Based in Australia and formerly the chair of FCSI Asia Pacific, Mario Sequeira brings a wealth of experience and many accolades to his new role, heading up the board of FCSI Worldwide.
A qualified chef, he also holds a diploma in hotel management and food technology; a post graduate qualification in corporate management and he is a Six Sigma Leader in Lean Manufacturing.
As he begins his new role as President of FCSI Worldwide, he spoke to Foodservice Consultant team about his career and thoughts on life as well as his vision of the future of the Society.
Tell us about your early days
I was born on 15 September 1963 in India and my early education was influenced by the Salesians of Don Bosco, a worldwide society founded by Italian Saint John Bosco.
What are some of your career highlights?
- securing a professional job migration sponsorship to Australia
- becoming an inaugural banquet chef at the Burswood Entertainment Complex
- becoming head chef for the first Gold Plate Awards and the international Hopman Cup at Burswood
- bring made catering standards manager at Qantas Flight Catering
- assisting celebrated chef Neil Perry’s team in delivering ‘best in class’ meals on Qantas International flights
- developing menus for several international airlines
- successfully managing and delivering multiple foodservice projects across diverse market segments including hotels, taverns, restaurants, nightclubs, cafés, shopping center food precincts, mining, central production facilities, hospitals, aged care and lifestyle living
- working with the FCSI Asia Pacific board to re-establish the Asia Pacific Division (APD)
- being nominated as one of three winners at the inaugural FCSI APD Project Excellence initiative
Who are your mentors and who has inspired you in your career?
My professional FCSI mentors: include Ken Sangster FCSI, Tim Smallwood FFCSI, Greg O’Connell, Clara Pi FFCSI, Toni Clarke FCSI and William Caruso FFCSI.
On a personal level I am inspired by Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Dale Carnegie, Mahatma Gandhi, Buddha and Jesus Christ.
What experiences in life bring you joy?
First of all enjoying good health, family and friends as well as amazing relationships globally.
I practice the martial art Tai Chi and take part in mindfulness and meditation. I enjoy good food and fine whiskey.
Travel has played a big part in my life and some of my best travel memories include New York, San Francisco, Colorado, Vancouver, Bordeaux, Pordenone, Venice, Vatican, Munich (for Oktoberfest), London, Sheffield, Barcelona and Osaka (visiting Suntory Yamazaki)
What is your life motto?
Embrace each day with a ‘content mind’, always grateful for all of life’s blessings while striving to be a better human being.
And what is your vision for FCSI?
To listen to the FCSI membership and work with the Worldwide and divisional boards, so all FCSI members globally, have the opportunity to make their businesses stronger, and in turn offer their clients the very best services.
Mario Sequeira FCSI is well respected by his peers who have expressed their best wishes on his appointment to FCSI Worldwide president. Below are a selection of the comments he has received:
William Caruso FFCSI: “Mario, you [and Eric Norman FCSI] will be a truly great team to guide Worldwide forward. Both of you are not only young and energetic, but also very effective leaders as you both have shown in your respective Divisional and WW Board efforts over the past few years! We look forward to working closely with you, to make meaningful advances on the WW Board level.”
Eric Norman FCSI: “Congratulations on your move into the WW Presidents position. I am confident that you will do a great job in this role and will work hard to serve the Society. I very much look forward to working together over the next two years to keep FCSI moving onward and upward.”
Steve Sidd FCSI: “Congratulations on your amazing achievements and look forward to working with you to also achieve great results.”
William Taunton FFCSI: “Congratulations on your new role as WW President of our society Mario. To the rest of the Board, thanks for your hard work on behalf of our Society.”
Riyas Katayan, RATIONAL Cooking Systems, Singapore: “Congratulations on your new role as the FCSI Worldwide WW President. Let us all hope that 2022 bring us more positive news with more activities, travel and personal face-to-face meetings.”
Paul Micallef, Scanbox: “Mario, I would like to congratulate you from my heart for your FCSI Worldwide president role – that is amazing and I have no doubt that you will do an amazing job. Wish you all the very best of success in this new role.”
Jack Scott, Alto-Shaam: “Congratulations on your new role and please know I’m standing by to assist, in any manner required.”
Wayne Viles, UNOX Australia: “Mario, congratulations on your appointment to this role. I know you will do an excellent job. Well done.”
Tina Nielsen
