|
Staff
Restaurant & Catering Victoria has a small, but dedicated team:
Chief Executive Officer
Todd Blake is the CEO of Restaurant & Catering Victoria, the peak industry body for Victorian restaurants, cafés, caterers and function centres. The Association has been in operation for almost 100 years and has a membership of over 1100 businesses located across the state. He took up this position after more than 10 years working in the business events and exhibition industry in Australia, Asia and Europe. He has a background in hotel administration with a degree in Hospitality Management and Post Graduate qualifications in Marketing.
In his role as Restaurant & Catering Victoria CEO, Todd is in regular contact with foodservice businesses across the state on a diverse range of issues including education, licensing, workplace relations, food safety and business sustainability. He works on a regular basis with federal, state and local governments on issues of importance to the hospitality industry.
Todd is a member of many boards and industry advisory groups including the Food & Wine Tourism Council, Victorian Food Safety Council, Liquor Control Advisory Council and City of Melbourne Hospitality Advisory Board.
Human Resources and IR Consultant
Phillippa Shaw joined Restaurant & Catering Victoria in June 2009.
Phillippa holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Double Major in HR and IR) from Sydney University. During her tertiary education, Phillippa worked in the restaurant sector. Such experience allowed her to put theory into practice, and apply her HR studies to the real life employment relations issues facing small hospitality businesses.
Prior to joining the association, Phillippa worked in food retail franchising in Sydney. She held a HR generalist position, which had a strong focus on the provision of HR and IR advice to franchisees in three nationwide franchise chains. She was also responsible for the coordination, delivery and development of the franchisee training program. While she enjoys the buzz of training, she has an undeniable flair for Industrial Relations.
Membership & Advertising Executive
Aaron Ross joined Restaurant & Catering Victoria in January 2010.
Aaron holds a Bachelor of Management (Majors in Marketing and Tourism) and following University completed a graduate program with Qantas Vacations in Los Angeles.
With a passion for Marketing and Business Development, Aaron has made his mark in the Tourism industry having been involved in a variety of roles including Stella Travel Group, Iririki Island Resorts- Vanuatu and more recently Quest Apartments.
Aaron brings with him the skills and drive required to grow the association and ensure we are a more powerful lobby group into the future.
Event Co-ordinator
Anne Kennedy joined Restaurant & Catering Victoria in March 2009.
Anne has worked in a wide range of roles within the telecommunications industry, most recently as the Sales Performance Manager for Customer Sales and Service at Telstra. Anne developed and deployed a National Reward and Recognition program across all customers facing staff in Customer Sales and Services, including call centre and retail staff.
The role also encompassed co-ordination of national award nights for 4,000 employees. Anne had the responsibility for all aspects, creating, planning and logistics, which deliverd high quality events with increased stff participation rates year on year. Anen completed her Dimploma in Business Management in 2006 and brings a broad base of experience and skills to the role. Anne is looking forward to further raising the profile and recognition of our prestigious Awards for Excellence.
Program Manager - Hospitality Purchasing Network
Charles McAllister joined Restaurant & Catering Victoria in March 2009.
Charles has worked in a wide range of roles in the hospitality industry. He started out as a chef, completing his apprenticeship at The Commercial Club in Albury and moving to Melbourne as Chef de Partie at Rydges Riverwalk. Moving to UK, Charles gained further experience as a Head Chef in Scotland and a Junior Sous Chef at a Private Members' Club in London.
Back in Australia Charles changed direction to work in hospitality recruitment, then as Food & Beverage Manager at Deakin Univeristy, and most recently as State Operations Manager for Rowland Commercial Catering.
Charles has had comprehensive experience in purchasing through his university role as Regional Representitive of ACUMA F&B Buying (now called TAG) then at Rowlands where he oversaw 21 contracts across Melbourne.
Human Resource Specialist
Lao Biesbroek is our Human Resources Specialist joining us in August 2008.
As the State Manager of the Coles Myer Institute he was responsible for the delivery of training and development services to all Coles Myer brands.
He was also deeply involved in cultural change activities and has had extensive experience facilitating focus groups and change management initiatives.
As State Human Resources manager for Target Australia, he delivered HR solutions to more than 90 stores and offices throughout Victoria and Tasmania.
This generalist role covered the full range of operational HR including Remuneration Reviews, Performance Management, Succession Planning and Workforce Planning.
His 'real world' operational knowledge compliments his HR expertise will add another feature to the Restaurant & Catering Victoria portfolio to assist members
| 
