she was Head of International Affairs at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. From 2014 to 2017, she was Member of Cabinet of the EU’s Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini. From 2010 to 2014, she was Member of Cabinet of Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle. She holds a Doctorate in Contemporary European Studies from Sussex European Institute, University of Sussex, Brighton and a Master of Arts degree in Advanced European Studies from College of Europe. In addition to her native Polish, she speaks English, French and Spanish and understands German and Russian.

Jean Pierre De Meerleer Sánchez

Trade Policy Officer - EU Delegation to Singapore

Since June 2018, Jean-Pierre works as Trade Policy Officer at the Economic and Trade Section of the EU Delegation to Singapore. His work mainly focusses on the implementation of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, in force since November 2019, and forward-looking economic cooperation between the EU and Singapore. From 2014 to 2018, he worked as Economic and Trade Officer at the EU Delegation to Colombia and Ecuador, where he was responsible for the implementation of the EU-Colombia/Peru/Ecuador Trade Agreement. Prior to that, he worked in several multilateral and international organisations on political and trade related affairs.

Joanna Szwaja-Jacuta

Founder - Sedno Food

Joanna Szwaja-Jacuta, the founder and owner of Sedno Food, is driven by a passion for natural products free from refined sugars and additives. Her journey began in the world of commodity trading, selling apples and blueberries, but her vision for healthier, more authentic food led her to create and grow her own brand. With a deep appreciation for traditional craftsmanship, Joanna partners with small, family-run producers across Europe, ensuring that every product reflects the highest quality and rich flavours. Through Sedno Food, she brings these carefully curated tastes to Asian tables, offering consumers a genuine connection to nature and heritage in every bite.

Kalpana Bhaskaran

Deputy Director, Industry Partnerships, Head, Glycemic Index Research Unit - Temasek Polytechnic

Dr Kalpana has over two decades of expertise in food and nutrition, she founded Singapore’s first accredited Glycemic Index Research Unit and has led multiple nutrition intervention and efficacy trials. As the cluster co-chair for the Nutrition and Health-Tech cluster, she drives applied research at the institution level that bridges academic excellence with industry needs. Recognised as an expert advisor to the Ministry of Health, Singapore, Dr Kalpana has played a pivotal role in key initiatives, including sugar and sodium reduction and the Nutri-Grade label for sugar-sweetened beverages. Dr Kalpana’s leadership extends across multiple organisations. She is the President of the Singapore Nutrition & Dietetics Association and Advisor for Diabetes Singapore. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for Patient Organisations Singapore (APOS) and is a key member of the Agency of Care Effectiveness (ACE) consumer panel, offering strategic advice on patient-centred health policies. She is the academic board member, Society for Behavioural Health, Singapore. Her influence extends globally as an exco member of the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS). Her significant contributions have earned accolades, including the National Day commendation award for her work in diabetes education.

Lee Chit Shung

Managing Director - Montreux Patisserie Pte Ltd

Lee Chit Shung who graduated from high school, is the Managing Director of Montreux Patisserie Pte Ltd responsible in the daily operation, decision-making and strategic planning. Founded in 1995, Mr Lee has built the company to become a leading bread & pastry supplier in Singapore. Now the company specialises in providing cakes, French pastries, breads, puff pastries, soups and sauces to hotels, integrated resorts, restaurants, hospitals, schools, country clubs and many more.

Lianey Yeap

Vice President, Quality Assurance - SATS Ltd

Lianey is an esteemed food safety and quality assurance expert with over 30 years of experience in the food industry, including 25 years leading the Quality Assurance Department at SATS Singapore and SATS overseas subsidiaries. She is a certified Internal Auditor for FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000, with deep expertise in GMP, HACCP, FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, BRCGS, MSC CoC, and ASC CoC certifications. As a strategic leader, she has played a pivotal role in shaping food safety policies, regulatory compliance, and risk management, consistently providing technical direction to elevate industry standards. A distinguished figure in the field, Lianey serves on numerous national and international committees, including Singapore Food Standards Committee, the ISO 22000 Technical Committee and Working Group, and IFSA’s World Food Safety Guidelines for Airline Catering. She co-chairs the Technical Committee for Food Safety and has significantly contributed to Singapore Standard Code of practice such as S630 and SS635. A recipient of the 2017 Spring Singapore Merit Award, Lianey remains dedicated to advancing food safety excellence through collaborative industry partnerships, innovative process improvements, and continuous professional development.

