Bite Sides by Ausfine

John Williams is President of the Australian Dairy Products Federation (ADPF). His career spans Japanese trading house Mitsui, sales leadership at Warrnambool Cheese & Butter, and senior roles through the Saputo and Murray Goulburn transitions. From early whey protein (WPC) commercialisation to branded FMCG and industry advocacy, John has been at the centre of Australia’s biggest dairy shifts—championing value-add, productivity and a stronger, more competitive sector.

LinkedIn

🚨 New Ausfine Bite Sides Episode 🚨

From Mitsui’s trading floors to leading Australia’s processor peak body, John Williams has had a front-row seat to dairy’s biggest changes. He joins us to unpack the rise of whey, the Saputo/MG era, and how policy and pricing shape tomorrow’s milk pool.

We dig into:

• How a Mitsui joint venture helped kick-start Australia’s WPC push

• The Warrnambool → Saputo journey and lessons from MG integration

• Why value-add (lactoferrin, oligosaccharides) matters more than ever

• Processors vs. farmers? Cutting through the noise to real collaboration

• Milk pricing, the Code, and what tweaks could actually help growth

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

#AusfineBiteSides #Podcast #AustralianDairy #ADPF #WheyProtein #Lactoferrin #ValueAdd #FMCG #Policy #Agriculture

EPISODE 13 - Jules Tahan: From Photography to Urban Angles — Creativity, Leadership & Resilience

Jules Tahan is the Managing Director of Urban Angles, a Melbourne-based creative agency specialising in real estate and architectural photography. With more than two decades in the industry, Jules has steered Urban Angles from its early days shooting property for local agents into a nationally recognised business producing high-end content for builders, architects, and designers.

Starting out in portrait and commercial photography after studying at RMIT, Jules deliberately pushed himself outside his comfort zone to accelerate his growth as a creative. That same appetite for challenge has shaped his leadership: from navigating the shift from film to digital, to adopting AI tools in post-production, to guiding Urban Angles through consolidation, growth, and the disruption of COVID-19.

For Jules, success is about clarity, culture, and people — ensuring his team leaves Urban Angles better than when they arrived, while continuing to innovate in a fast-changing creative landscape.

 Jules’ leap from portraits into architectural and real estate photography

 Why stepping outside your comfort zone fuels growth

 The evolution from film to digital to AI — and what comes next

 Lessons in leadership, clarity, and building culture

 Resilience through COVID and charting Urban Angles’ next phase of growth

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to our YouTube channel for full episodes and video content
 https://www.youtube.com/@Ausfine

In this episode, Jules joins Matt Cooper to unpack:#AusfineBiteSides #Podcast #UrbanAngles #Photography #Architecture #Leadership #AI #Innovation #BusinessGrowth

David Bongiorno is the General Manager of Alba Cheese, a family-owned Melbourne business founded by his parents in 1981. After years in hospitality, including time in the US, he returned to learn the trade from the ground up — factory floor to trucks — before stepping into leadership.
Today, David drives Alba’s growth by balancing tradition and innovation: keeping handmade Sicilian cheeses alive, automating where it adds value, and building long-term farmer and customer partnerships.

LinkedIn

🚨 New Ausfine Bite Sides Episode 🚨

From restaurants in the US to running Alba Cheese, David Bongiorno has lived the family business from the bottom up. Now as GM, he’s guiding the company’s next chapter — blending tradition with smart growth.

We cover:

• Learning the business from scratch

• Why handmade still matters

• Milk supply, farmer partnerships & exports

• Alba’s vision for the next 5 years

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

#AusfineBiteSides #Podcast #AlbaCheese #Dairy #Leadership #FamilyBusiness

Eliza Redfern is an Analysis and Insights Manager at Dairy Australia, helping shape the industry’s understanding of milk production, supply, and market trends.

Originally set on a career in veterinary science, Eliza’s path took a turn when she discovered a passion for agriculture during her degree at the University of Melbourne. A hands-on stint on a dairy farm cemented her love for the industry, and her analytical skills quickly found a home in market insights and industry strategy.

