Katt started with lunches. Now she’s serving up safety and new products
Updated: 5 hours ago
Nine years ago Kathleen ‘Katt’ Gelder was cooking up a mean feast for the Creative Food Solutions (CFS) team.
She’s now the New Product Development (NPD) Manager for CFS, and Andrews Meat Industries’ 2025 Safety Star. The honour is awarded to staff who go above and beyond when it comes to upholding safety.
Katt has always worked on the chef side of the business, starting as an inhouse chef before moving into NPD and eventually stepping into management.
The creative side is still a big part of her job but there’s plenty of process behind it as she’s made the research and development process more structured.
Katt’s role? Bridging the gap between a great idea in the kitchen and making it work on a production scale.
“It’s learning to collaborate closely with production to ensure that ideas can transfer from bench top to upscaled production,” Katt says.
Of all the projects she’s worked on, one has her heart. “My pride and joy is getting The Mad Foodies over the line,” she says.
The ready-made meals specifically meet the criteria of the CSIRO Low Carb Diet, low on carbs, big on protein, and packed with healthy (unsaturated) fats.
But Katt’s role at CFS isn’t just about food. She’s also a big advocate for workplace safety and is Chairperson of the WHS Committee. The committee brings people from across the entire Andrews Meat site together to talk about what’s happening on the safety front and share what different teams are working on.
“You get a glimpse into the world of all our other teams,” Katt says.
“Being on the committee also means I can trust that the place that I work has incorporated a plan and a program so that I can come in each day, do my job, and be able to go home safely and without any incidents.”
Katt has put plenty of work into building her own safety knowledge, completing Fire Warden, First Aid, Mental Health First Aid and Certificate IV WHS training. Her commitment was recognised in 2025 when she was named Andrews Meat Industries’ Safety Star, nominated by the WHS team. Katt was recognised for consistently spotting and reporting hazards right across the site.
A safe workplace is everyone’s responsibility. It starts with looking after yourself, being aware of the people around you and not being afraid to speak up when you spot something that could cause a problem.
“If you see something, say something,” Katt says.
