2025 Agenda
Two days. Four stages. Zero filler.
From game-changing demos to insider case studies, Food & Hospitality Queensland is where the industry’s best come to learn, connect, and get ahead. Miss it and you’ll miss out.
The agenda below is subject to change. We suggest you check back regularly to stay up to date with the latest sessions and presenters.
The Aged Care Catering Summit is a separate ticketed event – see here to find out more.
Understanding the Forces Reshaping Café Drinks
Sunday 12 October
9:00 am - 9:45 am
Coffee Future Lab
From Local Loaf to Iconic Status: How to Bake for—and Win—Your Market
Sunday 12 October
9:30 am - 10:15 am
Café Success Stage
Beyond the Smash: Mastering Sauces & Dressings with Australian Avocados
Sunday 12 October
9:30 am - 10:15 am
Chef's Table
Session sponsor
Cafe Strategy: Building a Profitable Business Model That Lasts
Sunday 12 October
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Café Success Stage
Queensland Growth Surge: Where Are The Smart Hospitality Operators Heading?
Sunday 12 October
10:30 am - 11:15 am
The Business Stage
Steven Minnikin
Minister for Customer Services and Open Data and Minister for Small and Family Business
Queensland Government
Andrew Baturo
Restaurateur
Dap & Co. Hospitality Group
Bernie Hogan
CEO
Queensland Hotels Association (QHA)
Rob Comiskey
Co-founder & Director
Comiskey Group
Clare Riley
Managing Editor
Restaurant Business
Session sponsor
Sustainability, Beyond The Buzz Words And Green Washing - The Circular Kitchen
Sunday 12 October
11:30 am - 12:15 pm
Chef's Table
Session sponsor
Bringing Your Breakfast A-Game: Menu Innovation That Drives Morning Revenue
Sunday 12 October
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Café Success Stage
How To Solve The Staffing Crisis Without Breaking The Bank
Sunday 12 October
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
The Business Stage
Robert Smithson
Head of Culinary
dnata Catering & Retail
Isaac Gorton
Hospitality Recruitment Specialist
Frontline Hospitality Queensland
Laura Goldberg
Owner / Marketing Director
Hurricane's Grill
Clare Riley
Managing Editor
Restaurant Business
Kirsty Leigh
Operations Manager
Nundah Community Enterprises Cooperative
Session sponsor
Between Two Slices: Mastering the Art of Profitable Sandwich Operations
Sunday 12 October
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Café Success Stage
What does it take to scale your venue without losing your soul?
Sunday 12 October
1:15 pm - 2:00 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Nose to Tail: Maximising Profit and Sustainability Through Whole Animal Cooking
Sunday 12 October
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Chef's Table
The $50,000 Mistake: How To Avoid Expensive Tech Failures
Sunday 12 October
2:15 pm - 3:00 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Disruptive Dialogues: Why Women Should Be Leading Hospitality's Future
Sunday 12 October
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Elevating Your Menu with Authentic Flatbreads: Techniques, Toppings & Profitability
Sunday 12 October
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
Café Success Stage
Rewriting the Recipe – Aged Care Catering Under Reform
Monday 13 October
9:15 am
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
The Sweet Spot - Insights Shaping The Future Of Desserts
Monday 13 October
9:30 am - 10:15 am
Café Success Stage
Navigating Nutrition – Managing Risk, Choice & Compliance
Monday 13 October
9:45 am
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Disrupted Dialogues: Behind The Pass
Monday 13 October
10:00 am - 10:45 am
Menu Engineering: How To Turn Every Dish Into Profit
Monday 13 October
10:30 am - 11:15 am
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Playing to Your Strengths: Meeting Standard 6 with Smart Menu Design
Monday 13 October
11:00 am
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Fixing the Kitchen: Design, Equipment & Efficiency
Monday 13 October
11:15 am
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Traditional Roots, Modern Flame: Native Flavours Reimagined
Monday 13 October
11:30 am - 12:15 pm
Chef's Table
Too Good in Toowoomba: A Case Study For Local Community Success
Monday 13 October
11:30 am - 12:15 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Food Allergen Risk Management for Aged Care Caterers
Monday 13 October
11:45 am
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Disrupted Dialogues: Breadlines & Battle Cries - The Sandwich Uprising
Monday 13 October
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Café Success Stage
Session sponsor
"If I Had $100k..." Strategic Investment Planning
Monday 13 October
12:15 pm
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Green and Profitable: Restaurant Sustainability That Pays
Monday 13 October
12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Coffee-nomics – What Every Café Owner Needs to Know
Monday 13 October
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Coffee Future Lab
Marketing that Works: The No-Bullsh*t Tactics Your Venue Needs
Monday 13 October
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Cafe Crowd Pleasers: Menu Items That Keep Customers Coming Back
Monday 13 October
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Café Success Stage
Session sponsor
The Fat Equation: The Science Behind Irresistible Burgers
Monday 13 October
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Chef's Table
Ingredients with Impact: Smarter Sourcing for Better Results
Monday 13 October
2:15 pm
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
From Invisible to Unmissable Venues: Is Digital Dominance Possible?
Monday 13 October
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
The Mealtime Experience: From Kitchen to Table
Monday 13 October
2:45 pm
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Inside the Winning Slice: Emanuele Malara’s Signature Pizza
Monday 13 October
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Pizza Demos
Future-Proofing Your Business: What's coming next in hospitality?
Monday 13 October
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor