Page 50 - Food&Drink August 2022 magazine

REARVIEW 5 The fast
Each issue we ask industry leaders about their working life. This month we talk to Darren O’Brien, the ANZ/Japan president of Mondelez International.
1TELL US ABOUT YOUR CURRENT ROLE.
As President Australia, New
Zealand & Japan at Mondelez International, I have the privilege of leading one of the country’s largest snacking companies. We produce many of Australia’s favourite snacking brands, including Oreo cookies, Philadelphia cream cheese
and of course Cadbury Dairy Milk, which we’ve been manufacturing in Tasmania for 100 years. Our mission is to empower people to snack right, and to play a meaningful role building a brighter future for people and planet.
In my role, I work closely with our nearly 3000 colleagues, supporting our extensive manufacturing, supply chain and commercial functions here in Australia and across New Zealand and Japan.
2
From the outset of the pandemic, we recognised our duty to protect our people, support our communities and ultimately,
emerge from the pandemic stronger. And together, as a team, we did just that.
We transformed our operations, remained focused on our health, safety and hygiene systems, navigated unprecedented supply chain disruptions, sustained critical jobs and kept our much-loved snacks on supermarket shelves for Australians to enjoy.
5
Transitioning to renewables to power our Victorian factories and reducing the total carbon emissions across our business by 50 per cent.
Our world-first initiative to reduce plastic packaging waste and support a circular packaging economy by sourcing 30 per cent recycled content to wrap our Cadbury Dairy Milk blocks.
And our efforts to build and support a thriving agricultural sector – whether it be the sugarcane we source from Queensland, fresh milk from Tasmanian dairy farmers, or cocoa from cocoa growing communities in Northwest Africa.
There is still much work to be done, but we remain committed and inspired by our strong progressto-date. ✷
3
As a leader even when you know what has to be done and the consequences of not doing it, the “burning platform” can provide the motivation to act some of the time, however experience has taught me if you can provide people with real context, the importance of what needs to be done and the role they can play in achieving it, you can unlock the right mindset that can make a real and sustainable difference.
Listen more, speak less, take feedback as a gift and learn as much as you can from the experiences of others.
YOU STILL WANT
TO ACHIEVE?
To lead the most sustainable snacking company in Australia. It remains a critical focus
each and every day and I’ve been inspired by our progress. Three main examples come
to mind.
WHAT WAS YOUR
BIGGEST MISTAKE AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN? Underestimating the importance of providing context. The most effective outcomes are almost always delivered because people wanted to deliver them not because they had to.
✷ ADVERTISER LIST
ADM Australia 11 AMS Instrumentation & Calibration 45 Australasian Medical & Scientific 35
WHAT IS ONE GOAL
WHAT HAS BEEN
YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? The pandemic has been an incredible test of strength and determination and in my case – also leadership. I’ve been humbled by the resilience and sacrifice made by so many, from our essential healthcare workers to our colleagues in front-line industries like food manufacturing and distribution.
Earlee Products Foodbank Australia GS1 Australia
Heat and Control KHS Pacifi
41
52
17
09
51
07
4
Krones AG
Matthews Australasia Cover MultipackFoods 25 MTI Qualos 29 OF Packaging 37 Radial Design 23 RMR Process 13 Roxset 31 SWA Water Australia 02 Sidel Group 23 Tecpro Australia 27 Theta Technologies 19 Trimatt Systems 33 Visy Technology Systems 21
WHAT WOULD YOU
TELL YOUR 25-YEAR- OLD SELF?
50 | Food&Drink business | August 2022 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au