Haiya Zhang

Haiya Zhang is a seasoned professional with more than 12 years’ experience in ecology and sustainable management. She has worked across the United States, Nepal, and China. With a strong foundation in environmental science and sustainable practices, Haiya drives impactful change in sustainable development and environmental management.   Currently serving as the China Manager at ECOM Sustainable Management and Services in Yunnan, China, Haiya oversees sustainable coffee value chain management, carbon footprint management, and actively promote sustainability within coffee farming communities through various innovative projects, such as integrated weed management trials using coffee-fungi agroforestry model, coffee crop residue composting for regenerative agriculture, and a low-carbon coffee community. Haiya holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from Lund University, Sweden. She has enhanced her expertise through specialised training in International Environmental Law and Sustainable Investment.  

Thainá Afonso de Carvalho

Thainá is a coffee producer from Brazil. Her journey in coffee began more than 25 years ago, on her family coffee farm in the Cerrado Mineiro region of Minas Gerais. Thainá grew up witnessing my parents’ dedication and hard work but didn’t consider working on the family farm for a long time. In 2023, she decided to continue her family’s legacy and starting managing operations, and developing new projects. Thainá considers returning to the family farm her best choice, as she has been able to implementing actions to improve coffee quality and build connections that create new opportunities. Every day, she learns that producing sustainable coffee requires balancing tradition and innovation. Thainá also operates a specialty coffee roastery call Cafe Rubi. 

Matteo Barbarossa

Matteo Barbarossa has worked as IMA Coffee Area Manager and Coffee Expert since 2022, and has 20 years’ experience roasting coffee across Europe and the United States. Matteo completed an MBA with a Master in Consumer Neuroscience and a research thesis titled ‘Financial Investments and coffee. How emotions drive us in the purchase patterns’. Matteo is a Specialty Coffee Association Authorised Trainer for Roasting, Green coffee and Sensory, and has trained more than 1000 professionals across Europe, the US, and the Middle East.  

Alana Hanaford

Alana Hanaford is a workplace experience leader who oversees an Advisory practice at JLL. With a keen eye for innovation, Alana develops workplace solutions that drive organisational performance, enhance employee experience, and facilitate the adoption of new work practices. Alana is passionate about creating seamless, intuitive environments that empower employees and spark that coveted 'wow' factor.  Alana recognises that premium coffee experiences do more than just caffeinate; they serve as catalysts for collaboration, drivers of productivity, and key contributors to overall workplace satisfaction. In her view, thoughtfully integrated coffee experiences can transform office dynamics, creating vibrant hubs for connection and creativity that elevate the entire work experience. 

Hannah Brennan

Hannah Brennan is a hospitality professional turned social entrepreneur who has led Scarf for 15 years, creating pathways to employment for young people facing barriers. As Scarf's CEO and co-founder, Hannah was recently awarded an Order of Australia medal for her service to the multicultural community. Hannah is passionate about social enterprise, and dedicated to making employment more equitable and inclusive.    

Celeste Norris

Celeste Norris is a passionate social entrepreneur dedicated to hospitality, young people, and social impact. She has successfully scaled The Little Social from a small coffee shop into a thriving social enterprise with two Melbourne locations. As Head of Social Enterprise at Youth Projects, Celeste has mentored hundreds of young people, equipping them with skills, confidence, and opportunities for meaningful employment. Through her leadership, The Little Social fosters a vibrant, inclusive community where coffee serves as a tool for empowerment and positive change. 

Liz Bayrak

Liz is StreetSmart’s Community Campaign and Events Coordinator, and a passionate advocate for the power of hospitality to drive social change. As a self-proclaimed foodie, she is deeply connected to the industry and has seen firsthand how hospitality initiatives like CafeSmart create real impact, having previously worked at one of StreetSmart’s Community Partners. 

Bowen Holden & Pip Heath

With more than 20 years in hospitality – 13 spent managing and working at Patricia Coffee Brewers – Bowen and Pip approach everything they do with passion, curiosity, and empathy. They always strive to create exceptional, personal experiences for every guest, while fostering a workplace culture that reflects those values.     