Since joining Dairy Australia in 2020, Eliza has become a trusted voice in interpreting data and trends for farmers, processors, and industry stakeholders. From tracking herd numbers to forecasting milk yields, she’s committed to helping the sector do more with less — and navigate a future shaped by climate, markets, and technology.

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Bite Sides by Ausfine dishes up insights into the dynamic world of food and business. Each episode dives into market trends, supply chain tips, and culinary innovation, with special guests.

Hosted by Ausfine—global experts in dairy and proteins—you’ll learn what’s shaping the industry and how to thrive in it. Hungry for knowledge? Tune in and find out what’s on the menu at Bite Sides.

Get in touch with us:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ausfine-foods-international⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ausfine.com

Pete Findlay is the CEO of Bega Group — one of Australia’s most iconic food companies and home to brands like Vegemite, Bega Cheese, and Dairy Farmers.

With a career spanning finance, strategy, and executive leadership, Pete has steered Bega through industry change, market volatility, and the ongoing challenge of staying competitive in a global food market.

In this episode, Pete unpacks how productivity drives affordability, the realities of competing on the world stage, and what it takes to keep an Australian food giant innovative, resilient, and growing.

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Bite Sides by Ausfine dishes up insights into the dynamic world of food and business. Each episode dives into market trends, supply chain tips, and culinary innovation, with special guests.

Hosted by Ausfine—global experts in dairy and proteins—you’ll learn what’s shaping the industry and how to thrive in it. Hungry for knowledge? Tune in and find out what’s on the menu at Bite Sides.

Get in touch with us:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ausfine-foods-international⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ausfinefoods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Williams is the founder and Managing Director of Kidder Williams — and one of the most influential dealmakers in Australian agrifood. With a background in finance and a deep instinct for value, David has led major transactions in dairy, seafood, wine, meat, and beyond, including landmark deals for Tassal, Bellamy’s, Huon, and Bega.

Over four decades, David has helped family businesses scale, co-ops privatize, and iconic brands find new life. Known for his brutal honesty, sharp eye for strategy, and deep sector expertise, he’s built a reputation as the go-to advisor when a food or ag business needs to grow, raise capital — or sell.

In this episode, David shares lessons from the frontlines: what makes a business truly valuable, how founders get in their own way, and why he still sees huge opportunity in Australian agrifood — if the right people are at the table.

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Bite Sides by Ausfine dishes up insights into the dynamic world of food and business. Each episode dives into market trends, supply chain tips, and culinary innovation, with special guests.

Hosted by Ausfine—global experts in dairy and proteins—you’ll learn what’s shaping the industry and how to thrive in it. Hungry for knowledge? Tune in and find out what’s on the menu at Bite Sides.

Get in touch with us:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ausfine-foods-international⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ausfinefoods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Online Shop: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.ausfine.com/

Barry Irvin is the Chairman of Bega Cheese and one of Australia’s most respected agrifood leaders, best known for transforming Bega from a small regional dairy co-op into a nationally recognised, branded food company.

Barry grew up a fifth-generation dairy farmer in the Bega Valley, learning resilience and hard work from an early age. After an early banking career, he returned home to help save the family farm, soon getting involved with Bega Co-operative Society just as it faced its own turning point.

Over more than three decades of leadership, Barry steered Bega through deregulation, industry fragmentation, and intense competition—championing a culture of humility, service, and trust. His commitment to long-term thinking and strategic investment culminated in Bega’s famous acquisition of Vegemite and other iconic Australian brands, marking a bold shift from commodity production to branded foods.

A believer in loyalty, collaboration—even with competitors—and in always sharing both dreams and fears, Barry has built a reputation for calm leadership in tough times and a vision for an industry built on relationships and shared value.

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Bite Sides by Ausfine dishes up insights into the dynamic world of food and business. Each episode dives into market trends, supply chain tips, and culinary innovation, with special guests.

