Our Team

Brad, recently appointed as CEO, brings 17 years of dedicated experience to Kagome, having progressed through key roles in production and operations, culminating in his leadership of the company’s Industrial, Foodservice, and Powder plants. With a strong foundation in engineering and lean manufacturing, Brad has consistently driven quality improvements and operational success, fostering innovation and teamwork at every step.

A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Brad is committed to building on Kagome’s legacy of excellence, with a vision to further enhance efficiencies, expand product capabilities, and strengthen the company’s position as a leader in sustainable food processing for both domestic and international markets.

Brad Free

CEO

Brad Free

General Manager Factory

Brad is responsible for Kagome’s processing operation, this includes the management of our Industrial, Foodservice and Powder plants. Brad has worked for Kagome for 17 years, commencing as Production Supervisor, he was then promoted to the role of Production Manager in 2012. In 2021, Brad was appointed to the position of General Manager of Processing Operations. Brad has a strong background in engineering and lean manufacturing principles and benefits personally from developing his team of people and processes. Brad and his team have implemented many various quality improvements which has driven the success of the business.

Chris Taylor

General Manager Field Operations

Chris Taylor is our General Manager of Field operations. He joined the business in 2007 after completing his Bachelor of Farm Management. He has been heavily involved throughout all facets of Kagome's farming business covering all crops, from tomato, corn, wheat, garlic, beetroot & carrots. Chris is passionate about his family, his people and of course agriculture, and the vital role it plays in feeding our nation and the world through sustainable healthy produce.

Brandy Reid

Finance Manager

Brandy has worked for Kagome since 2016, she has worked in various finance roles within the organisation prior to be announced as Finance Manager in 2022. Brandy is a CPA with a Bachelor of Commerce. Brandy has broad commercial acumen with experience in management accounting and taxation.

Mitch Austin

General Manager Sales

Mitch Austin has worked in and around food & hospitality his entire life. From childhood beginning work in family owned restaurants and later transitioning into operational HORECA roles and then into both retail and foodservice sales roles. Mitch has been with Kagome since 2015 and has enjoyed growing the food service business and being part of the transformation from a tomato company, to a fruit and vegetable company. Mitch’s passion is developing new products and partnerships across ANZ and South East Asia.

Melanie Davidson

Human Resources Manager

Melanie Davidson is Kagome Australia’s Human Resources Manager, bringing more than 20 years of experience partnering with business’ to achieve strategic outcomes. Before relocating to Echuca from QLD with her young family and joining Kagome in 2015, Melanie sharpened her skills in various HR and Payroll roles within the health, not-for-profit, manufacturing and employment services sectors. Melanie is a professional member of the Australian HR Institute and holds a Diploma of Management, Graduate Certificate of Management and an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business. Melanie has a passion for employee relations and working with the leadership team to build high functioning teams that drive Kagome’s success.

Penny Mathews

Quality and Safety Manager

Penny Mathews leads the Kagome Quality, R&D, Safety & Environment team. Penny has qualifications as a microbiologist and food safety / quality auditor, and prior to joining Kagome in 2016 she worked in the food manufacturing industry for 30 years in a variety of production, quality, technical, project and risk management and leadership roles at other major food companies such as Kraft Foods, Mondelez and Bega Cheese.

Darryl Coutts

Supply Chain Manager

Darryl is an experienced and accomplished supply chain leader joining Kagome in 2021. Most recently employed at the Nestle Tongala plant, Darryl headed up the logistics and supply chain function for over 15 years. Darryl has a broad range of experience in the food, beverage, dairy and packaging manufacturing sectors.

Our Sales Team

Mitch Austin

General Manager Sales

Milo Da Costa

Foodservice Account Manager

Milo is a member of Kagome Australia’s sales team and is a passionate solutions-based sales professional. He appreciates the heritage and culture of Kagome and is excited to be part of its present and its future.

Jacqueline Dole

TECHNICAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Jacqui joined Kagome in January 2025 as Technical Business Development Manager.
She brings over 20 years of experience in the food industry, with an honours degree in Food Science and Nutrition. Her career spans R&D in global FMCG organisations, followed by technical ingredient sales and account management.
At Kagome, Jacqui is responsible for promoting and supporting the use of Ninjin Fibre, Lyco Fibre, and other functional ingredients in customer formulations. She is passionate about helping customers realise new product opportunities and strengthen their innovations through high-quality, sustainable Australian ingredients.

Shivangi Kumar

ASSISTANT SALES AND BRAND MARKETING SPECIALIST

Shivangi (Shivi) joined Kagome in 2024 and has since taken on a diverse role across marketing and sales.
She drives brand initiatives through social media, content creation, sales collateral design, and trade show coordination, while also supporting account management for key industrial clients.
With a Master of Marketing Management from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, she brings both creativity and commercial acumen to her work.
Shivi is passionate about building strong client relationships, developing engaging stories for Kagome, and finding innovative ways to connect marketing with sales growth.