Deyvid Oliveira Leandro

Deyvid Oliveira Leandro’s journey in coffee began in May 2003, inspired by his early experiences helping his grandfather with post-harvest activities on the family farm, Toca da Raposa. After completing his final year of high school in Canada, Deyvid gained valuable experience in quality control and as a coffee buyer between 2012 and 2015, working with producers and one of the largest coffee cooperatives in Brazil. He later returned to Canada to open new markets for Brazilian coffee producers by collaborating with local roasters. Since 2019, Deyvid has been an integral part of DBarbosa Coffee, serving as a quality control and producer-partner at Fazenda Esperança, one of the group farms.   As a certified Q Grader since 2015, Deyvid has also contributed his expertise as a judge in prestigious competitions, including the Cup of Excellence (six national and three international editions) and the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association-BSCA (2014–2023).   He placed first in the 2021 and 2024 Cup of Excellence and was a finalist in 2022. He won first place for Brazil’s 2nd Largest Coffee Cooperative in 2021, 2023, and 2024, and first place in regional competitions in 2021 and 2023.  With a strong foundation in quality, innovation, and market development, Deyvid continues to inspire and elevate the specialty coffee industry through his work as a producer and cup taster. 

Dominic Enthoven

MPC International – Principal Advisor

Dominic previously spent 32 years in global container shipping (Hamburg Sud, latterly Maersk) developing trade, line management, commodity pricing and new service development skills. He has worked around the world with extended secondments in South America (Chile and Venezuela for two years), Miami (11 years) and latterly Australia (20 years).   While in Miami, Dominic handled annual coffee negotiations for the import trades to the United States. His ACTA role brings him back to his deep interest in coffee. 

Angelo Augello

Bean Alliance Group – CEO / Director

Ange is a seasoned leader in the global coffee industry with a career spanning four decades. With vision, Angelo evolved Monte Coffee into Bean Alliance Group, a sophisticated production facility based in the coffee heartland of Melbourne’s the northern suburbs. Many of the company’s brands are in coffee machines and pantries across Australia and these blends and brands are known and loved. Bean Alliance traverses multiple markets with success, including Italian Bar, Ethical Sustainable and Hipster as well as exhibiting “best in class” as a private label roaster. In 2019, Ange realised the vision to merge forces with globally recognised Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group (Segafredo) and, since then, has continued to contribute as a values-centred leader. Ange is highly respected by his colleagues and industry cohorts, and currently sits as the Chair of ACTA. 

Stephen Bannister

Cofi-Com – General Manager

Stephen joined Cofi-Com as General Manager in August 2024, bringing with him a deep understanding of coffee from both origin and destination markets. Stephen has held numerous senior positions across the Asia Pacific region and has a wealth of coffee and commodity risk management knowledge. Origin experience from Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Singapore, gives him a further insight into the challenges and flows of this dynamic industry.  Stephen’s specialties include building and sustaining high-performance teams, leveraging an extensive network of global buyers and sellers, preparing complex financial reports, driving transformational change, navigating the complexities and legalities of international trade, and managing country and counterparty risk. 

Brydon Price

Brydon is a self-confessed coffee geek. This passion for all things specialty coffee has seen him thrive across key training, account management and sales positions with some of New Zealand and Australia’s leading specialty roasters and equipment distributors.   Joining the La Marzocco team in early 2017 for National Sales, Brydon has worked with the La Marzocco Australia team to facilitate sales, generate new business, and manage customer relationships.  Throughout a 20+ year career in coffee Brydon has built an enviable CV of specialty coffee qualifications including Q Grade Certification and travels the world as a World Coffee Championships Head Judge & Representative. Active also in the Australian Specialty Coffee Association, Brydon is well recognised as a spokesperson for all things specialty coffee, both at home and internationally. 

Drew Arthurson

Drew Arthurson is the Chief Operating Officer at the Sydney Swans. Before joining the club in January 2020, Drew spent 10 years leading Apple’s Enterprise business across Australia and New Zealand, focusing on people leadership, business development, and government relations. Drew’s career has taken him through a mix of corporate, government, and non-profit sectors, giving him a well-rounded background that he now brings to his work with the Swans. 

Tanya Nguyen

Tanya Nguyen is a small business owner in Collingwood, Victoria. She is passionate and enjoys working in the hospitality industry. Tanya spent 14 years working in the beauty industry prior to transitioning into hospitality. Coffee and food have always been an interest of hers, and she enjoys cooking and creating new dishes. In future, Tanya hopes to expand her business to a second venue.  

Andre Selga

With extensive experience in business management, Andre’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2003 when he and his wife Nadia founded their first company in Brazil. In 2015, they expanded their horizons by establishing a business in Europe before embarking on a new adventure in Australia’s coffee industry in 2017.   Andre’s coffee journey started in Brazil in 2013, trading coffee locally with traders and the domestic market. By 2015, he and Nadia dedicated themselves to understanding coffee quality, building relationships with farmers, and deepening their knowledge of the industry.   In 2017, they founded Southland Merchants, driven by a passion for sustainability, traceability, quality coffee, and strong relationships with producers and roasters. Today, as Business Management Director, Andre plays a key role in connecting Brazilian coffee producers with Australian roasters, facilitating meaningful and sustainable trade partnerships in the specialty coffee industry. 

Taufiq Khan

Taufiq Khan (TK) is the Chief Product Officer at Ordermentum, on a mission to build a more sustainable food and beverage industry by helping venues and suppliers trade smarter. You’ve probably already use an app Taufiq has led product teams to design and ship, like the Commbank app, the Emirates app, the Sydney Morning Herald, and of course, Ordermentum. His passion for product excellence is only matched by his passion for food that spans the entire globe (ask him about his restaurant map). 

Benjamin Vaughan

Benjamin Vaughan is a dynamic entrepreneur with a proven track record in the food industry. Starting his entrepreneurial journey at Melbourne University with a $5000 credit card, he founded a successful on-campus takeaway crepe shop, where he honed his skills in business management, customer service, and the food industry. After four years, he sold the business and set his sights on creating something truly unique.   In 2016, Benjamin launched Mile End Bagels, Australia’s first wood-fired bagel shop, which quickly became a local Fitzroy favourite. What began as a single location has expanded into four thriving stores, marking nearly a decade of growth and innovation. Under his leadership, Mile End Bagels has become a trailblazer in the Australian food scene, offering hand-crafted, wood fired bagels in a modern setting.   As the company looks ahead, Benjamin is focused on expanding Mile End Bagels nationally, with plans to bring its iconic wood-fired bagels to more Australian cities in the near future. With a passion for quality, community, and innovation, Benjamin continues to grow both as an entrepreneur and as a leader in the industry.  

Barry Moore

Having started his hospitality career working at a 300-year-old coffee shop at ‘Lloyds of London’, Barry Moore has enjoyed working across a range of international hospitality businesses, and a number of different sectors and scale, with high quality coffee always central to its offer. Barry has worked as La Marzocco Australia Managing Director since 2018. He is also a board member of StreetSmart, with the café and roaster CafeSmart campaign being a real passion of his.   

Arthur Karuletwa 

Arthur Karuletwa shares 22 years’ experience in commodity value chains, including, coffee, cocoa, tea, perishables, and cosmetics. Arthur is a business development strategist with experience in developing retail/roastery businesses, and a master in digital and literal storytelling through the lens of comprehensive authenticated data and content value chains. Arthur has held leadership positions in coffee and beverage companies, the public sector and NGO national commodity bodies, food companies, agricultural/environmental NGOs, and has managing teams of more than 100 people. Residing in the United States, Arthur is a global citizen and fluent in seven languages with extensive capacity in sustainability, programming, marketing of sustainable products, donor management and government engagement.  This year, Arthur featured on the La Marzocco Rise of Espresso film along with the Apple Series Ominivore ‘coffee episode’. He has used his past and experience of being the product of those who were targeted during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda towards educating the world on coffee as a force for good.  

