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Overview           Speakers          Schedule

FROM
RED SWAN PARTNERS

Overview           Speakers          Schedule

Emerging Trends and the Future of Agri-Food Business in a TICC-Driven World

Santo Mauro, A Luxury Collection Hotel - MADRID

Round Table Discussion

ATTENDEES

26 November 2024

MEET
OUR ATTENDEES

Alexandria Monk

Alexandria Monk

Fractional Chief Marketing Officer

Red Swan Partners

Global B2B and B2C marketing and event experience covering strategy, positioning and complex campaign planning including; multi-channel campaigns, subscription campaigns, customer life-cycle management, new product launches, event management, channel comms, digital project management, video production, webinars and internal comms. Industries I have worked in include; publishing, events, technology, software, digital, training, financial services, healthcare, education, telecoms, import and export, legal and property management.
Jesús Díaz Fau

Jesús Díaz Fau

Operating Partner

Red Swan Partners

Jesús has been involved in numerous TIC M&A transactions in the stages of leads, acquisition, qualification, NBO, DD, purchase and integration. Jesús held senior positions at Bureau Veritas and Oca Global in Spain before joining Aenor International as Group Corporate Development & Acquisitions (M&A) Director and Inspection Services Director with worldwide responsibility. Starting 2007, Jesús has been supporting businesses as VP of TIC Association in Madrid, to develop and implement strategies and business improvements to create real value.
John Willox

John Willox

Advisory Board Member

Red Swan Partners

John is an accomplished international senior leader. Having worked all over the world for Hilti for over 20 years he then moved to the Exova Group. As group MD at Exova he was responsible for; Fire Testing, Building Products, Automotive, Calibration and Certification globally, as well as having led Exova Middle East/Asia as MD for a period of time based in Dubai. ​ John is now based in the UK. He has overseen and led multiple acquisitions and divestments in a variety of situations from growth to the recovery of debt and with a long experience working with private equity. ​
Susan Putters

Susan Putters

Advisory Board Member

Red Swan Partners

Susan has led more than 40 M&A transactions for the HR function as well as supporting organic growth and business transformation across 6 continents within these listed companies and in private company settings. Many of these transactions required organisational restructure, remuneration and policy harmonisation as well synergy realisation to enable the best outcomes for the acquisition. She brings the buyers perspective which is an especially useful insight she can share with sellers gearing up for growth or exit.
Talal Yousef

Talal Yousef

C.E.O.

Red Swan Partners

Talal is truly passionate about the success of his clients and his team. He is a Serial Entrepreneur having experience across multiple cultures and regions in emerging countries including 5 new businesses in the Middle East, Singapore, Greece and United Kingdom covering industries from: Testing & Inspection services, Refrigerant gases, Liquified petroleum gases (LPG), Welding/cutting equipment, Environmental solutions and Industrial/medical gases.
Ana Vega Francés

Ana Vega Francés

Certification Director

TÜV AUSTRIA IBERIA

She has 20 years of experience in the ISO Management Systems Certification sector. She has a degree in Law from the Complutense University of Madrid. She has been Certification Director for TÜV AUSTRIA Iberia since 2018. Previously, she held the position of Certification Manager for TÜV Nord for 4 years, where she began her career as an Auditor. She has also been an ISO Management Systems Auditor from 2002 to the present.
Benjamin Lambert

Benjamin Lambert

Founder & C.E.O.

Checkfirst

Founder and CEO at Checkfirst, helping businesses in the TIC space do better with reliable data and AI powered workflows. With over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur and investor, he has been involved in creating and scaling simple solutions through technology-focused products across different industries, such as ComplianceTech, API First SaaS, FinTech, EdTech, HealthTech, LegalTech and PropTech. He is also an angel investor in around 20 blockchain projects and an angel investor in multiple start ups across Europe. At Checkfirst, he leads a team of driven and focused repeat founders who are passionate about helping TICC businesses reach their full potential by effectively leveraging AI to improve productivity and workflows.
Benoist Lasserre

Benoist Lasserre

Group Managing Director

AGROLAB GROUP

Benoist joined the Agrolab Group in 2019 to drive the rapid expansion of the Group’s geographical network, in charge of the food laboratories and later of the environmental activities in Western Europe. He was appointed Group Managing Director in 2023. Prior to joining the Agrolab Group, he spent close to 15 years in the testing sector at SGS and Eurofins where he held a number of leadership positions in Strategy, Business Development, M&A and Operations, across different geographies. Benoist graduated from Rennes School of Business, and holds a MBA from Memorial University (Canada)
Eduardo Merello Álvarez

Eduardo Merello Álvarez

General Director

SOHISCERT

Eduardo Merello Álvarez, General Manager of SOHISCERT, is an Agricultural Technical Engineer from the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering in Seville. He has more than 40 years of experience in the agricultural sector, having held the position of Administrator and General Manager of SOHISCERT since 1998, a company dedicated to agri-food and environmental certification. Previously, he held the position of General Secretary of the Andalusian Committee for Organic Agriculture, carrying out management, coordination and inspection work in said entity. Among his skills are visionary leadership, efficiency oriented to the achievement of objectives and resource management, qualities necessary to coordinate a team that started with 3 people and is currently made up of more than 60.
Francisco Caballero Morgado