Hosted by Ausfine—global experts in dairy and proteins—you’ll learn what’s shaping the industry and how to thrive in it. Hungry for knowledge? Tune in and find out what’s on the menu at Bite Sides.

Get in touch with us:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ausfine-foods-international⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ausfinefoods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Online Shop: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.ausfine.com/

Jon Spainhour is a Senior Broker and Partner at Ever.ag, one of the most influential firms in global dairy risk management. Jon’s career began in the open-outcry pits of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where he transitioned from cattle and hogs to becoming one of the early pioneers of dairy futures.

After starting the dairy desk at Cargill in the early 2000s, Jon helped lead the rise of dairy risk tools in the US, educating producers and traders on how to de-risk in a volatile market. He later joined Rice Dairy, where he worked closely with major players like Ausfine to unlock US cheese export potential — well before it became mainstream.

Now part of Ever.ag, Jon works across global markets, helping clients navigate futures, options, and the increasingly strategic role of risk management in dairy. With deep insight into production trends, export growth, and international price dynamics, Jon remains one of the clearest voices in the industry — and a key advocate for keeping a sharp eye on Europe.

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Bite Sides by Ausfine dishes up insights into the dynamic world of food and business. Each episode dives into market trends, supply chain tips, and culinary innovation, with special guests.

Hosted by Ausfine—global experts in dairy and proteins—you’ll learn what’s shaping the industry and how to thrive in it. Hungry for knowledge? Tune in and find out what’s on the menu at Bite Sides.

Get in touch with us:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ausfine-foods-international⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ausfinefoods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Online Shop: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.ausfine.com/

Steve Spencer and Jo Bills are the co-founders of Freshagenda, now part of Ever.ag — a leading provider of global dairy market intelligence and strategy. Together, they’ve transformed how the industry thinks about supply, value, and risk.

Steve started his career in consulting, working through major agricultural deregulation and strategy projects across Australia. Jo’s background spans ag science, government, and strategic insight roles, including a long tenure at Dairy Australia. They teamed up in 2012 to launch Freshagenda with one goal: make sense of global dairy through real data, sharp analysis, and tools that actually work.

Their work now informs decisions for the world’s biggest dairy players — from Nestlé to FrieslandCampina. As part of Ever.ag, Steve and Jo continue to lead the charge in modelling, insight, and helping dairy businesses navigate a rapidly changing global market.

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Bite Sides by Ausfine dishes up insights into the dynamic world of food and business. Each episode dives into market trends, supply chain tips, and culinary innovation, with special guests.

Hosted by Ausfine—global experts in dairy and proteins—you’ll learn what’s shaping the industry and how to thrive in it. Hungry for knowledge? Tune in and find out what’s on the menu at Bite Sides.

Get in touch with us:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ausfine-foods-international⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ausfinefoods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Online Shop: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.ausfine.com/

Tim Kidman is the Founder and Managing Director of The Fuel Agency, a Melbourne-based brand and marketing agency focused on helping businesses uncover their purpose and communicate it with clarity and impact.

Tim’s career began in hospitality and sales before moving into marketing, studying both business strategy and psychology. He’s worked across FMCG, logistics, and design, ultimately launching Fuel over 25 years ago with a mission to create a more accountable and commercially focused agency model.

Known for his clear thinking and deep questioning, Tim and his team have helped companies—from franchise networks to family-owned exporters—craft brands that connect with customers, drive growth, and reflect authentic values.

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Bite Sides by Ausfine dishes up insights into the dynamic world of food and business. Each episode dives into market trends, supply chain tips, and culinary innovation, with special guests.

Hosted by Ausfine—global experts in dairy and proteins—you’ll learn what’s shaping the industry and how to thrive in it. Hungry for knowledge? Tune in and find out what’s on the menu at Bite Sides.

Get in touch with us:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ausfine-foods-international⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ausfinefoods⁠⁠⁠⁠

Online Shop: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.ausfine.com/