Duy Nguyen and Shy Akter

Duy Nguyen and Shy Akter are the duo behind Osoi, a tiny 17-square-meter café in Brunswick, which opened in November 2024. Duy left his career in corporate law, and Shy as a midwife to take the leap of faith and follow their passion for coffee and matcha. Osoi is known for its specialty drinks and focuses on a signature menu of coffee and hand-whisked matcha drinks. More than just beverages, this combination is a way to bring people together, tell stories, and create meaningful experiences. Osoi is an extension of Duy and Shy and their Southeast and South Asian roots – filled with family photos, personal mementos, and little details that invite people to pause and be present. At MICE2025, Duy and Shy are excited to share their approach to signature drinks: balancing tradition, creativity, and personal nostalgia.  

Liam O’Brien

7-Eleven Product Owner Dispensed Beverages

Liam joined 7-Eleven in January 2017 and is responsible for managing the product and services on offer to customers for the Hot Drinks, Slurpee and Shakes portfolio. This includes category management, supply chain, in-store merchandising, product development, product and space planning and food innovation. In his time at 7-Eleven, Liam also has experience looking after the confectionery, snack foods, ice-cream and packaged beverages portfolio. Liam is passionate about growing businesses through brand development and is committed to creating highly engaged teams and developing strong relationships with supply partners to achieve mutual growth.

Jared Chapman

Head of McCafé

Jared has spent almost 20 years in the coffee industry working with some of the largest coffee brands across retail, QSR and coffee chains. He is passionate about creating an impact on the industry by lifting the standards of coffee at scale so that more Australians can drink better coffee. In his current role as Head of McCafe at McDonald’s, Jared is responsible for building the strategy for growing the McCafe brand.

Sam Taylor

Soul Origin National Coffee Manager

With more than 20 years of experience in the coffee industry, Sam has dedicated his career to the art and science of coffee, which includes competing at a national level and judging prestigious events such as the World Barista Championship. His passion extends beyond the cup, focusing on the next generation of baristas, guiding them through their professional journey, ultimately aiming to elevate the coffee experience for all.

Shae Macnamara

Shae Macnamara is the Australian founder of Bali-based specialty coffee producer Expat.Roasters. Shae has more than 25 years of experience in the coffee industry. His extensive experience in Australia's coffee scene includes serving on the board of the Australian Specialty Coffee Association and holding roles in sales, operations, and training. He also served as the Coffee Ambassador for one of Australia's largest coffee roasters and has consulted on café openings in Australia, Europe, and Asia. In 2016, Shae was crowned Australian Champion in the Coffee in Good Spirits competition and placed fourth in the World Coffee in Good Spirits competition. Shae currently leads a team of approximately 300 staff across Expat. Roasters’ facilities, cafés, brew bars, training rooms, sales teams, and offices throughout Indonesia. Shae’s dedication to training is evident thanks to 100+ baristas working at Expat. Roasters, and the thousands trained annually through the company’s expert-led programs. This year, Shae hopes to expand Expat.Roasters into Malaysia and Singapore.

Michael Meates

Founder, Day For It Hospitality

With more than 20 years of experience in the coffee and hospitality industry, Michael Meates has dedicated his career to helping brands grow, scale, and succeed in some of the world’s most dynamic markets. Having worked across Sydney, Melbourne, London, California, and in New York for the past eight years, he brings a global perspective and a deep understanding of the specialty coffee scene and hospitality landscape. As the founder of Day For It Hospitality, Michael is committed to helping brands thrive, ensuring they not only enter the market successfully but build a strong foundation for long-term growth. He specialises in guiding coffee brands, cafés, and hospitality concepts through expansion in the New York market, and beyond. From navigating real estate selection, venue design, and equipment sourcing to green coffee procurement, roasting partnerships, recruitment, and operational strategy, Michael offers a full-spectrum approach to building and optimising successful hospitality businesses. Michael’s expertise extends to understanding local laws, securing liquor licenses, developing financial models, and assembling high-performing teams. Whether working with an emerging coffee brand looking to establish a presence in NYC or an international concept seeking a strategic US launch, he provides tailored solutions that drive sustainable growth and profitability.

