Peter Schutz

Chair of Food Innovation Australia Ltd (Fial)

Peter is the founding Chair of Food Innovation Australia Ltd (Fial). He holds over 40 years of experience and achievement in the food and agriculture industry in Australia. His senior management roles were within the fields of operations, sales, marketing, technical services and compliance, innovation and technology transfer, sustainability and environmental management and general management.

Peter was announced on 17 February as the Chair of the Food and Agribusiness Growth Centre as well as a member of the Growth Centres Advisory Committee whose primary role is to provide strategic advice to the Minister on the Growth Centre initiative.

As a highly regarded food industry advisor, chairman and director, Peter takes an active involvement, representation and advocacy in organisations focused on the development of food science and technology within Australia.

His board and advisory roles include the Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council, Lupin Foods Australia, Victorian Centre for Sustainable Chemical Manufacture, Chair of Food Safety Advisory Committee at Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture and CSIRO Food and Nutrition advisory committee. Peter is a Fellow of Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Prior to retirement, Peter spent 10 years as the CEO of George Weston Technologies (George Weston Foods), where he was awarded the AIFST, Food Industry Innovation Award in 2003. He has delivered numerous papers at food industry conferences in Australia and the UK, including chairing sessions and participating in expert panel discussions.

Peter was enticed out of retirement to establish FIAL and is enjoying the challenge of helping to build a resilient, cohesive and progressive food and beverage industry.