Two of Australasia’s prominent fresh produce industry leaders have been appointed to the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) ANZ’s board of directors.
They are Perfection Fresh Australia Chief Commercial Officer John Simonetta and Jenkins Group Managing Director Cameron McInness. Both were among the advocates who proposed the IFPA establish an Australia-New Zealand branch in 2009.
IFPA ANZ Managing Director Belinda Wilson says Mr Simonetta and Mr McInness were elected with strong support from members, following an extraordinary number of highly accredited applicants for the board positions.
“It’s great to see so many members wanting to be part of our organisation, get involved in driving its strategic direction and ensure members are engaged and supported,” she says.
The IFPA ANZ board comprises 10 fresh produce industry leaders who represent a range of sectors across the supply chain including growers, marketers, retailers, technology innovators, researchers and strategy experts.
John Simonetta 
Mr Simonetta has held various senior executive roles at Perfection Fresh Australia since 1997, following a legal career. In his current role, he is responsible for all commercial operations including sales, supply, fulfilment and export. In addition to his IFPA ANZ directorship, Mr Simonetta is a committee member of the Australian Blueberry Growers’ Association.
“I’m looking forward to working with other directors to ensure we engage with retailers and consumers to increase the consumption of fresh produce and create excitement around fruit and vegetables,” he says.
“It’s an exciting time for the industry. Global trends show there is an increase in health and wellness and a rise in in-home dining. This is all great news for fresh produce consumption and presents opportunities to leverage. In terms of the environment, packaging is one of the important and major steps industry needs to take. It’s difficult to be green if you’re in the red but it’s become more affordable and achievable for producers to work towards sustainable options.”
Cameron McInness 
Mr McInness was appointed Managing Director of Jenkins Group in September 2024. Previously, he was Director of New Ventures and Innovation, a role he held since 2018. His background is in general management and product commercialisation.
“I’m thrilled to be part of the IFPA’s efforts to champion the fresh produce industry across Australia and New Zealand. I’m particularly excited to contribute to initiatives that foster the next generation of talent, address evolving industry challenges like sustainable packaging, and drive innovation within our industry” says Mr McInness.
“One of the biggest industry challenges is the cost of labour in relation to productivity and automation. Australasia is undergoing rapid change in this space.”