Profile
Warren Cook has experience working in the New Zealand and Australian Dairy Industries since 1970, in a wide range of Management and Technical roles, primarily associated with Milk Powder manufacture and Spray Drier operations.
Initial work was with a New Zealand manufacturing company as a laboratory technician and then as a process operator, during which time a Diploma in Dairy Technology at Massey University was completed.
This was followed by 10 years employment at New Zealand Dairy Research Institute, firstly within the Milk Powder group working on a wide range of milk powder functional characteristics and development of Instant Whole Milk Powders and methods of evaluation.
Following a brief period overseas working in a technical role in a Northern Ireland dairy plant, a further period was spent at New Zealand Dairy Research Institute as Milk Powder Technologist. This role at New Zealand Dairy Research Institute involved managing the Milk Powder pilot plant supporting research and training activities, as well as providing technical support throughout New Zealand to dairy manufacturing and marketing operations.
A move was then made to work in the manufacturing industry with Northland Dairy Company in a variety of roles over a 15 year period. Initially as a Laboratory Manager followed by Production Management roles culminating in Site Manager of the Kauri site, a newly constructed plant with over 200 staff and manufacturing 60,000T/p.a. of milk powders, butter and Anhydrous Milk Fat. Participation in the Mt Eliza Executive Programme in Melbourne in 1990 was also completed following the awarding of a New Zealand Dairy Industry Management Development Award.
Further technical roles followed, including technical support for a major project to convert a milk powder plant into a nutritional products facility with involvement through the design, commissioning and product development phases. The final technical role was as Technical Manager responsible for all Research and Development activities within the company, Process Engineering and Environmental Compliance.
This was followed by 8 years as Milk Powder R & D Manager with Murray Goulburn Coop in Victoria, Australia. This role included management of all Milk Powder related R &D as well as providing technical support for the manufacturing plants and the marketing activities. During this period, the Dairy Ingredient Group of Australia was formed to provide research support to the member companies and a position on the Board of this organisation was held until the company was merged with other research groups in Australia into the current Dairy Innovation Australia organisation. A residential Graduate Diploma for Company Directors was successfully completed in 2003.
In 2008, Dairy and Drying Technology Pty. Ltd. was established, based in Melbourne, Australia, to provide technical consultancy services to clients in New Zealand, Australia and Internationally.
2008 – Present
Dairy and Drying Technology Pty Ltd
Director and Principal
Varied experience since 1970 provides a background that supports a wide range of technical expertise. This expertise is able to be used to support clients’ needs.
2002 – 2005
Dairy Ingredients Group of Australia LTD
(Now part of Dairy innovation Australia)
Director
Appointed as a Director from inception of DIGA until incorporation with Dairy Innovation Australia
2000 –2008 Murray Goulburn Co-op.
R & D Manager Milk Powders.
This role was part of the corporate R & D team and has responsibility for powder development activities, production technical support across the company, and market / customer technical support.
MG has undergone rapid growth and adopted current best practice technologies and produces 200,000T of a wide range of powders. Initial activities were to assist with the establishment of 4 new spray driers and to increase production of FCMP.
The ongoing reduction in milk production since 2002 has altered the powder focus for the company into diversification of production and improving plant and material utilization into dairy replacers and non dairy products.
1998 - 2000 Northland Dairy Co., Kauri Site.
Manager Technical & Development.
This position extended development responsibilities to include the Technical Department that included Production Technologists / Engineers, Capital Project Engineering , Yields and Environmental management.
1997 - 1998 Northland Dairy Co., Head Office Whangarei, / Kauri Site.
Development Manager.
This position, reporting to the CEO, involved management of all aspects of the company's development activities in protein, milk powder and cream products.
1992 - 1997 Northland Dairy Co., Head Office Whangarei.
Powders Development Manager.
In 1992 the company was restructured, part of which was adoption of a strategy to become more focused on non-standard products. A separate Development group was formed and I was given the responsibility for managing new development of the company’s powder products. This was established with the prime focus to move milk solids from commodity powders into value-added specialty products.
During this period the Dargaville Infant Formulae capability was developed and I was heavily involved in design, build and commissioning of this project.
1990 Northland Dairy Co., Kauri.
Site Manager.
Kauri was a new greenfield site commissioned in 1989 and manufactures WMP, SMP and
Anhydrous Milk Fat with a capability is for 40,000Tp.a. of milk powders and 10,000T p.a. of
milk fat products. Responsibility was for the total operation of the site, including the transport operations and the effluent disposal farms, and a staff of approx. 250. The site was managed through a management team of 9 Departmental Managers reporting to the Site Manager.
1990 Northland Dairy Co., Maungaturoto
Production Manager, Milk Powder Plant
This plant has two spray drying plants producing 20,000T p.a. of WMP and SMP.
The production manager had responsibility for all aspects of the continued operation of the plant including capital expenditure, production, maintenance, staffing, efficiency and long term planning. The plant had a staff of approx. 40.
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