Presenters

Dr Matthew O’Mullane, General Manager, Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Dr Matt O’Mullane is the General Manager of the Food Safety Branch at Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and has worked across the Australian government for 25 years, including over 10 years at FSANZ. He has extensive experience in human health risk analysis and the regulation of food, chemicals, pesticides, veterinary medicines, and GMOs. Matt was a toxicological adviser to the World Health Organisation (2011-2017), the Australian Delegation Leader to the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (2018-2022), chaired FSANZ’s Advisory Committee on Novel Foods (2017-2022) and was secretary of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee (2022-2024). Prior to joining government, he was a research scientist in the university and private sectors and led innovations in cancer drug development and disease detection and undertook research in human virology and plant biochemistry. Matt has a first-class honours degree in virology and a PhD in cancer cell biology both from the University of Wollongong.

Dr Sandra Cuthbert, Chief Executive Officer,Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Dr Sandra Cuthbert was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Food Standards Australia New Zealand on 31 March 2022. Sandra has extensive leadership, policy, corporate governance and stakeholder engagement experience across the public and private sectors. She has held senior roles within the Australian Government departments of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Finance, and Agriculture, as well as Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Prior to her time in the public service Sandra worked as a veterinarian in private practice. Sandra has post graduate qualifications in veterinary medicine and surgery, law, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Clare Nass, Senior Legal Counsel, Associated British Foods
Clare is a Senior Legal Counsel with one of Australia’s biggest food and beverage companies, George Weston Foods which is a subsidiary of the UK listed company, Associated British Foods. The group includes well known brands such as Tip Top, Twinings, DON, Pataks, Ryvita, Yumi’s, among many others. Clare has been working in FMCG for the last 10 years and prior to that honed her legal skills working in house at a large advertising company. Her current role covers both commercial advice in Australia and New Zealand as well as supporting the groups business across the Asia Pacific region on matters relating to intellectual property and information technology.