Francisco Caballero Morgado

Tech/General Manager

CERTICALIDAD

Hugo Leal Gouveia

Hugo Leal Gouveia

General Director

TÜV Austria Iberia

He has 24 years of experience in the TICC sector. He is a Metallurgical Engineer from the University of Engineering of the University of Porto. Regional Manager of TUV Austria in Iberia since 2022. Previously he held the position of Coordinator of the Materials Laboratory, ISQ Company for 9 years, where he began his career as an Industrial Inspector and Laboratory Technician. He is also an Advisor to all the companies of the TUV Austria group in Portugal and Spain (JECMA, QTEC and Global Inspection Services).
Javier Garrido Vázquez

Javier Garrido Vázquez

Director of Strategic Products Certification

SGS

Agricultural Engineer / MBA URV / PDD ESADE. 20 years of experience in the TICC sector (Testing, Inspection and Certification).
Jorge A. Fernández Díaz

Jorge A. Fernández Díaz

OU Director Food-Feed South

Agrolab Group

Experienced Managing Director with over 10 years of experience in Industrial business mainly focused in TIC Food-Feed industry. Being part of the Agrolab Group for the last 14 years, I have been involved in several departments and functions as Customer Service Leader, Site Manager and, currently, full Operational Responsible for the Spanish and Italian Sites. I have developed and executed business strategies to achieve short and long-term goals with a double-digit growth in the las 5 years.
Jose Luis Gonzalez Gonzalez

Jose Luis Gonzalez Gonzalez

Cluster Manager Food Microbiology

Eurofins Spain

I have more than 20 years of experience in testing laboratories focused on the human and animal food sector. In my career I have gone through very different positions in different national or internatinal laboratories: Quality Control, Technical Direction and finally Executive Management. . In recent times, I am very interested in the application of Lean philosophy to laboratories as a way of improving efficiency.
Jose Maria Escudero

Jose Maria Escudero

General Director

ADBAE

Graduate in Chemical Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid. He has 31 years of experience in the food sector. Previously he held the position of Laboratory Director at the Anticimex Medioambiental Company for 6 years.
José Martín Avanzini

José Martín Avanzini

Corporate Development

AGQ Labs

Jose Martín Avanzini holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration by CUNEF (Madrid), and started his career in the Corporate Finance Department of Alantra (formerly N+1) as an analyst advising in M&A, Debt and Capital Markets. After 12 years in the advisory, he had the opportunity to join AGQ, acting as the responsible of Corporate Development with its main focus on inorganic growth opportunities.
Juan Cardona Esbrí

Juan Cardona Esbrí

Country Manager - Spain

Kiwa

Has 30 years of experience in the agri-food sector. He is an agricultural engineer from the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Manager of Kiwa Spain since January 2009. He held this position as Director of Latam from 2014 to 2017, and as Director of Portugal from 2018 to 2020. Previously, he worked as a Production and Export Quality Engineer in the citrus sector from 1994 to 1998. He subsequently founded several companies, including Grupotec, where he carried out consulting work, and later moved into the “TICC” segment until 2008, when he joined the international company Kiwa, continuing in the same sector.
Luis Miguel Fernández Sierra

Luis Miguel Fernández Sierra

Manager

COEXPHAL

Has more than 25 years of experience in the horticulture sector of Almería. He is an Agronomist Engineer, University of Córdoba and Ph.D. Agronomist Engineer University of Almeria. Manager of the Association of Organizations of Fruit and Vegetable Producers of Almería (COEXPHAL) since October 2015. Previously he held the position of manager of AGROCOLOR, S.L, a Certifying Company for 13 years, where he began his career as a quality technician. He is also an Associate Labor Professor of the Department of Management and Management of Companies of the University of Almería from October 2006 to the present, with teaching in ADE, LADE, GADE and Management/Systems Computer Engineering.
Marco Sevillano

Marco Sevillano

International Sales Director

ESGInnova

Computer Engineer, MBA Business Administration – Spain Consultant for the implementation of Quality Management systems, Environment, ISO 20000 and 27001, the latter of which was one of the first 40 companies certified in Spain under this standard. Quality Awards Ceremony in Peru and member of the Organizing Committee. Speaker and Lecturer participating in events, seminars, fairs in Spain, Portugal, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Mexico. Direction and coordination of the First International Compliance Congress. Direction and coordination of GRC (Corporate Governance, Risks and Compliance) Conferences. Currently, International Commercial Director of ISOTools since 2016 with responsibility for the development of strategies at an international level, partner channel and strategic alliances. Specialist in providing value through innovative solutions for the digital transformation of management systems and models.
Marta Escudero

