© Neil Willman 2008

Neil Willman

·         Diploma Dairy Technology

·         Graduate Diploma in Food Science and Technology

·         Further Certificate of Management

·         Master Cheesemaker

·         Master Cheese Grader

·         Cert IV in Assessment and Workplace Training

·         Certificate of Competency – Cheesemaker

·         Certificate of Competency – Buttermaker

·         Certificate of Competency - Milk and cream Tester

·         Certificate of Competency - Milk and Cream Grader

 

Positions held

2010 – to present,

Director, New Zealand Cheese School           

2008 -  to present:

Principal, New Zealand Cheese School Ltd.

Jan. 2006 to present:

Director, Cheese Expertise P/L.

1995 - Dec. 2005.

Senior Lecturer, University of Melbourne, Gilbert Chandler College.

1988 - 1995.

Lecturer, Acting Senior Lecturer, VCAH Gilbert Chandler Campus.

1982 - 1988

Dairy Factory Manager VCAH Gilbert Chandler. Werribee.

1975 - 1982

Technical and Extension Officer Department of Agriculture, Gilbert Chandler Institute of Dairy Technology. Werribee.

1973 - 75 Milk Factory Supervisor,

Murray Goulburn Co-op Rochester.

1971 - 73 Factory operative,

Murray Goulburn Co-op Rochester .

 

Experience past and present.

·         Australia and New Zealand’s pre-eminent cheese educator and consultant. Currently conducts all independent specialty cheese education and training programs for the Australian and New Zealand cheese industries with approximately 30 cheese related training courses per year. Course development, promotion, delivery and budgeting.

·         Through consulting, assisted several specialist cheesemakers in setting up business through development of projected financial models, business plans, factory design, technical advice, equipment selection advice, initial production support.

·         International specialty cheese study tours, 2007 and 2008. Tour organiser, leader itinerary development, budgeting.

·         2000-2006 Operated the Australian Specialist Cheesemakers Advisory Service, to provide technical support and advice to Australia’s specialist cheesemaking industry.

·         From 1980-2005 Melbourne University, Gilbert Chandler College responsible for the all of the education and training programs in cheese related areas at.

·         Industry Short Course Administrator, Melbourne University, Gilbert Chandler College business plan development, course development, post course analysis profitability.

·         1982-89 Factory Manager (specialty cheese and dairy products).

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

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

·         Regularly conducts in-house training programs for Australian and New Zealand 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. Australian Grand Dairy Awards, Dairy Industry Association of Australia National Dairy products Competition and Sydney Royal Dairy Products Competition.

·         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, and Master Judge 2008-9.

·         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 15,000 copies.

 

Membership of professional organisations

·         Dairy Industry Association of Australia

Ø  National President 1997

Ø  National Senior Vice President 1996

Ø  Member of National Executive Committee 1994 - 2000

·          Dairy Industry Association of Australia - Victorian Division

Ø  State President 1993-4

Ø  Member of executive committee 1991 - 2009

·         Member - Australian Specialist Cheesemakers Association

·         Member - New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association.

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 Lecturer at Dalum Dairy School, Denmark
  • 1993 Coordinator 6 weeks Dairy Plant Management for National dairy development Board, India
  • 1995 Coordinator 6 weeks Dairy Plant Management for National dairy development Board, India
  • 1996 Japan cheesemaking study tour
  • 1999-2010 Cheesemaking courses for Japanese Cheese industry.
  • 1999 Judge at British cheese awards. Specialty cheese study tour UK.
  • 2000 International judge at world championship cheese contest – Wisconsin USA
  • 2000 Presentation of Cheese Seminars and workshops Tokyo
  • 2001 Study tour of specialty cheese - France and Italy
  • 2002 Cheese seminar and workshops for Japanese cheese industry - Tokyo
  • 2003 Presentation of Cheese Seminars and workshops Tokyo
  • 2004 International judge at world championship cheese contest – Wisconsin USA
  • 2004 Presentation of Cheese Seminars and workshops Tokyo
  • 2004 Study tour specialty cheese industry of Italy, France and England
  • 2004 Australian Cheesemaking course for Chinese Cheese industry.
  • 2005 Presentation of Cheese Seminars 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 New Zealand Specialty cheesemakers.
  • 2006 New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Assn, Cheese Judge “Cuisine Champions of Cheese” awards 2006.
  • 2006 Cheesemaking Course Hamilton New Zealand
  • 2007 Presentation of Cheese Seminars Tokyo and Soeul
  • 2007 New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Assn, Cheese Judge “Cuisine Champions of Cheese” awards 2007.
  • 2007 Master classes “Cuisine Champions of Cheese” awards 2007 New Zealand.
  • 2007 Leader Australian cheesemakers Study Tour of specialty cheese – France
  • 2007 Australian Cheesemaking course for Chinese Cheese industry personnel.
  • 2007 Cheesemaking Course Hamilton New Zealand
  • 2008 New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Assn, Master Judge “Cuisine Champions of Cheese” awards 2006.
  • 2008 New Zealand Master classes “Cuisine Champions of Cheese” awards 2007.
  • 2008 Leader Australian cheesemakers Study Tour of specialty cheese – France
  • 2008 Australian Cheesemaking course for Chinese Cheese industry personnel.
  • 2008 Developed and delivered Cheesemaking Courses New Zealand Cheese School
  • 2008 International judge at world championship cheese contest – Wisconsin USA
  • 2009 November 22nd Moved to live in New Zealand
  • 2010 Study tour of French cheese industry
  • 2010 International judge at world championship cheese contest – Wisconsin USA

 

 

Life time achievement award.

2010 – Awarded Gold medal  the J. I. Scarr Medal for Outstanding service to the Dairy Industry and Industry Association.

 

Cheese Judging Service

 

·         International Judge at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 World Championship Cheese Contest

·         International Judge at the 1999 British Cheese Awards.

·         International Master Judge at New Zealand Specialty Cheesemakers Association Cuisine of              Champions awards 2008 and 2009

·         International Judge at New Zealand Specialty Cheesemakers Association Cuisine of              Champions awards 2006 and 2007

·         11 yrs Chief Judge Australia's peak dairy awards Australian Grand Dairy Awards.1999 - 2010,

·         6 yrs Chief Judge Royal Sydney Easter Show. 2003-2008

·         2 yrs Chief Judge CheeseFest, Adelaide 2006 and 2007

·         5 yrs Chief Judge Dairy Industry Association of Aust, National Dairy Competition 2006-10,

·         5 yrs Judge at Royal Sydney Easter Show. 1998- 2002

·         15 yrs Judge at Dairy Industry Association of Australia, State Dairy Competitions.1992-2006,

·         15 yrs Judge at Dairy Industry Association of Australia, National Dairy Comps.  1993-2005,

·         11 yrs Judge at Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, (Melbourne) Dairy Show.1996-2006,

·         10 yrs Judge at Australian Specialty Cheese Association Cheese awards.  1998- 2007

·         Judge at Perth Royal Show 2000, Guest Chief Judge 2002.

·         Designed and developed the best practice judging manual for the Australian competitions.

·         Developed and conducted 4 x 2 year Master Cheese Grader Courses 1995-2003

·         Trained most of Australian cheese judges and graders over past 20 years

·         Conducted over 30 cheese judge training courses in Australia and New Zealand over the past 15 years