Liza Tan

Regulatory Affairs Lead, Asia - Glanbia Performance Nutrition

Liza is a dedicated regulatory affairs professional with 14 years of experience in the food sector. As an expert in navigating regulatory frameworks for flavours, food additives, functional ingredients, and emerging food labelling policies, she has established herself as a trusted business partner within the APAC region. Throughout her career, Liza has gained diverse work experiences in the B2B flavours manufacturing environment, including involvement in plant certifications and R&D formulations. Additionally, she has served as an in-house sensory panellist and member of the food safety team, contributing to product development, quality assurance, and ensuring the highest food safety standards. Liza has actively engaged in advocacy and external engagement with regulators on emerging food policies through her role at Silesia Flavours, where she focused on Halal standards and flavours advocacy, as well as during her tenure in a trade association. Currently, she specialises in product compliance and label development at the food-health product interface of sports nutrition. In her current role at Glanbia Performance Nutrition, Liza leads the regulatory affairs function for health supplements and active lifestyle nutrition in SEA and North Asia. As the regional subject matter expert, she oversees emerging regulatory policies at the food and health products interface, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and industry guidelines. Liza also develops and implements regulatory initiatives that support the business's strategic goals. Liza holds a Bachelor of Food Technology from Massey University.

Mohamed Khair Bin Mohamed Noor

CEO, Chief Consultant & Master Trainer - SuChi Halal Consultants

Mohamed Khair bin Mohamed Noor is the CEO, Chief Consultant and Master Trainer of SuChi Success Initiatives Pte Ltd. He trains and consults in the field of Organisational Learning, Organisational Development, Change Management, Leadership and Management Development, Total Quality Management, Project Management, Creativity and Innovation, Innovation and Enterprise, Entrepreneurship Development, Networking Skills, Good Governance, Halal Market Development and Halal Training, Development and Consultancy. In the non-corporate sectors, he also trains in the areas of racial harmony, family development, youth development, marriage preparatory and enrichment programmes, sexuality education for teens and parents, parenting, character development programmes and development of persons with disabilities. His services and expertise are sought after in Singapore as well as the region, including the World Bank where he served as an Associate Consultant for a regional project.

Naomi Carissa Intaqta

International Halal Partnership - LPPOM MUI

Obtained Bachelor (S1) degrees at IPB University. She became a Halal Auditor of LPPOM MUI and Trainer for IHATEC (Indonesia Halal Training and Education centre). She was appointed as International Halal Partnership and writer of Jurnal Halal and IHATEC Publisher.

Natalia Sarmiento

Business Developer - Ecolah

Natalia Sarmiento is a seasoned international business professional with a deep passion for fostering global connections through trade. With a background in logistics, international trade, and market expansion, Natalia currently works for Ecolah, a company dedicated to importing high-quality food from Spain. Ecolah focuses on bringing the best quality, seasoned, and PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), PGI (Protected Geographical Indication), and EU Organic Certificate products into Singapore's gourmet and quality-food markets. At Ecolah, Natalia plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the finest, authentic Spanish food products are introduced to the Singaporean market. The company is committed to offering high-quality, sustainable food products, working closely with Spanish producers to guarantee the best standards.

Nur Aini Hamid

Head, Stakeholder Engagement | Halal Development - Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS)

Nur Aini serves as the Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Halal Development at the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), where she spearheads strategic initiatives in Halal public education and industry engagement. Drawing upon her extensive experience in Halal certification and regulatory frameworks, she plays a pivotal role in enhancing awareness and compliance amongst businesses and consumers alike. At MUIS, she leads HalalSG's public education programmes, cultivating meaningful collaborations between stakeholders to strengthen Singapore's robust Halal ecosystem.

Rachel Tan

Senior Strategist, Food & Drink - WGSN

Rachel’s understanding of the food and drink industry and keen insights into the Asian market inform her role at WGSN, where she delivers incisive research and data-led trend forecasts. With expertise in tracking regional trends and sensitivity to market and cultural nuances, she empowers clients with insight-driven solutions.