Jody Leslie

Toby’s Estate General Manager

Jody Leslie has spent eight years in various development roles at McDonald’s, including Vice President of Supply Chain ANZ before working as CFO and Chief Supply Chain Officer at Guzman y Gomez, Director of Supply Chain at Suntory Oceania, and GM of Toby’s Estate for the past six years. Jody will share her insights on Toby’s expansion into the United Arab Emirates and doing business in Dubai. www.tobysestate.com.au

Gerd Müller-Pfeiffer

Former Nestlé & Kraft Foods Executive, Founder of International Coffee Consultant

Gerd Müller-Pfeiffer has more than 25 years’ experience with coffee in various roles at Kraft Foods, and the past 23 years at Nestlé. Gerd was involved in product development of Nescafé, the launch of Nescafé Dolce Gusto (NDG) in Germany as Pioneer Market globally, NDG roll-out in Europe across 44 countries, and spent five years in the Nordic region as Managing Director Coffee including Roast and Ground experience. He held a regional role as Business Manager for Middle East, North Africa, Central Eastern Europe, Israel and Turkey/Greece to Germany/Austria/Switzerland, was spent five years as General Manager Coffee, which included Starbucks’ launch in retail. During Gerd’s time in the Nordic region, he was in charge of green coffee buying, especially in East Africa. He says the active living of the Nescafé plan as the biggest sustainability program for coffee for Nestlé, as well the Coffee by the Woman Concept for Female Farmer in Africa by ZOEGAS, underlies his passion. More than 10 years of experience abroad in various roles highlights his ability to lead teams and cultures in an international environment. As of 2024, Gerd is an International Coffee Consultant with a small company and help smaller specialty companies in scaling up, vision, strategy, portfolio management, distribution, customer, consumer, commercialization, growth, and finance. www.mueller-pfeiffer.com

Sam Sidney

Sam Sidney is the founder/director of creative and social agency Milkbar Digital. This independent Melbourne agency provides their clients with end-to-end social media management (strategy, content creation, paid advertising, influencer management, and more) plus creative content.   Their client roster includes food heavyweights such as Simplot Australia, Pauls Dairy and San Remo, and F&B brands such as Nando’s, San Churro, Sandwich Chefs and the Australian Venue Co.   Sam’s 18-years of experience in digital marketing and content strategy has had her working with global brands but also local small business owners to grow their reach, brand resonance and ultimately, bottom line, through strategic and considered social media.   With a background in photography and design, but a day-to-day that is heavily focused on small business operations and management, she is well aware of the challenges that business owners face today and approaches social media with a ‘quality over quantity’ mindset. 

Sarah Dore

Sarah is a Licensing Manager at OneMusic Australia, specialising in the hospitality industry. With a background in customer excellence, public speaking, and product/account management, she educates clients about licensing obligations when music is played in their businesses. Sarah ensures APRA AMCOS and PPCA members are fairly compensated, advocating for music creators and composers.   Before OneMusic, Sarah led a Customer Experience Department in the financial software sector and worked as a Personal Banking Manager and Home Loan Specialist. These roles shaped her commitment to exceptional service and strong client relationships.   Sarah's passion for customer advocacy, copyright education, and industry integrity continues to guide her work at OneMusic Australia.  

Tari

Operator 25

Hyunjeong Kim

@yourfavkimmy

Connor Nestor

Connor Nestor wants to make a dent in the coffee machine. As Founder & MD of New Ground™, he’s redefining what’s possible in ready-to-drink coffee—turning new ideas into category-defining products and industry changing solutions. From creating the world’s best instant coffee to developing next-gen formats that actually taste good, Connor and his team enable brands to scale without compromise. With a background in brand innovation and a sharp eye for what consumers want next, he’s here to talk about bringing creativity back to coffee. 

