Is part of The Compliance Accelerator Program

How the Open Office Hour Works

A short explanation of what participants can expect and how to prepare.

  • Each Open Office Hour requires separate registration via Zoom.

  • Send your questions at least 2 business days before the session so we can prepare.

  • The Open Office Hour is a live group Q&A, focused on clarification and practical guidance.

  • We treat all questions and documents confidentially. Please note that other participants may attend the session.

  • This session provides expert guidance and interpretation — it does not replace consultancy or audits.

Instructor

With over 29 years of experience, Kitty Appels has helped countless quality professionals grow into confident, senior-level experts in the food industry. Her background in food technology gives her a strong technical foundation, while her coaching style focuses on practical leadership and personal development.

Kitty is known for her people-first approach. As an interim QA manager, she has guided struggling teams — often working under high stress or unsupportive leadership — back to a place of confidence, clarity, and food safety excellence. Her motto, “Many roads lead to Rome,” reflects her flexible, empowering mindset.

She finds joy in helping quality professionals unlock their potential, overcome internal and external challenges, and become balanced, respected voices within their organizations.

💬 “Nothing is more fulfilling than seeing a QA professional stand tall, speak up, and truly own their role.”

Connect with Kitty on LinkedIn by clicking here

Kitty Appels

Senior Instructor and Coach

Instructor

Rob has over 27 years of experience in the international food industry and has supported QA teams in more than 70 countries. With a background in physics and econometrics, he combines scientific insight with strategic thinking to help organizations improve their food safety and quality systems.

As a frequent speaker at global conferences including the IFC (World Bank) and FI Global, Rob is recognized for his practical expertise in GFSI standards and organizational improvement. Over the past decade, he has coached many QA Directors and Vice Presidents in the food industry, helping them influence senior management and embed food safety into business culture.

💬 “I help QA professionals turn complex requirements into real-world results.”

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn by clicking here

Rob Kooijmans

Senior Instructor and Coach

Instructor

Luis cuenta con más de 25 años de experiencia en aseguramiento de la calidad, inocuidad alimentaria y gestión de riesgos. Está especializado en ofrecer soluciones prácticas y efectivas, alineadas con los estándares internacionales, para empresas alimentarias y agroindustriales en América Latina y Europa. Con una sólida trayectoria tanto en la industria como en organismos de certificación, ha realizado más de 400 días de auditoría como auditor líder para empresas productoras de alimentos. Su experiencia incluye el desarrollo de proveedores y co-fabricantes, así como la capacitación técnica en temas clave de inocuidad alimentaria y cumplimiento con esquemas GFSI. Luis es reconocido por su enfoque práctico y orientado a resultados, ayudando a equipos operativos y a la alta dirección a traducir los requisitos normativos en acciones concretas y sostenibles.

💬 “La mejora real surge cuando conectamos las normas con la aplicación práctica en el día a día.”

Conéctese con Luis en LinkedIn by clicking here

Luis Fissore

Instructor y entrenador (Español)

FAQ

  • Is the Open Office Hour a standalone training or course?

    No. The Open Office Hour is not a standalone course. It is included exclusively as part of The Compliance Accelerator Program and cannot be purchased or booked separately.

  • Do I need to register for every Open Office Hour session?

    Yes. Each Open Office Hour requires separate registration via Zoom, even if you have attended previous sessions.

  • When do I need to submit my questions?

    Please submit your questions at least 2 business days before the session. This allows us to review your questions and prepare clear, useful answers.

  • What type of questions can I ask?

    You can ask questions related to:

    - food safety and quality systems

    - GFSI standards and their interpretation

    - regulatory compliance challenges

    - practical implementation issues

    The Open Office Hour focuses on clarification and guidance, not full system reviews.

  • Can I share documents or examples during the session?

    Yes. Any documents or questions you share with us are handled confidentially. Please note that the Open Office Hour is a group session, and other participants may attend. Be mindful of what information you choose to share during the live session.

  • Is this a one-on-one session or a group session?

    The Open Office Hour is a live group Q&A session. Multiple participants may join the same session.

  • Will I receive consultancy or audit advice?

    No. The Open Office Hour provides expert guidance and clarification based on standards and best practices. It does not replace consultancy, audits, or site-specific assessments.

  • Who hosts the Open Office Hour?

    The Open Office Hour is hosted by Food Safety Experts, with senior instructors and practitioners who support The Compliance Accelerator Program.

    Our instructors bring hands-on leadership experience, having worked as QA Managers, QA Directors, and QA VPs, often across multi-site and international operations.

    For company licenses with dedicated Open Office Hours, sessions can be hosted in English, Spanish, French, or Dutch, depending on your team’s needs.

    Our instructors combine senior QA leadership experience with practical implementation knowledge, including roles at manager, director, and VP level in multi-site environments.

  • What if my question cannot be fully answered during the session?

    If a question requires deeper analysis or site-specific input, we will indicate this during the session and discuss appropriate follow-up options within the scope of The Compliance Accelerator.

Trusted by food safety leaders

Quality and food safety professionals value the practical guidance and senior-level experience behind the Open Office Hours.

“The Open Office Hours are extremely valuable because the answers come from people who’ve actually been accountable in complex QA roles. The discussions are practical, focused, and immediately applicable to our daily decisions.”

“What I appreciate most is the level of experience in the room. These are not theoretical answers. The guidance reflects real-life challenges in managing audits, teams, and multiple locations.”

“Being able to ask nuanced questions and get clear, grounded answers saves us a lot of time. The Open Office Hours help us align internally and make confident decisions between audits.”

Join our Trainings

Our Trainings are followed by:

What happens during the Open Office Hour

A structured live Q&A session focused on clarification, interpretation, and practical decision-making in food safety and compliance.

    1. Open Office Hour – 1st Wednesday of the Month

Live Open Office Hour – Expert Q&A Session