Realize Asia Limited

Our Team

The Infavita team combine technical, marketing and creative skills to produce a range of mother and infant nutrition and care products that integrate cutting edge science with creative flair. Using New Zealand natural and pure ingredients as the starting point, the team then goes on to integrate the best nutritional additives and unique dairy proteins to produce a range of products unsurpassed anywhere else in the world.

John Missen / CEO

Brand owner, brand manager and exporter of New Zealand food and beverage products, specifically in the field of infant care and nutrition, to Asia generally and China specifically. John has both engineering and post graduate business degrees, and extensive experience in working with growth technology companies in both technical and strategic capacities. His extensive experience includes working with growth technology companies, in industry groups including mining, petrochemical, chemical engineering, food and beverage, export and marine.

Janet De Beer / Product formulation

25 years of food industry experience makes Janet one of the most experienced people in the country. Originally qualified with a B. Tech (Food Tech) from Massey University, she has been a member of NZIFST for many years. Her career includes product development and QA at Natural Products for 2 years, product development at Sealord Products and process development at Sealord Shellfish for 6 years, Technical Officer with Robinson Brothers for 2 years and a consultant for McFoodies for 5 years. She has been the food technologist at Pacific Flavours & Ingredients for 9 years.

Bob Spencer / Ingredient procurement

Qualifying from Massey University (Uni grad- BAgSc), Bob began his career as a trader in fruit and flowers with Chiquita. Subsequent to this he was Sales Manager and then NZ Country Manager for Givaudan for 6 years before moving to the position of Sales and Marketing Manager for Kerry Ingredients. 12 years ago Bob established Pacific Flavours and Ingredients, which is now one of the leading New Zealand suppliers of natural and nature identical flavours into food and pharmaceutical industries.He has been a member of NZIFST for 26 years.

Rob Martin / NZ compliance and labelling

Originally trained as a medical herbalist, now studying cosmetic science of semi-solid formulations and emulsion technology. Rob has a broad range of skills which include product development within regulatory guidelines, regulatory affairs (covering dietary supplement regulations (NZ), therapeutic goods in Australia, food standard Australian & New Zealand, and a broad experience of regulatory affairs in other countries.

Grant Washington Smith / Probiotics research and development

With degrees in human physiology and an MBA, Grant offers 20+ years of experience in commercial development in the life science industry from concept ideation to clinical validation. His efforts have resulted in the launch of several new product and ingredient brands in the US and Europe. Grant served for several years at Amway before founding Roseville Consulting, a nutraceutical consultancy firm focusing on technical and commercial development of early stage health and nutrition technologies. Grant also maintains a long, close relationship Massey University in New Zealand and is a frequent speaker at conferences and writer for industry publications.

Dr. Kerst Stelwagen / Dairy products research and development

Kerst acts as an independent consultant (www.scilactis.co.nz) and his specialties are science, research, science& research management, dairy, lactation biology, milk, colostrum, dairy-derived bio-actives, infant formula, dairy farming, dairy production and strategy. He has extensive international experience and expertise in dairy science, science management and value-added foods, in particular milk-derived dairy opportunities, including infant formula. He is also a Section Editor of the prestigious Journal of Dairy Science.

Dr. Rod Claycomb / Milk protein and bio-actives research and development

Jessica Miao / Social media

Jessica Miao is the founder of Koyooo Media Group. She is renowned for her social and communication skills. In addition to over 8 years’ experience in marketing and creative industry overseas, she has earned lots of respect and impression in both China and New Zealand. She is also a strategic thinker and always looks ahead. She has successfully helped many overseas clients build brands and recognition on China social media.

Yida Cao / Visual Design Director

Yida has a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from Auckland University of Technology, which is the most well- known institute in New Zealand for this area. She has experienced in various fields of Graphic Design such as typography, Illustration, Photography, media editing and publishing.
Health products retail sale experience gives her insight into design in consumer perspectives. She is also commercially creative and forward thinking with a keen eye for detail.