Kirk Pearson

Kirk Pearson is one of the Founders of Project Zero Coffee, a coffee brand based in Melbourne that combines the latest technology with world-class coffee, all in a fun inviting environment. Kirk has worked for many of Australia's world leading coffee roasters learning from the best of the best. With a journalism degree he never put into good use, Kirk decided to combine his love for coffee and his journalism abilities to begin podcasting. Kirk's first podcast was the Sub-Zero Coffee Podcast that interviewed leading coffee professionals across the world. He joined forces with the team at Golden Brown Coffee to form one of the world's leading coffee podcasts that has interviewed leading coffee voices and has just returned from its first international trip to Dubai. Kirk is often outspoken in most discourse within the coffee industry and highly motivated in business. In one year, Project Zero Coffee has grown to be a destination café in Melbourne with another store on the way and plans for international expansion. At his core, he's on optimist and someone who has devoted his life to specialty coffee. 

Dylan Rowe

Dylan Rowe is the Co-founder of Project PARGO, a B-Corp certified company committed to creating premium insulated drinkware while driving meaningful impact. Inspired by his travels to remote regions around the world, Dylan witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by communities without access to clean drinking water. These experiences sparked a shared vision with his partner, Ellie, to build a business that could create real change.   Since its inception, Project PARGO has provided clean water to over 55,000 people in countries like Indonesia, Fiji, the Philippines, and Uganda. With a passion for sustainability and ethical practices, Dylan is dedicated to empowering others through thoughtful design and purposeful action. 

Saxon Wright

Saxon has roots in the coffee industry going back 20 years. He has pioneered many businesses including coffee education, coffee farming and processing, cafés and roasting. He is the founder and owner of Pablo & Rusty’s Coffee Roasters, a B Corp certified roasting company based in Sydney, Australia. He spent 10 years as Head Judge for the Australian Barista Championships and five years as a Sensory Judge at the World Barista Championships.    He is currently the Co-founder and CEO of Huskee, a company focused on eliminating single use products from the coffee and broader hospitality industries. Huskee developed a reusable cup that utilises waste from the farming of coffee, as well as new recycled steel mugs and a new Borrow program that will help phase out single-use at scale. Huskee aims for 90 per cent of all products it produces to be recycled and made into more products, becoming a closed-loop business.   Saxon is the recipient of the NSW Green Globe award, Australian Good Design Award and multiple sustainability and business awards. He also serves on the board of Greensquare, a tech platform connecting coffee roasters and traders.  

George Skell

With 33 years of diverse experience in Australia’s hospitality industry, spanning food and beverage roles in hotels, pubs, cocktail bars, cafés, restaurants, conferences, and resorts, George has progressed from management to business ownership. Over the past 15 years, his focus has shifted to hospitality education, teaching across the TAFE and higher education sectors. He has Learning Facilitator at the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, Torrens University Australia, Melbourne, for the last six years, delivering Managing Food and Beverage Operations and Service Design Management. George is dedicated to equipping future industry leaders with dynamic, practical, and theoretical expertise.  

Dylan Blackman

Dylan Blackman is Head of Marketing at Old Quarter Coffee. He joined the company as its very first employee, and, after stepping away to pursue a career that deepened his expertise in leadership, education, applied psychology, and marketing, Dylan returned to Old Quarter, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and fresh perspectives.   Now at the helm of Old Quarter’s marketing strategy, Dylan has been instrumental in driving the company’s growth, contributing to the expansion into four thriving locations and the development of a successful wholesale and e-commerce program. 

Amelia Hicks

Amelia Hicks is the CEO and Co-Founder of Old Quarter Coffee. She began her coffee journey in the vibrant Old Quarter of Hanoi, Vietnam. Together with her partner Yose, a shared love for coffee, people, and social impact sparked the creation of Old Quarter Coffee – a company dedicated to sourcing, roasting, and sharing specialty coffee exclusively from Southeast Asian origins.  With over eight years of experience in the coffee industry, Amelia has guided Old Quarter Coffee from a passionate idea to a thriving business. Today, the company boasts four venues, employs more than 20 dedicated staff members, and runs a successful wholesale and e-commerce program. Amelia's leadership is grounded in fostering meaningful relationships and creating opportunities for growth within the coffee industry. Amelia is committed to ethical sourcing and sustainable practices, and ensuring Old Quarter Coffee not only delivers exceptional quality but also makes a positive impact on the communities it partners with. 

