Matlou Setati is the Executive for the Food Safety & Sustainability Initiative (FSSI), a division of the CGCSA. The FSSI is responsible for advocacy and liaison of sustainable initiatives, forums, projects and/or programmes within the precincts of food science, safety, quality, nutrition, health & wellness, regulatory and related matters for the consumer goods and retail industries.

  Matlou has over 20 years of experience in the South African food and agricultural industry, which includes various food production companies, and ten (years of service in public office at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, where she served as Chief Agricultural Food and Quarantine Technician (Food Quality Inspector) and Chief Food Safety & Quality Assurance Officer (Food Regulations).

She actively participates in national and international food regulatory bodies such as the Food Legislation Advisory Group and the Food Safety Forum of the National Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. She has also participated at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, where she was Vice Chairperson of the Dry and Dried Produce Committee from 2014 – 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Matlou has in-depth knowledge of the food industry from raw material, processing, quality control and assurance, and food legislation. Her public service experience has equipped her with a vast understanding of the national and international food law spheres such as national food control, Codex Alimentarius and World Trade Organisation agreements such as the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS).

Matlou holds a National Diploma in Food Technology from Pretoria Technikon, a Bachelor of Technology in Food Technology from the Tshwane University of Technology, a Post Graduate Diploma Applied Science from the Lincoln University, New Zealand and a Master’s in Food & Nutrition Security from Stellenbosch University. Matlou joined the CGCSA in 2017, from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries. She is currently studying towards International Leadership Development Programme -ILDP (PGDip General Management) with GIBS in partnership with W&R Seta.