Meet Nazanin Rafati
Channel Collaboration Manager
Cohort: 2016
Bachelor of Biotechnology From The University of Auckland
Tell us about your Current role and a key project you have led or involved with that you're proud about.
I have recently stepped into Channel Collaboration Manager for our Ingredients channel; in this role I get the opportunity to connect in with senior stakeholders across all areas of our business both domestically and globally. Leaning into a wide range of activities from developing and deploying Strategy frameworks through to System Compliance and integration of innovation prioritisations. No day is the same as the next and I am enjoying the opportunity to learn a little bit about all areas of our ingredients channel after spending most of my career in the consumer and Food Service channels.
How did the Graduate programme set you up for success in your career?
The Graduate programme allowed me to build a solid foundation in all things dairy, not coming into the programme from a food technology degree, this was the bridge I needed to accelerate my career with Fonterra.
"The Graduate programme allowed me to build a solid foundation in all things dairy, not coming into the programme from a food technology degree, this was the bridge I needed to accelerate my career with Fonterra."
What surprised you about working at Fonterra?
As a big corporation that has global reach, there are endless opportunities to work in any area that interested me and when you combine that reach with a network of supportive mentors and an enthusiasm to learn I have complete autonomy to take my career to where I aspire to.
Where do you see yourself going from here at Fonterra?
In my 7th year with Fonterra, I have spent half that time in New Zealand and the other half in our biggest single market Greater China. Coming back into New Zealand to build a solid foundation understanding of our ingredients, I aspire to move into another global market into a leadership role that is closer to our customers and sales.