Neil Willman

Former Senior Lecturer at Melbourne University 's Gilbert Chandler Campus has worked for 27 years in the cheese industry and is Australia ’s leading cheese educator.  

Contact: neil@cheeseexpertise.com.au 

Qualifications

Positions held  

Brief Background  

International experience

Membership of professional organisations

Qualifications:

·         Master Cheesemaker;

·         Master Cheese Grader;

·         Diploma of Dairy technology;

·         Graduate Diploma of Food Science and Technology.

·         Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training

·         Further Certificate of Management

·         Certificate of Competency -Buttermaker

·         Milk and Cream Tester

·         Milk and Cream Grader  

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Positions held       

November 2005 to present: Director, consultant
Cheese Expertise P/L established to provide cheese education, training and consultancy

1995 - Dec. 2005:  Senior Lecturer,
The University of Melbourne, Gilbert Chandler College, Werribee 
Responsible for all cheese, sensory training and consultancy.

1988 - 1995.  Lecturer, Acting Senior Lecturer,
VCAH Gilbert Chandler Campus, Werribee  
Responsible for cheese and dairy training programs

1982-88 Dairy Factory Manager
VCAH Gilbert Chandler.  Werribee  
Responsible for the establishment and management of the commercially operating cheese and dairy factory at the Gilbert Chandler site.

1975-1982 Technical and Extension Officer  
Department of Agriculture, Gilbert Chandler Institute of Dairy Technology.  Werribee .  
Responsible for transferring knowledge and technology to cheese companies, and pilot scaling of research applications.

1973-75 Milk Factory Supervisor,
Murray Goulburn Co-op, Rochester .  
Production supervisor of milk receival, milk powder plant, casein plant and milk room.  

1971-73 Factory operative,
Murray Goulburn Co-op Rochester , vacreator operator, buttermaker, milk separator operator, casein maker, spray drier operator

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Brief Background

•  Neil from 2000-2006 was chosen to operated the Australian Specialist Cheesemakers Advisory Service, to provide technical support and advice to Australia’s specialist cheesemakers. The membership consisted of 70 companies and individuals.  This service was funded jointly by Dairy Australia and membership subscriptions.

•  From 1980-2005, Neil was responsible for the all of the education and training programs in cheese related areas at Gilbert Chandler College, Australia's only dedicated dairy college.

•  Assists specialist cheesemakers in setting up business through business plans, factory design, technical advice, equipment selection advice, initial production support.

•  Currently conducts 30+ cheese related training courses per year throughout Australia and New Zealand.

•  Previously manager of commercial specialty cheese and dairy products factory (7 yrs).

•  Trained majority of Australia's and several New Zealand cheesemakers.

•  Trained majority of Australia's cheese graders and judges,

• As a consultant has set up several Specialty Cheese operations in Australia and New Zealand

•  Regularly conducts in-house training programs for Australian cheese manufacturers.

•  Conducts international training programs, for Japanese, Chinese and Korean cheese industries.

•  Specialist cheese competition judge for the past 12 years in Australia at state, national and international dairy product competitions. 

• Head Judge of the 3 largest dairy competitions in Australia.  (1) Australian Grand Dairy Awards, (2)Dairy Industry Association of Australia National Dairy products Competition and (3) Sydney Royal Dairy Products Competition (4) CheeseFest, Adelaide

•  Guest Cheese Judge at International competitions World Champion Cheese contest in 2000 and 2004, British Cheese Awards 1999, New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Assn “Cuisine Champions of Cheese” awards 2006-7.

•  Appointed Master Judge New Zealand Cuisine Champions of Cheese Awards, 2008

• Compiled/written all of the training manuals for accredited Cheesemaking courses for use within the Australian and many of those used in the New Zealand Cheese Industry.

•  1993 co-author and publisher of Home Cheesemaking, a book which has now sold over 10,000 copies.  

• 2008 Principal Trainer and Consultant - New Zealand Cheese School

International experience

1988        Tour leader of Cheese and Dairy Industry Study Tour to USA and New Zealand.    

1990        Three month study tour of specialty cheesemaking: Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.  

1990        6 weeks exchange teacher at Dalum Dairy School Denmark

1993        Coordinator 6 week Dairy Plant Management for National dairy development Board, India

1995        Coordinator 6 week Dairy Plant Management for National dairy development Board, India

1996        Japan (Hokkaido) cheesemaking study tour

1999-2006 Annual Australian Cheesemaking course for Japanese Cheese industry.

1999        Guest International Judge at British cheese awards.  Specialty cheese study tour UK

2000        Guest International Judge at world championship cheese contest – Wisconsin USA

2000        Cheese seminar and workshops, Tokyo

2001        Study tour of specialty cheese - France and Italy

2002        Cheese seminar and workshops for Japanese cheese industry -Tokyo

2003        Cheese seminar and workshops -Tokyo

2004        Guest International Judge at world championship cheese contest – Wisconsin USA

2004        Cheese seminar and workshops

2004        Study tour specialty cheese industry of Italy, France and England

2004        Australian Cheesemaking course for Chinese Cheese industry.

2005        Cheese seminar and workshops – Tokyo

2005        Keynote speaker China Dairy Industry Assoc. Sino-Australian Cheese Symposium. Beijing

2005        Study tour of specialty cheese - France and Italy

2006        Industry visits to many of New Zealand Specialty cheesemakers.

2006        New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Assn “Cuisine Champions of Cheese” awards 2006 Guest International Judge.

2006        Cheesemaking course Hamilton New Zealand

2007        Cheese seminar and workshops -Tokyo and Seoul.

2007        New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Assn “Cuisine Champions of Cheese” awards 2007 Guest International Judge.  Delivery of 2 Master Classes.

2007        Tour Leader Tour de Fromage, 14 day Specialist study tour of France (Normandy, Loire Valley, Jura regions)

2007        Cheesemaking course Hamilton New Zealand

2008        Cheese Sensory Analysis and Judging course, Auckland New Zealand

2008        Appointed Master Judge New Zealand Cuisine Champions of Cheese Awards

2008 May  will again beTour Leader UK - France Specialty Cheesemaking Tour