Jeremy Regan

Jeremy Regan has spent more than 30 years in the QSR and hospitality industry, with 10 years of this spent in the United Kingdom. He has worked in various roles from operations, site selection and landlord negotiation, store design and training amongst others, which gives him a very diverse understanding of café business. Jeremy has been judging coffee and barista competitions internationally for more than 15 years. His current role as Head of Coffee for Foodco Group, the owner of Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue, involves overseeing all coffee related projects and business in Australia and all international markets – QA (Q Grader), sourcing green beans, roasting and distribution of coffee and related products, supply and servicing of equipment and training. Jeremy is up to speed with all market trends in the café sector and has spent time on the executive board of Australian Specialty Coffee Association.     

Abdullah Ramay

Abdullah is a purpose-driven leader and technology enthusiast, uniting business strategy, leadership, and innovation to create meaningful impact in the specialty coffee industry. As CEO of Pablo & Rusty’s Coffee Roasters, he has led the company to the forefront of sustainability and innovation, achieving B Corporation certification, Carbon Neutral Organisation status (Climate Active), and membership in 1% for the Planet. Under his leadership, Pablo & Rusty’s has won multiple awards for workplace excellence and positive impact.   A strong advocate for the specialty coffee industry, Abdullah has been instrumental in raising awareness about sustainable pricing in the café sector, ensuring Australian café culture remains world leading. He is a regular voice in media, podcasts, and social platforms, contributing thought leadership on key coffee issues, including customer experience, climate impact, pricing, automation and technology. With credentials as a CPA, PMP, MBA, and GAICD, Abdullah brings a learning mindset to the evolving landscape of coffee.  

Nadia Moreira

Southland Merchants

Luke Terrey

Sales and Account Manager of Condesa Co Lab

A Food and Beverage specialist since the age of 14, Luke Terrey has built a diverse career working in all aspects of front of house in from coffee carts to fine dining, culminating in experience as a Sommelier and Manager in Sydney Hatted restaurants, Luke has honed his skills in high-end service. Luke now connects roasters with global coffee producers, ensuring beans meet specific needs and budgets. His broad expertise across hospitality and coffee makes him a versatile professional in the industry with an emphasis on Risk Mitigation in Coffee Supply. 

Andrew Low

Andrew Low is the CEO of Coffee Supreme, a specialty roaster that has been brewing delicious coffees for more than 30 years. Founded in 1993 in Wellington, New Zealand, the business today supplies more than 800 cafés across NZ, Australia and Japan, as well as much-loved consumers via online stores and NZ supermarkets. Prior to this role, Andrew Co-founded Ordermentum, a digital ordering and payment platform in Australia that helps over 900 suppliers collect around $1.5 billion in orders and payments each year from more than 40,000 bars, restaurants and cafés. Andrew was also CEO of Australian specialty coffee roaster Toby's Estate from 2010 to 2014, and prior to that, had a 15-year career in food and beverage manufacturing roles for Unilever and Cerebos that saw him travel the world. At his core, Andrew has a passion for hospitality and the broader foodservice industry where he loves to lead authentic medium-sized businesses with a mix of passion and financial acumen to help all players in the industry thrive.  

Mike Ico

Superfreak

Mike Ico is an entrepreneur who, despite having no prior experience when he opened his first café in 2011 at the age of 23, has built a portfolio of standout venues, including The Baron, Good Fella, The Tuckshop, Soulmate, Splash, and Superfreak. Over the years, Mike has gained a wealth of experience in creating vibrant, welcoming spaces known for high-quality local ingredients, exceptional coffee, and crowd-pleasing food. With warm, unpretentious service at their core, Mike’s venues continue to set the standard for Sydney’s café culture.  

