Els Willekens possesses extensive experience in quality assurance and management, currently serving as the Global QA System Manager at Lotus Bakeries since September 2024. Previously, Els held key positions at Barry Callebaut Group, including Senior Project Manager for Global QA, where focus areas included high-priority QA projects and the development of food safety management systems. Additional roles within Barry Callebaut encompassed Quality Business Development Manager EMEA and Quality CI Manager EMEA, emphasizing best practices in manufacturing and quality improvement. Earlier career experience includes positions at Innogenetics, Pfizer, and Oropharma, complemented by a strong educational background from Ghent University.