International Association for Food Protection Holds 2015-2016 Secretary Election

Friday, January 23, 2015

Des Moines, Iowa -The International Association for Food Protection is proud to announce Dr. Tim Jackson and Dr. Indaue Mello as candidates for the 2015–2016 Secretary. The elected Secretary will assume his/her position following IAFP 2015 in Portland, Oregon in July and will serve a five-year term of successive positions. Electronic ballots will be provided to all Association Members, and the election will remain open through March 10, 2015. Election results will be announced in April on the IAFP Web site and the April IAFP Report, and in the May/June issue of Food Protection Trends.

Dr. Tim Jackson is Director of Food Safety for Nestle USA, Nestle Canada and Nestle Professional North America. In this role since 2009, he leads food safety programs in hygiene and sanitation; management and monitoring of microbiological, chemical and physical hazards; thermal processing; and food safety management. He serves on the corporate crisis and issue management teams and provides leadership and support to Nestle factories and businesses in the development and technical acceptance of new products.

Dr. Jackson received his B.S. in Biology from Abilene Christian University, and both his M.S. and Ph.D in Food Technology – Microbiology from Texas A&M University. His food safety career began in 1986 as a research scientist in the Animal Science Department at Texas A&M University, where he contributed to the food microbiology research program, along with teaching various food microbiology courses and extension programs. As Assistant Lecturer, he developed and coordinated training programs in Food Microbiology and Canned Food Microbiology for the USDA-FSIS Training Center in College Station, Texas.

Dr. Jackson has served in a variety of roles throughout his 20-year career with Nestle, including as research scientist; as head of the Microbiology Laboratories at the Nestle Quality Assurance Laboratory for the U.S. and Canada in Ohio; and as part of the Nestle Research Center and Chief Industrial Microbiologist for Nestle’s global operations, both in Switzerland.

Since joining IAFP in 2001, Dr. Jackson has served on several Professional Development Groups (PDGs) and committees, including as both Vice Chair and Chair of the Applied Laboratory Methods PDG. He has also served on the Program Committee and on both the Black Pearl Award and the International Leadership Award Selection Committees. Dr. Jackson has made numerous presentations at IAFP meetings and chaired a Risk Assessment Workshop at the IAFP European Symposium on Food Safety in 2006.

Dr. Indaue Mello is Director of Global Microbiology for The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia, where she provides leadership and technical guidance to the global Research & Development (R&D) community to assure the safety and stability to the company’s extensive portfolio of food and beverage products.

A native of Brazil, Dr. Mello holds a B.S. in Animal Science from the University of São Paulo, Brazil; an M.S. in Animal Science from the University of Kentucky; and a Ph.D. in Animal Science with a focus in Food Microbiology from the University of Florida. Dr. Mello’s food safety career began at ConAgra Foods as Chief Microbiologist for the Refrigerated Foods Group, where she served as a technical resource for R&D and manufacturing sites for various food products. She then joined PepsiCo, providing technical support as the subject matter expert for a variety of beverages and low-moisture foods, and managing the corporate microbiology laboratory.

In 2009, Dr. Mello joined Mars Petcare as Microbiology and Food Safety Manager, overseeing responsibility for the microbiological integrity and safety of pet food and treats. She pursued her interest in government regulations by moving to H.J. Heinz Company as Regulatory and Government Affairs Group Leader, overseeing regulatory and government compliance for products manufactured and sold in the U.S. and Canada, and managing the food labeling group to abide by regulations set forth by the two governments.  

As a 15-year IAFP Member, Dr. Mello has served on numerous committees and PDGs, including two terms on the Program Committee as Vice Chair and Chair; and as Chair of the Developing Scientist Awards Competition Committee. Dr. Mello established and served as the first Chair of the Beverage and Acid/Acidified Foods PDG and the Low Water Activity Foods PDG. She has also organized and convened several IAFP symposia.

For complete biographies of the candidates, visit the IAFP Web site at: http://www.foodprotection.org.