Marta Escudero

Regional Director - Europe

LRQA

Since December 2022, Marta Escudero is the Regional Director for Europe (Assessment) at LRQA, leading global assurance partner . Based in Madrid, she has over 20 years of experience in the assurance sector. In 2001 she started in the TIC industry at EFSIS - a UK headquartered certification body specialized in Food safety - and since then throughout her career, she has held senior leadership roles in different CBs such as SAI Global and Intertek in Europe and America.
María Milagros Vázquez González

María Milagros Vázquez González

Business Development Director

ADBAE LABORATORIO Y CONSULTORÍA

She has 32 years of experience in the Food, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Quality Control sector. She is a Biological Engineer from the Complutense University of Madrid. Business Development Manager of ADBAE LABORATORY AND CONSULTING Laboratory since August 23, 2024. Previously, she held the position of General Manager at ALKEMI, SA for 30 years, where she began her career as a Commercial Technician in the Health and Consumer Division.
Matías Romero

Matías Romero

C.E.O. / Managing director

Acerta

In 1988, I graduated as an Agricultural Engineer with a specialization in the design and construction of food industries and food manufacturing technology. From 1987 to 1991, I worked as a project engineer at Unión de Ingenieros y Economista Consultores, a leading company in Spain in the design and construction of food industries. In 1992, I participated in the founding of the engineering company ARTICA Asesores. In 1996, I created the quality consulting department, which I led for 2 years, helping dozens of food companies comply with management system and product certification standards. In 1998, I participated in the founding of Entidad Certificadora de Alimentos de España, a company I directed until 2003, and a pioneer in the food safety certification sector in Spain. Since 2004, I have been a founding partner and CEO of the ACERTA Group, specializing in certification of food safety, R&D&I, and sustainability, with operations in more than 15 countries. In December 2022, I was elected president of CONFICERT, an international non-for-profit association of certification bodies, which develops and promotes B2C quality labels.
Mercedes Arribas

Mercedes Arribas

Natural Resources Director

SGS

Mining Engineer and EMBA. Passionate about Finance and Marketing. I enjoy working in the search and development of new businesses, and creating and implementing strategies for market growth and efficiency improvement. Today, from my position as Natural Resources Manager, I work to achieve excellence in quality and the best customer service, in all the services we provide from our three business lines (Minerals, Agriculture and Oil, Gas & Chemicals).
Miguel Martin Lucena

Miguel Martin Lucena

C.E.O.

ESGInnova

Nuno Alexandre Borges Alves Monteiro

Nuno Alexandre Borges Alves Monteiro

C.E.O.

IRG Inspecções Técnica

He has 27 years of experience in the Construction sector. He graduated in Civil Engineering from the Higher Institute of Engineering of Porto. C.E.O. of IRG Inspecções Técnicas, SA since January 2001. Previously, he held the position of Technical Inspector of the ITG Company Instituto Tecnológico do Gas for 4 years, starting his career in 1997.
Paul Barry

Paul Barry

Chairman

Phenna Group

Steering Phenna Group's ascent as a market leader in the TICC landscape, my tenure as Founder and CEO has been marked by strategic M&A execution and fostering over 6,500 skilled professionals across multiple continents. Our team's efforts have cemented our presence in the Infrastructure, Built Environment, Industrials, Food & Life Sciences and Compliance/Certification sectors. Transitioning to Executive Chairman, I now guide our high-performance teams toward sustained international growth. Our focus remains on operational excellence and strategic acquisitions, leveraging my extensive B2B experience to enhance our global footprint in the TICC industry.
Álvaro Barrera Fernández

Álvaro Barrera Fernández

President

Ecovalia

Born in Seville, he is a Veterinary Bromatologist from the University of Córdoba and in 2002 he completed his studies in Food Science and Technology at the University of Granada. After his beginnings in the food quality sector in direct relation to livestock farming in the province of Huelva, in 2004 he joined the then called Asociación Valor Ecológico-CAAE, an entity in which he held different positions as inspector, technician, development director, certification director for Andalusia, territorial director and assistant to the presidency. During this stage he participated as a representative of Spain in the European Organic Certifiers Council (EOCC), which gives him a deep knowledge of the entity and the sector. Since 2015, he has held the position of president of Ecovalia, the Spanish professional association for organic production, as well as of the CAAE certification entity, entities with more than 30 years of experience in the field of organic production. In addition, within the international panorama, he is an observer member of the Inter-American Commission on Organic Agriculture (CIAO), participating as a speaker in the congresses and assemblies of said entity. The entity he presides is also a member of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA); IFOAM Organics Europe, as well as the Leading Organic Alliance (LOA). In his more than 20-year professional career, he has expanded his training in Senior Management of Companies in the Organic Sector, a Master's Degree in Total Quality and the Environment, Food Standardization and Legislation. In addition to his professional activity, he is a member of the Savia Foundation for Commitment and Values.
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