Ben Irvine

Ben Irvine is Head of Trade Marketing at Seven Miles Coffee Roasters, which partners with more than 600 cafés Australia-wide. Ben combines a passion for coffee with over two decades of coffee industry experience. From operating his own independent café to developing products for a global coffee franchise, Ben has been hands-on in nearly every corner of the coffee world. His career spans retail operations, training, product innovation, and marketing, collaborating with hundreds of café owners along the way.   

Wes Lambert

Wes Lambert is CEO of Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association (ARCA), a member-based not-for-profit industry association. ACRA is one of the strongest voices for the restaurant and café segment of the accommodation and foodservice industry, representing a segment that employs nearly 500,000 across more than 56,000 venues in Australia.   Wes is the former CEO of the 2020 Association of the Year Restaurant & Catering Australia (R&CA), where he was praised by the board for his advocacy efforts on behalf of the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wes was a winner of the AuSAE 2020 Influencer Award, and is a board member of several industry bodies, including the Australian Foodservice Advocacy Body, and the Council of Small Business Organizations Australia.  

Ray Strongman

Ray Strongman is a business coach with more than 19 years' experience and has assisted 270 businesses. He is a former Head Chef, Executive Chef, hotel owner and shop owner with years of experience working in commercial kitchens supplying retailers, restaurants and delis. Ray adds value to his clients through sharing the ‘process of business’, clearing roadblocks, and helping them learn to trust the process.   

Dave Stewart

Executive Chef Dave Stewart brings a farm-to-table philosophy that transforms dining into an unforgettable experience at Roasting Warehouse. 
Dave's impressive culinary portfolio includes prestigious positions at Number One Fitzroy Street, Hilton on the Park, and The Vincent Albert Park. His international experience, particularly at Roasting Warehouse Athens, has infused his cooking with a global perspective while maintaining his commitment to local, sustainable ingredients. 
Drawing from his Gippsland roots, Chef Stewart's menu celebrates the finest Australian produce, exemplified in his grass-fed fillet mignon and magnificent 400g Pork Tomahawk. His dedication to sustainable food practices and innovative cooking techniques has established him as a leading figure in Melbourne's dynamic culinary landscape. 
At Roasting Warehouse, Dave continues to push culinary boundaries while honouring his farm-fresh foundations, creating dishes that tell a story of tradition, innovation, and exceptional taste.

Ben Richardson

Ben believes in the power of exceptional customer service and takes pride in creating experiences that brighten someone’s day. He knows hospitality isn’t just about serving – it’s about making genuine connections and fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all. With more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Ben has built his career from the bottom up, having owned and operated nightclubs and pubs, and currently the driving force behind multiple thriving cafés. Passionate about coffee, food, and community, Ben knows that curating a menu is about more than just great dishes. It’s about balance, creativity, and understanding your customers. His expertise lies in working with his team to craft menus that not only showcase quality ingredients and flavours but also drive profitability and enhance the customer experience. 

Garry Rodakis

Garry Rodakis is the founder of the Sycamore Group, a collection of six Melbourne-based venues inspired by the music and style of singer-songwriter Butch Walker. Alongside his business partner, Garry has built these venues to blend American hospitality with Melbourne’s vibrant café culture, creating unique and welcoming spaces.  With more than 15 years in hospitality and a decade of experience in retail before that, Garry brings a deep understanding of both customer experience and business operations. His ability to create engaging, community-driven venues has made Sycamore Group a staple in the local food and coffee scene.  Under Garry’s leadership, Sycamore Group continues to thrive, offering unforgettable dining experiences that fuse American and Australian café culture. 

Natalie Latimore

Natalie has a passion for building premium brands and looking for new and innovative ways to reach and connect with consumers. With more than 15 years marketing experience in Australia and New Zealand across beauty, FMCG and beverage categories, Natalie currently heads up the dynamic MILKLAB marketing team and is a driving force behind the brand’s rapid growth.  

Danni Choy

With 15 years in the specialty coffee industry, Danni bring a wealth of experience and creativity to beverage development. In her role as Brand Ambassador at MONIN, Danni specialises in crafting signature drinks that elevate the experience for venues. Danni is passionate about the coffee community, always ready to celebrate its vibrant culture —and never misses an opportunity to bring the party to life.