Arjan Jongkees

Arjan Jongkees has a diverse work experience in the food and beverage industry. Arjan currently works at Simplot Australia Pty Ltd as the Head of Expansion Innovation, responsible for creating and delivering a pipeline of expansion innovation projects. Prior to that, they held the position of Agrifood Science, Technology & Nutrition Manager at Simplot Australia, where they focused on developing a long-term strategy for nutrition and leveraging the nutritional advantage of the company's portfolio.

Before joining Simplot Australia, Arjan worked as the General Manager of Innovation and Quality at Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, where they implemented Lean Scrum into the R&D team and drove innovation and quality agendas. Arjan also held various roles at The Kraft Heinz Company, including Head of Product Development EMEA, R&D Category Lead for local brands, Local Brand Development Manager, Senior Product Development Technologist, and Product Developer. In these roles, they were responsible for leading R&D projects, collaborating with marketing and consumer insights, and managing multidisciplinary teams.

Arjan's earlier work experience includes serving as a New Product Development Officer at Roma Food Products and a Graduate Brewer at Independent Liquor NZ. Arjan also briefly worked as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Otago, covering for sick leave and supporting research and teaching in the Food Science Department.

Arjan Jongkees has a diverse education history in the fields of business, food science, and microbiology.

In 2000, they began their undergraduate studies at the University of Otago, majoring in Food Science and Microbiology. Arjan received their Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 2004.

Continuing their academic journey, Arjan pursued a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Food Science at the University of Otago from 2004 to 2008.

In 2015, they enrolled in IE Business School and completed a Global Executive MBA program, focusing on Business Administration and Management. Arjan'sstudies at IE Business School concluded in 2016.

In addition to their formal education, Arjan has obtained several certifications to enhance their skills and knowledge. For instance, in 2015, they earned a Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification from the Lean Six Sigma Institute LLC. Furthermore, they participated in various face-to-face modules and seminars, including the Fourth Face to Face Module of the IE GxMBA at Singapore Management University in 2016 and the Global Management Seminar "The Business of California: Focus on Entrepreneurship" at UCLA Anderson School of Management in 2016. Additionally, they obtained certifications in Problem Definition from Methodry in 2022 and Innovate the LEGO way from The Leadership Network® in 2018.