Meet Mark Toomey, our Transformation Program Director

We sat down with our Transformation Program Director, Mark Toomey, who’s leading the construction of our new facility in Queensland, to hear more about his role and what’s happening onsite.

Tell us about you and your role.

Mark: I am responsible for the creation of our new greenfield site in Swanbank. Everything from the build of the facility to the machinery we need to become operational to start producing quality beverages.

It’s not often you get an opportunity to create something at this scale, in fact this will be the single largest FMCG investment into Australia and it’s very special to be part of it.

What’s the most exciting part of leading the Swanbank greenfield project?

To be building a sustainable and innovative manufacturing facility that aligns with Suntory’s commitment to reducing our environmental impact is incredibly exciting. It also allows for the implementation of the latest technologies and practices, which will set a new standard for the industry. I can’t wait to see the project come to life and see the positive impact it has to our company and the wider community.

What is something most people wouldn’t know about your job?

Most people probably don’t know how many different organisations and businesses we are working with to build the site. Collaborating with a big group of stakeholders requires a lot of creativity, agility, pace and engagement from everyone involved.

I always have the future site team in mind with every decision, thinking about how we can improve customer experiences, reduce waste and drive performance in a safe way whilst delivering on our quality and sustainability goals.

What do you see as the next big trend in FMCG?

The use of immersive reality technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality for training and 3D modelling is really taking off. We’re exploring these kinds of technologies for our new facility, and we’ve been able to solve problems and connect with customers and consumers across the value chain as we plan.

As the world becomes more digitised, the FMCG industry must embrace new technology and drive innovation.

Suntory’s Yatte Minahare spirit encourages us to dream big – what does that mean in the context of your work?

This project is really the definition of the Yatte Minahare spirit, we’re dreaming big and making those dreams a reality! The team demonstrates this value each day on the project, from site selection and now the creation of a world-class operation.