Speakers

Toon Coopmans is an experienced quality assurance professional, currently serving as the Supplier Development Manager at Interfood, a leading player in the international dairy trade. With a strong academic background in medical microbiology as well food science microbiology, Toon has built a career at the intersection of science and global commerce over the last 20 years.

Now aged 56 and living in the Netherlands, Toon brings a strategic, science-based approach to quality and food safety management. His core focus lies in supplier risk management / supplier development, where he works to safeguard product quality and ensure compliance across a complex, global dairy supply chain.

With over 15 years of experience in Quality & Food Safety (Q&FS), Ashwini brings deep expertise in microbiological risk prevention for dairy and confectionery products. From leading incident and risk management initiatives to driving innovation and training across global teams, Ash is passionate about building strong food safety cultures and cross-functional collaboration. He holds an M.S. in Food Safety and a B.S. in Biotechnology from North Dakota State University (NDSU).

With over 20 years of experience in the food industry with roles in Process Engineering and Capital management, NPD, Factory management, and 8 years of Supplier quality Assurance at Mars, Michael brings a broad range of Packaging, Dairy and Cocoa knowledge with specialization in Dairy Thermal processing, Sustainable packaging and CIP validation. Recently joining the global category team after 2.5 years in EU as a SQA specialist in Dairy for EU, Michael is excited to bring his extensive SQA skills to the team and drive key quality improvement and digital solutions to the Dairy category. Based in Veghel, NL, Michael holds an B Eng. in Food Engineering from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT).

Josemar Santos is a senior dairy technology and quality assurance professional with over 20 years of experience in the global food ingredients industry. Since joining Interfood in 2014, he has contributed to strengthening supplier development, technical governance, and quality assurance strategies across the Americas.

He holds a strong academic foundation in dairy science from the Instituto de Laticínios Cândido Tostes — one of the most traditional and recognized dairy institutes in Latin America — complemented by a degree in Data Science from FIAP and a specialization in Food Safety from SGS Academy. This combination enables him to integrate deep technical expertise with a data-driven, business-oriented mindset.

He operates at the intersection of technical excellence and commercial performance, supporting global key accounts through supplier risk management, technical intelligence, and scalable solutions that enhance supply flexibility and product performance.

KJ Burrington is the Vice President of Technical Development at ADPI, having joined the staff as a director in January 2021.  Prior to her joining the ADPI staff, KJ served as the Ingredient Applications Program Coordinator for the Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research (CDR).  She has over 30 years of experience in product development including her past positions at Ridgeview Industries, the Keebler Company, and as a consultant to the baking industry.

In her previous position at CDR, she provided technical support for U.S. dairy processors and end users on dairy ingredient functionality and applications. She also provided technical expertise for food companies internationally through visits and seminars in conjunction with the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) to countries such as Mexico, Latin America, China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand.  KJ has also been an instructor/presenter in various ADPI events and activities.

KJ holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in Food Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is also an IFT Certified Food Scientist.

KJ has served on ADPI Center of Excellence since its inception in 2012.

Patricia (Patti) Smith serves as the President and CEO of the American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI), the leading national trade association representing manufacturers, marketers, and distributors of dairy-based ingredients. With over 35 years of experience in the global dairy industry, Patricia brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and strategic vision to the organization and the dairy industry.