I am honoured to be the CEO of Heritage Brands, a business that has a strong history built on successful brands in the health and wellness and beauty industry. At Heritage Brands we are passionate about improving the everyday lives of people with ethical and sustainable brands. The talented team at Heritage Brands is relentless on continuous improvement and in understanding the latest trends in health, wellness, and beauty.

Having spent time at large multi-nationals in FMCG and Retail to be given the opportunity to lead such a wonderful company with so much potential is an incredible honour. The potential of Heritage Brands is endless, and I am confident that we will see our brands accelerate by delighting our consumers and collaborating relentlessly with our customers.

Karissa’s journey spans an impressive 25 years, driven by her passion for turning visions into real-world results and cultivating brand identity through a deep understanding of consumer insights. She’s navigated diverse terrain, from mass-market to premium and luxury cosmetics, leaving her mark on iconic global brands and nimble startups alike. Her career has been a dynamic mix, including roles in executive leadership, marketing, brand direction, and even a seat at the board table for her own venture in the ingestible beauty wellness sector.Karissa’s expertise is not limited to cosmetics alone. She’s also immersed herself in the superfood and wellness industries for a fulfilling seven-year journey.Karissa brings a world of experience to her teams, a blend of global wisdom and keen intuition. She’s a proven leader, celebrated for consistently leading her teams towards strategic victories, financial prosperity, and innovative campaigns.

Karissa is recognised for fostering work environments that prioritise transparency, mutual understanding, and a shared sense of purpose. Fuelled by curiosity and a collaborative approach, she’s a master at adapting to diverse situations, consistently achieving extraordinary results.

Karissa’s journey isn’t just about personal success; it’s also about the lasting impact she leaves on the organisations and people she works with. Her unique blend of experience, intuition, and commitment to authenticity makes her a standout leader in her field.

Blair is a seasoned sales leader who thrives on the dynamic interplay between strategy, team collaboration, and client relationships. With over 25 years of experience in driving collaborative business partnerships, sustainable revenue growth and building high-performing sales teams, Blair has consistently delivered results within the FMCG sector ahead of the category.

Blair’s journey in sales has been marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a passion for cultivating meaningful connections; believing in the power of strategic planning, data-driven insights, and proactive innovation to stay ahead in a competitive marketplace. By leveraging knowledge and industry trends, Blair has spearheaded numerous successful sales campaigns that have propelled brands and businesses to new heights. Central to Blair’s leadership philosophy is the belief that a strong team is the cornerstone of success. Blair prioritises mentorship, empowerment, and continuous learning to foster an environment where every member can thrive and contribute their best. Through targeted coaching and development initiatives, Blair has nurtured talent, instilled a culture of accountability, and cultivated a shared sense of purpose among sales and wider teams.

Looking ahead, Blair is excited about the many opportunities that exist at Heritage Brands. Whether it’s driving digital transformation, navigating market disruptions, or unlocking new growth opportunities, Blair is ready to lead with vision, resilience, and a relentless dedication to excellence.

Donna is a Chartered Accountant with over 35 years’ experience in audit, financial control and commercial finance roles. She brings expertise in manufacturing, research, and retail sectors across Australian and multinational organisations. The majority of Donna’s career, over 20 years, has been in Health and Wellness, with roles at Servier Laboratories, Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, and BWX. Having previously led teams in finance, procurement and supply chain, she has a hands-on approach to being a proactive business partner. Her strengths are her ability to drive positive change and growth, both internally and through partnerships with customers and suppliers. As a recipient of our 2023 values award for Commitment, she is a welcome addition to the team.

As a seasoned Senior Brand Manager, I’m driven by a passion for creating impactful campaigns and navigating the evolving landscape of brand strategy and consumer insights.

Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at HB. Our cross-functional brand teams consistently innovate and delve into data during strategic planning sessions, refining campaign strategies, and brainstorming innovative product ideas to foster a creative environment.

Balancing creativity and analytics, I ensure every detail aligns with our brand vision and objectives—from packaging to content, P&L management, and photoshoots.

Every decision is made with a keen eye on the future and its impact on our brand. From strategic planning to hands-on project management, my role as a Senior Brand Manager is dynamic, driven by opportunities, and committed to crafting experiences that delight our consumer.

A day at Heritage Brands is always fast-paced and fulfilling. I like to start each day by going over our NPD launch calendar and reviewing project status. Then I usually follow up the communication with suppliers to track timelines, ensuring key milestones are met. Understanding our customer demands is important to my role. I collaborate with brand managers to cross check the new product samples that clearly tie back to brand strategy and organisation goals, synchronising the updates of budgets and go-to-market timelines. I also work with the ops team to make sure the supply chain has the necessary capacities in line with the launch schedule. In the afternoon, I may do some research on the global markets, product innovation, ingredients, and sustainability initiatives, identifying the trends and potential opportunities of constantly bringing new value to customers.

It seems that Covid has permanently changed my typical day. First thing I need to do is check to make sure that we are going to deliver the stock we have promised. With shipping and production issues this often means working with the supply team to develop alternative supply strategies. Fortunately, we have a strong team ethos which means we usually find a way to meet our customers’ needs.

Once I know we are going to supply today’s requirements, I look to forward planning for future growth. Study latest sales data then meet with Marketing and our Digital Performance manager to see what opportunities exist to enhance the account promotional activity and look for tomorrow’s sales.
Finally, develop my customer communication strategy, so when I talk to my account contacts in Category, Buying and Replenishment I can share the Brand, Supply and Consumer message on brand and true to the Heritage Brands Ethos. Sounds simple doesn’t it!