Management Biographies

Gerard Daniel O'Brien, B Admin., MBA (Georgetown), CPA, MAICD
Managing Director/CEO
Mr O'Brien was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive of Buderim Ginger Limited on 5 March 2001. His previous role was Business Development Director for Goodman Fielder Milling based in Sydney. Mr O'Brien has many years management experience in the Australian food industry with Defiance Mills, Bunge-Defiance and Goodman Fielder and is a General Councillor of the Australian Industry Group
(AIG) Queensland Branch. Mr O'Brien is a foundation member of the Sunshine Coast Business Council and a member of the Executive Committee.
Mr O'Brien completed an MBA at Georgetown University USA in 1992 after a finance career in the construction industry.

Karon Lesley Rogers, B.Bus., FCPA, FCIS, FAICD.
Company Secretary/CFO
Ms Rogers commenced with Buderim Ginger Limited in 1988 as Company Accountant. She was promoted to Corporate Services Manager in 1992 and to her current role as Company Secretary/CFO in 1995. Prior to joining the company, she worked in accounting management roles within the food manufacturing and building industries, whilst also teaching part-time in the TAFE system for approximately 10 years. Ms Rogers completed the AICD Directors Diploma in 2002, has been a CPA for over 20 years and is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and the Institute of Company Directors.

Stephen John Dennis B.Mech.Eng(Hons), Grad Dip Mgt(Tech Mgt), MIEAust, CPEng.
Process and Engineering Manager - Ginger
Mr Dennis commenced with Buderim Ginger on 15 June 1998 as Engineering Manager. He is responsible for all capital projects and plant maintenance within the Ginger division. His previous role was Senior Engineer at Nestle Smithtown and has had over 20 years experience in the Food Industry. He has also had 7 years experience in the power Industry. He has completed several large projects in a milk factory in Victoria then transferring to the malt extract/Milo factory in NSW. He has been responsible at Buderim Ginger for several major upgrades within both the Yandina and Fiji sites.

Daniel James Cashin
General Manager - Baking
Mr Cashin was appointed Sales Manager of Buderim Baking Company in May 2005. Prior to this appointment, Mr Cashin was the National Sales Manager for Top Taste Cakes, a division of George Weston Foods Baking.
Mr Cashin also has held a range of senior sales management and account management roles within George Weston Foods Baking and Goodman Fielder Baking. Mr Cashin is currently completing an MBA through the University of Newcastle.

David John Dippelsmann
Operations Manager - Baking
Mr Dippelsmann commenced work with Buderim Baking in July 2007 as Product Development Manager.  He was promoted to Operations Manager in February 2008. Prior to joining the company he worked for Manildra Flour in Queensland, and within product development for Arnotts Biscuits.
Mr Dippelsmann career spans 20 years within the baking industry, having owned his own bakery business during this time.

Peter William Knight
Operations Manager - Ginger
Mr Knight joined Buderim Ginger in August 2000 as  Logistics Manager. Mr Knight's role has evolved and expanded  to that of Operations Manager,  encompassing responsibility for all operational matters at  the Yandina factory  and the  Frespac Fijian manufacturing facility. Mr Knight has over 40 years experience In Logistics and Supply Chain Management, having served 22 years with the Department of Defence as a Supply Officer and 10 years with Paradise Food Industries, Brisbane as the Supply and Distribution Manager.  Mr Knight has Diplomas in Logistics Management and Facility Resource Management.

Satish Kumar,Dip Tropical Agriculture,(USP)
Fiji Factory Operations Manager
Mr Kumar commenced as a business partner and production manager when he started a new food processing factory with Yee Wah Sing Frespac Limited in 1994 (mainly ginger processing). Prior to starting the company, he worked as a production manager for a government owned processing factory and National Marketing Authority doing similar business for 10 years.  In year 2000 he was promoted to a Factory Operations Manager when Buderim Ginger Limited took over 100% shares for Fiji operations.

Nichole Laren Seymore, BAppSc
General Manager - Tourism
Ms Seymore joined Buderim Ginger Limited in 1996 and soon thereafter assumed responsibility for sales and events within the tourism department.  In this role, Ms Seymore was instrumental in the growth and strategic development of the department and was promoted to her current role as Tourism Manager in 2004.  Prior to joining the company, Ms Seymore held a variety of roles in the tourism and events industries in Brisbane, North Queensland and The Sunshine Coast and has more than 15 years experience in these fields.  Ms Seymore is an active supporter of The Sunshine Coast business and tourism communities and sits as an industry representative on Tourism Noosa's Marketing Advisory Committee.

Paul Bialkowski B.Sc. (Econ), M.Sc.
UK Country Manager
Paul joined Buderim Ginger (UK) as UK Country Manager in 2000.  Previous roles included: business development with Kerry Foods, general management of a flour milling profit centre with Spillers Milling (part of the then Dalgety PLC), and Export Manager for Spillers Milling.  Paul started his career in UK exports  trading mainly with Eastern Europe.

Matt Fuller, M.A., B.B.A.
Mr. Fuller currently serves as President of Pan Pacific Foods and is responsible for the daily operations of the Buderim Ginger Limited subsidiary joint venture, Buderim Ginger America, LLC (BGA).  Previously, Matt served as the President and CEO of ICE Communications, Inc. (ICE), where he led the telecommunications software company through a period of robust growth and eventual acquisition.  Prior to ICE, Matt was the Director of Marketing Alliances for Visa USA.  Matt spent his early career working for major communications companies Sprint International, MCI (now Verizon), and SBC (now AT&T).  Mr. Fuller has a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies from Saint Mary?s College along with a Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Iowa where he completed majors in Finance and Marketing along with a minor in Spanish.