Peter Ng
Kellyville,Australia
Summary
Experienced Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist with 18 years of hands-on expertise in managing safety, compliance, and quality across multiple high-risk product categories, including Produce (Freshcut Fruit and Salads, ready-to-eat sprouts), Mushrooms (whole and sliced), Organic Produce, Meat (primal, comminuted, ready-to-cook, and ready-to-eat), Seafood (raw, processed, smoked, battered/crumbed), and Bakery (chilled desserts, tarts, seasonal products like puddings and mince pies). Proven track record in driving compliance with food safety standards and enhancing supplier performance through collaborative efforts, from product lifecycle management and supplier audits to customer feedback analysis and root cause investigations. My background includes a PhD in Food Microbiology and extensive experience in NATA-accredited laboratory management, ensuring robust chemical and microbiological testing processes. With practical knowledge in HARPS, BRC, SQF, and Woolworths Supplier Excellence Program standards, I excel at aligning food safety strategies with operational goals, engaging with suppliers, and supporting the successful delivery of safe, high-quality products to market.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Technical Specialist
Woolworths Supermarkets
Sydney, NSW
05.2023 - Current
- As the technical lead for cheese and plant-based products, I partner closely with suppliers to uphold high safety and quality standards, focusing on microbiological compliance, customer feedback management, and continuous improvement
- Championed Supplier Roadshow events, both virtual and in-person, fostering greater supplier alignment with Woolworths' quality expectations.
- Actively contributed to developing a customer feedback dashboard, allowing the team to address quality concerns faster, reduce complaint resolution times, and enhance customer satisfaction.
- Worked collaboratively on the allergen-friendly product line, expanding our allergen-free options to meet customer needs while ensuring product safety
Quality Specialist - Seafood and Bakery
Woolworths Supermarkets
02.2016 - 05.2023
- In this role, I collaborated with seafood and bakery suppliers to ensure products met stringent food safety and quality standards
- Together, we developed solutions to drive improvements in customer satisfaction, reduce complaints, and enhance product quality
- Led the chilled bakery rebranding initiative, coordinating with suppliers and internal teams to bring 10 SKUs to market, resulting in increased weekly sales and improved brand perception
- Supported small suppliers in launching allergen-free products, enhancing customer options for gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan products
- Partnered with suppliers to reduce seafood recalls by 25% through root cause analysis and preventive strategies
- Collaborated on specification development for new and existing products, ensuring adherence to high-care standards for Ready-to-Eat (RTE) products
- Worked alongside suppliers to enhance compliance and address CAPA processes, improving product consistency
Quality Specialist - Hard Produce and Freshcuts
Woolworths Supermarkets
01.2014 - 02.2016
- Focused on freshcut salads, organic produce, and mushrooms, I partnered with suppliers to ensure quality, safety, and continuous improvement across these high-turnover categories
- Led a fast-track rebranding of 45 freshcut SKUs and launched nine new products within three months, working with suppliers to meet tight timelines and maintain quality
- Spearheaded the Freshcut Forum, facilitating open discussion on industry issues and best practices among suppliers
- Reduced foreign object complaints in freshcut salads by 25%, thanks to collaborative efforts in reviewing supplier processes and implementing preventive measures
- Worked closely with the Woolworths Produce Supplier Excellence Program and HARPS, ensuring alignment and consistency in food safety standards across the supplier network
- Managed customer complaints and worked with suppliers to resolve issues collaboratively, leading to a 20% improvement in complaint resolution times
Lead Quality Specialist
Woolworths Supermarkets
01.2012 - 01.2014
- As Lead Quality Specialist, I supported a team overseeing quality across fresh food departments and worked closely with our suppliers on risk management, compliance, and recall processes
- Contributed to developing and implementing Woolworths Version 8 Standards, raising safety and quality benchmarks across produce and food manufacturing
- Supported recalls, including raw almonds (Salmonella) and smallgoods (plastic contamination), coordinating closely with suppliers to quickly address root causes and corrective actions
- Led a team of quality specialists, providing training, guidance, and support in supplier quality audits and compliance improvement
Woolworths QA Laboratory Manager
Woolworths Supermarkets
01.2008 - 01.2012
- Led the NATA-accredited laboratory team, overseeing microbiological and chemical testing and ensuring all testing met stringent quality standards for Woolworths-branded products
- Maintained NATA accreditation for both microbiology and chemistry, ensuring the lab met high standards in testing over 6,000 samples annually
- Worked with the QA team to provide real-time data, enabling swift responses to product quality concerns and aligning with Woolworths' quality strategy
- Managed a collaborative team environment, focusing on lab testing accuracy, external lab partnerships, and process improvements
Education
Certificate IV in Frontline Management -
Scouts Australia Institute of Training
01.2008
Certificate IV in Leadership -
Scouts Australia Institute of Traininf
01.2008
Ph.D. - Food Microbiology
University of New South Wales
01.2006
BSc - Food Science & Technology (Hons)
University of New South Wales
Sydney, NSW01.2000
Skills
- Recall & Incident Management: Proactive Problem Solving, Root Cause Analysis, Corrective Action
- Product Lifecycle Management: Specification Development, New Product Development, High-Risk Manufacturing
- Team Leadership & Mentorship: Training, Supplier Engagement, Knowledge Sharing
Accomplishments
- Woolworths Commercial Team Member of the Year - 2022
- John Christian Young Food Microbiologist of the Year - 2005
Affiliations
- Member, Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST)
- Committee Member, AIFST NSW Food Microbiology Group (2011-2013)
Timeline
Senior Technical Specialist
Woolworths Supermarkets
05.2023 - Current
Quality Specialist - Seafood and Bakery
Woolworths Supermarkets
02.2016 - 05.2023
Quality Specialist - Hard Produce and Freshcuts
Woolworths Supermarkets
01.2014 - 02.2016
Lead Quality Specialist
Woolworths Supermarkets
01.2012 - 01.2014
Woolworths QA Laboratory Manager
Woolworths Supermarkets
01.2008 - 01.2012
Certificate IV in Frontline Management -
Scouts Australia Institute of Training
Certificate IV in Leadership -
Scouts Australia Institute of Traininf
Ph.D. - Food Microbiology
University of New South Wales
BSc - Food Science & Technology (Hons)
University of New South Wales
Publications
- Woolworths Supplier Roadshows - 2021, 2023, 2024
- “Brand Integrity and Customer Trust,” FIAQ Food Safety Conference - 2017
- “Food Safety: Current & Future Trends,” Symposium on Food Innovation - 2014
- Ng, P.J., Fleet, G.H., Heard, G.M. (2005). Pesticides as a Source of Microbial Contamination of Salad Vegetables. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 101: 237-250.
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