Where Science Meets Service: Meet the Food Commercial Team
PICTURED: (Top) Barbie Müller (left), Matt Lewis, Elyse Coker, Sheena Bacal and Marisa Fonseka
(Bottom) Jordan-Lee Stuart (left), Kyle Snare, Amanda Shum, Andrew Whitmore
The Food Commercial team plays a vital role in connecting clients with Hill Labs' food testing expertise. Acting as the bridge between clients and laboratory teams, they facilitate communication, manage enquiries, coordinate testing requirements, and ensure customers receive timely, accurate support throughout their testing journey.
Supporting a diverse range of sectors including horticulture, microbiology, food processing, honey and wine, the team works with customers across a variety of domestic and export markets, each with unique regulatory requirements, seasonal pressures, and testing needs. Understanding these differences is central to the team's role.
Science Expertise Supporting Diverse Industries
The breadth of knowledge and experience within the team means each member brings their own set of skills and industry expertise, underpinned by backgrounds in areas such as food science, microbiology, horticulture, and laboratory testing.
One of the Food Commercial Team's key strengths is translating technical laboratory terminology, methodologies, and testing codes into clear, practical language that customers can easily understand and apply to their businesses. “We help customers navigate both the scientific and commercial aspects of testing, ensuring they receive information that is accurate, relevant, and meaningful,” Food Client Services Team Leader Amanda Shum says.
With a solutions-focused approach, their role also involves helping customers identify the most appropriate testing options, understanding regulatory requirements, and apply technical testing knowledge to support informed decision-making.
Managing Complexity Behind the Scenes
The Food Commercial Team plays an important role in ensuring the right testing happens at the right time. Working closely with laboratory teams, they coordinate urgent and time-sensitive testing requirements while helping customers navigate the technical considerations behind their testing programmes.
“Behind every enquiry, our team helps navigate testing options, translates technical requirements into practical solutions, and coordinates with a wide range of technologists and operational leaders to ensure clients receive the right testing and meaningful results they can confidently act on,” Amanda explains.
Seasonality adds another layer of complexity, with testing requirements shifting throughout the year as different industries move through harvests, production cycles, and peak sales periods. As the holiday season approaches, for example, microbiology testing volumes increase across a range of food products. Many microbiology tests have strict testing and reporting timeframes, requiring enquiries to be addressed quickly and samples to be processed within narrow testing windows.
For the team, the most rewarding part of the role is helping customers succeed.
"We really enjoy hearing from customers when they're pleased with the service they've received. Those moments are a great reminder that what we do goes beyond testing results. Knowing we've helped support our customers, and in turn the wider industries and export markets they serve, is something our whole team takes pride in.”
Elyse Coker, Commercial Manager - Food
With more than a decade in the food safety testing industry, including the past two years at Hill Labs, and a background in laboratory testing, I bring a strong understanding of both the science behind our services and the support our clients need. I enjoy helping customers access the right testing and technical expertise to produce safe, high-quality food and contribute to the success of New Zealand's food industry.
Amanda Shum, Client Services Team Leader - Food
After six years across Hill Labs' Trace Elements and Residues teams, I've recently joined the Commercial team, bringing a strong understanding of the expertise behind our services. I enjoy supporting my team to grow, improving the way we work, and helping customers have a clear, responsive experience. It's rewarding to see both our people and processes evolve, making it easier for customers to access timely, practical support.
Kyle Snare, Client Services Manager
My journey at Hill Labs began in the Trace Elements Soils team in August 2022, and after two and a half years in the laboratory, I moved into the commercial team. I enjoy helping clients navigate their testing needs and identify the best options for their goals. The variety of enquiries keeps every day interesting, and I find it rewarding to build strong client relationships while ensuring clients have a positive experience with Hill Labs.
Marisa Fonseka, Client Services Manager
After 11 years at Hill Labs, including roles as a Key Technical Person (KTP) and Team Leader within the Microbiology team, I moved into the Commercial team as a Client Services Manager. Having started in the laboratory and now working directly with customers, it feels like a full-circle journey. I enjoy building strong relationships, solving problems, and drawing on my laboratory experience to provide practical advice and support.
Jordan-Lee Stuart, Client Services Manager
I've been with Hill Labs for five years, originally starting as a technician in the Pesticide Residue team, specialising in liquid chromatography. Now as a client services manager in the food team, I enjoy building strong relationships with clients and helping make their experience with Hill Labs as seamless as possible. No two days are the same, and I value working with teams across the business to solve problems, find practical solutions, and ensure our clients get the support they need.
Andrew Whitmore, Client Services Manager
I've been with Hill Labs for almost 25 years and, during that time, have worked alongside a wide range of teams, including Trace Elements, Agriculture, Air Quality, Molecular Biology, Drugs of Abuse, Cannabis & Hemp testing, and now Food. I enjoy working with clients to understand the issues they're facing and connecting them with the right testing and technical expertise. It's particularly rewarding to help investigate a problem, identify potential causes, and work with our technical and laboratory teams to deliver meaningful insights and practical outcomes.
Sheena Bacal, Key Account Manger
Over the past five years at Hill Labs, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with growers and exporters across New Zealand. Spending time in the field and seeing crops progress from planting through to harvest and export has given me valuable insight into the challenges they face. I enjoy using that understanding, together with the expertise of our technical and laboratory teams, to help clients achieve successful outcomes season after season
Barbie Müller, Key Account Manager
What’s not to love about food, meeting people, learning about their businesses, and building trusted relationships? Over my 28 years at Hill Labs, I’ve been fortunate to build lasting connections with clients and watch many businesses grow and flourish. With a strong microbiology background, I enjoy combining technical knowledge with practical support to help clients succeed.
Matthew Lewis, Business Development Manager
Since joining the business two years ago, I’ve developed a strong understanding of how our testing and auditing services support New Zealand food manufacturers. Visiting businesses across the country has given me valuable insight into their operations, quality systems, and food safety challenges. I bring this practical knowledge to my role by helping clients navigate their requirements and access the right support, so they can produce safe, high-quality food with confidence.
