2027 Food Safety Risks for Quality & Compliance Leaders

Panagiotis Gkegkas is Technical Manager at FoodChain ID, with more than 20 years of experience in food safety, BRCGS auditing, quality assurance, supplier management and regulatory compliance. He works closely with clients and audit teams on the implementation of food safety standards and certification requirements, with responsibilities spanning technical certification approvals, quality and compliance risk management, and technical support. His experience provides a practical perspective on strengthening food safety and quality management systems and supporting continuous improvement.

Karen Everstine, PhD, is Director of Food Safety at FoodChain ID, where she helps clients use food safety data effectively to ensure brand protection and meet regulatory and GFSI requirements. She completed MPH and PhD degrees in public health at the University of Minnesota. She is a member of the Journal of Food Protection Editorial Board, previously served as Chair of the IAFP Food Fraud Professional Development group, and has served as a member of food authenticity expert panels at USP and AOAC. Dr. Everstine has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and co-edited the book Food Fraud: A Global Threat with Public Health and Economic Consequences.

Natalie Schwertheim is the deputy editor at Food Ingredients First. She is particularly interested in exploring how food industry trends intersect with broader economic and political developments. Natalie holds an MSc in Political Science from Radboud University, Netherlands. She previously worked as the editor for Food Ingredients First’s sister publication, Packaging Insights.