APBA Chair

Sean Edwards, trade leader with 25 years' experience, is an early pioneer of the Australian cafe/coffee industry. He founded Cafe Culture International, encompassing Cafe Culture Magazine and The Golden Bean, an international coffee roasting competition. Passionate about supporting the food service industry, Sean's expertise drives revenue growth for clients in Australia and overseas. His involvement in the plant-based industry is motivated by the vision to prepare and protect the food service industry for a robust and sustainable future. As the APBA Chair, Sean has been instrumental in strategic positing and starting the APBA to deliver growth for its members.

APBA Secretariat

Jurgen Kennedy is an experienced B2B Business Development and Commercial leader, who has spent the last ~20 years working in both developed and developing markets across Asia and Australia and NZ. Current Regional Director of Global multi oil ingredient house, AAK, Jurgen is based in Singapore and is in charge of over overseeing the progression of their Plant Based Foods business in AMEA as well as Regional Commercial Head of Japan and Korea. As a proactive, adaptable, and personable leader, he eagerly supports the APBA in advancing the plant-based supply chain and fostering member business growth.

Kim Tonnet has over 30 years of extensive experience across a broad range of product markets, business models and in senior roles in Quality Assurance, New Product Development, Product Stewardship & Regulatory and Marketing. Closely working with factory operations, sales, trade marketing and logistics, in FMCG and business-to-business markets, with products and services, in large multinationals and small business enterprises, Kim brings her depth of commercial and scientific experience to the APBA Advisory board to help members grow their businesses.

David Tyack is an accomplished business leader heading up Vitasoy Australia Products, part of Vitasoy International (HK). David has been committed to crafting nutritious and delicious plant-based products from Australian soy, almonds, oats, and rice, including a highly praised plant-based yogurt in July 2022. David previously led Capitol Chilled Foods, a LION-BEGA joint venture, managing market-leading brands like Canberra Milk, DARE, Moove, Dairy Farmers, Bega, Mainland, Daily Juice, Berri, Yoplait, and Vitasoy. David is excited to bring his experience and insights to the APBA Advisory Board that crosses premium plant and animal-based products to assist navigating better commercial and regulatory outcomes for members.

Professor Brent Kaiser serves as the Director of the Sydney Institute of Agriculture (SIA) at the University of Sydney, where he guides and promotes agricultural and food research for internal and external stakeholders. As a Professor of Legume Biology and Molecular Genetics, his expertise lies in examining genetic signalling mechanisms regulating plant nitrogen transport, metabolism, and nitrogen use efficiency in cereals, fibre crops, and nitrogen-fixing legumes. Brent will provide his subject matter expertise and assist navigating the APBA reducing duplicity and provide connection with academia and other industry bodies to drive collaboration and advocacy for better member outcomes.

Ben Ryan is a Senior Associate in the commercial and corporate law practice at Avant Law. Ben works primarily on commercial structuring, negotiation and intellectual property matters and works with his clients to achieve strategic and commercially sensible results.

Ben has demonstrated passion and commitment with early involvement in the formation of the APBA and looks forward to supporting this emerging industry and the APBA members through the complexities of the regulatory and legal framework that lies ahead.