Reshma Merchant

Head and Senior Consultant, Division of Geriatric Medicine - National University Hospital, Singapore

A/Prof Merchant is the head of Division of Geriatric Medicine at National University Hospital. Her expertise in healthy aging has made her a significant figure in geriatrics both locally and globally. She is a member of the Ministry of Health Frailty Implementation Workgroup, WHO Global Network on Long-term Care and Clinical Consortium on Healthy Ageing. Throughout her career, she has received multiple clinical and teaching awards, including the Distinguished Senior Clinician award in 2024 and the NUHS-Mochtar Riady Pinnacle Master Clinician Award in 2022. Her research focuses on sarcopenia, falls prevention, frailty, and healthy aging. She is well published, PI for population health grants and is involved in numerous ongoing population-level healthy aging programs, such as the Health District @ Queenstown and the Movement for Health initiative. She serves in multiple editorial boards and co-author in multiple global consensus papers.

Richard Khaw

Chief Product & Technology Officer - Genesis Bioscientific Pte Ltd

Mr Richard Khaw is the Chief Product & Technology Officer in Genesis Bioscientific Pte Ltd, with over 20 years of expertise in food sector. Widely respected as a key opinion leader in food safety, he has established a strong reputation in Singapore, the Asia Pacific region, and internationally. With a proven track record of over 20 years, he has been a trusted trainer for government officials and food industry practitioners across ASEAN and the Asia Pacific region, fostering a culture of food safety excellence. His vast expertise and influential voice in the field of food safety make him an invaluable resource for organisations seeking guidance on ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality.

Roger Chan

Senior Lecturer - Nanyang Polytechnic

Roger Chan possesses extensive knowledge of sustainable practices and has significant experience in developing educational programs focused on food waste reduction. His active engagement in promoting sustainability within the hospitality industry has been instrumental in raising awareness and implementing effective strategies to tackle food waste.

Sng Mui Tiang

Division Director - Setsco Services Pte Ltd

Mui Tiang is the Divisional Director of the Biological and Chemical Technology Division in Setsco Services which is a partner to industries such as food, manufacturing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical. Mui Tiang has more than 25 years of experience in environmental analysis and testing which she has applied to food testing, drawing on prior knowledge in hazard analysis, technology, quality and safety management.

Sophia Wei

Assistant Director - Nanyang Polytechnic

Dr Sophia Wei brings over 13 years of expertise in leading AI initiatives for industries at Nanyang Polytechnic. She spearheads consultancy projects and develops AI & digital solutions to help SMEs maximise ROI while overcoming resource constraints. Her leadership also includes designing and implementing contextualised training programmes to upskill the workforce and orchestrate various resources to provide cost-effective solutions.

Stewart Tan

Specialist (Food Product Development) & Senior Lecturer - Nanyang Polytechnic

Stewart Tan is a new product development specialist focusing on functional beverage development for various market sectors, such as silver age health, active consumers, and general health.

Tai Seng Yee

Executive Director - Zenxin Agri-Organic Food Pte Ltd

Mr Tai Seng Yee, Executive Director of Zenxin Agri-Organic Food Pte Ltd, developed a deep passion for sustainable agriculture, health food research, and innovative sales channel management. Over the past 17 years, he has led the company’s growth, expanding into three associate companies across Singapore, Malaysia, and China, establishing Zenxin as the largest organic food producer and retailer in Southeast Asia. Beyond business leadership, Mr Tai actively contributes to standards development in Singapore and Malaysia. He is a member of Singapore’s Technical Committee on Food Processing, Distribution, and Services, as well as Malaysia’s Organic Standards drafting Group under SIRM. Additionally, he spearheads research into new organic products, including functional foods and supplements, to meet evolving consumer needs.

Takuya Kitada

Director of Ishikawa Division - JETRO Singapore

Tom Gray

Tom Gray, Commercial Director - Little Farms

20 years of premium international food retail experience across buying, logistics and business development. Experience with Marks & Spencer in London in merchandising and supply chain roles. Followed by a regional role with Marks & Spencer Hong Kong managing franchise relationships across Asia. Then Marks & Spencer Singapore running a buying team and now with Little Farms in Singapore where I am Commercial Director responsible for buying and logistics across the group.

Yiru Shen

Founder - Gentle Foods, Gentle Group

Shen Yiru is the founder of GentleFoods, a leading therapeutic food brand under The Gentle Group in Singapore.,With a strong background in the food and nutrition sector, Shen Yiru aimed to address the dietary challenges faced by individuals with dysphagia. Her passion in creating nutritious and palatable food options for those with swallowing difficulties has driven the growth and success of GentleFoods in providing essential therapeutic food solutions in Singapore.