BUSINESS & TECH STAGE

PROUDLY PRESENTED BY

The Business & Tech Stage, presented by PaySauce, is a must-attend feature for QSR operators, casual dining venues, and premium restaurants looking to stay ahead in a fast-changing industry.

Gain valuable insights on how to harness technology and data to streamline your operations, and discover proven sales and marketing strategies that drive customer loyalty and business growth. Each session is packed with practical, actionable content tailored to help restaurant businesses of all sizes thrive in today’s competitive market.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your edge or spark new ideas, The Business Stage offers the tools and inspiration you need. Join us at Food & Hospitality Queensland—and take your business to the next level.

2025 AGENDA GET 2026 UPDATES

INSIGHTS FROM THE TOP

HEAR DIRECTLY FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Paul Ayyash
Hospitality Service Consultant / Hospo Dojo
Robert Smithson
Head of Culinary / Dnata
Steven Minnikin
Minister for Customer Services and Open Data and Minister for Small and Family Business / Queensland Government
Gustav Lammerding
Head Of Marketing / Banjo's
Alexandra Preece
General Manager / Gradi Group
Danielle Dixon
Chef & Head of Curriculum / Institute of Culinary Excellence
Kristie Booker
FMCG Director / Imagine Collective
Tanaya Treadwell
CEO / Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce
Donna Kramer
Co-Founder / Aruga - PR Agency
Joel Cox
Marketing Director / Beetle Digital
Adam Theobald
Founder & CEO / Ordermentum
Linda Dang
Director & Hospitality Accountant / Evisory
Simon Dell
CEO & Founder / Queensland Government Mentor for Growth / Cemoh
Clare Riley
Managing Editor / Restaurant Business
Shane Flanagan
Head of Partnerships / me&u
Nahshon Pinto
Director | Queensland Government Mentor for Growth / 7 Tiles Consulting
Leah Dunnigan
T25 Aus Bartender of the Year '25 / Savile Row
Laura Goldberg
Chief Operating Officer / Hurricane's Grill
Joel Chrystal
Culinary and Hospitality Consultant / Imagine Collective
Paul Rifkin
Hospitality Consultant & Chef Coach / chefpaulrifkin consulting
Katrina Costigan
Owner/Operator / UVA Wine Bar
Clayton Costigan
Chef/Owner / Bergen Restaurant
Renee Brown
Vineyard Manager / Rosalie House
Isaac Moody
Managing Director/Owner / The Baker's Duck
Keary Shandler
Sustainability Consultant /
Chris Thompson
Head of Growth / Yume Food
Katie Barton-Harvey
Project Coordinator / Boomerang Alliance
Alexander Bell
Chemical engineer & Founder / Milton Distillery
Venessa Barnes
Co-Founder / FoodLogic
Elias Rikos
Marketing Director / Pink Pickle Marketing
Rod Fowler
Director / Food Industry Foresight
    Location
  • Aged Care Catering Summit
  • Café Success Stage
  • Chef's Table
  • Coffee Future Lab
  • Craft & Pizza Demos
  • The Business Stage
    Format
  • Demonstration
  • Fireside
  • Individual
  • Panel
  • Workshop
    Type
  • Disruptive Dialogues
  • Paid
Reset
Sun 12 Oct 2025
Mon 13 Oct 2025
All days
Understanding the Forces Reshaping Café Drinks
Sunday 12 October 2025
9:00 am - 9:45 am
Coffee Future Lab
Michael Bishop
Founder, Flavour Hunter, Storyteller
Alchemy Cordial Company
From Local Loaf to Iconic Status: How to Bake for—and Win—Your Market
Sunday 12 October 2025
9:30 am - 10:15 am
Café Success Stage
William Grange
Baker
Burleigh Baker
Innovations in Australian Coffee
Sunday 12 October 2025
10:00 am - 10:45 am
Coffee Future Lab
Sergio Londono
Head of Coffee
Jack Murat
Mastering the Flavoured Coffee Market
Sunday 12 October 2025
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Coffee Future Lab
Chris Bowe
General Manager, Learning and Customer Experience
Coffee Commune
How to Launch a Successful Restaurant
Sunday 12 October 2025
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
The Business Stage
Paul Ayyash
Hospitality Service Consultant
Hospo Dojo
Bringing Your Breakfast A-Game: Menu Innovation That Drives Morning Revenue
Sunday 12 October 2025
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Café Success Stage
Matt Wilkinson
Chef & Food Consultant
MW Projects
Top 5 Mistakes When Setting Up A Roastery
Sunday 12 October 2025
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Coffee Future Lab
Jason Long
Commercial & Industrial Services
Coffee Commune
Innovative Origins Cupping
Sunday 12 October 2025
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Coffee Future Lab
Raihaan Esat
General Manager
International Coffee Traders
Part 1 – The Changing Landscape
Sunday 12 October 2025
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Coffee Future Lab
Tim Sweet
Sales
Bombora Supplies
Celebrating QLD's Catch
Sunday 12 October 2025
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
Chef's Table
Carolyne Helmy
Chef de cuisine
The Star
Rewriting the Recipe – Aged Care Catering Under Reform
Monday 13 October 2025
9:15 am
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Liz Hefren-Webb
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC)
Mastering the Cold Drinks Revolution
Monday 13 October 2025
10:00 am - 10:45 am
Coffee Future Lab
Chris Bowe
General Manager, Learning and Customer Experience
Coffee Commune
What Does Success Really Look Like?
Monday 13 October 2025
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Café Success Stage
Phil DiBella
Founder
The Coffee Commune
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
The Iconic Tartufo Pizza
Monday 13 October 2025
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Pizza Demos
Youssef Ben Touati
Multi-award Winning Pizza Champion
Selecta Food Group
Roasters vs. Traders: The Unfiltered Truth
Monday 13 October 2025
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Coffee Future Lab
Raihaan Esat
General Manager
International Coffee Traders
Playing to Your Strengths: Meeting Standard 6 with Smart Menu Design
Monday 13 October 2025
11:00 am
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Rodger Graf
Managing Director
Nutritious Cuisine
Mozzarella Masterclass with Giorgio Linguanti
Monday 13 October 2025
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Pizza Demos
Giorgio Linguanti
Founder
That's Amore Cheese
"If I Had $100k..." Strategic Investment Planning
Monday 13 October 2025
12:15 pm
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Tawnya Bahr
Co-Founder
Straight To The Source
Coffee-nomics – What Every Café Owner Needs to Know
Monday 13 October 2025
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Coffee Future Lab
Raihaan Esat
General Manager
International Coffee Traders
Pala, low & slow pizza using a Marana
Monday 13 October 2025
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Pizza Demos
Antonio Maio
Pizza Technician
Marana Australia
Weird and Whacky Cupping
Monday 13 October 2025
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Coffee Future Lab
Raihaan Esat
General Manager
International Coffee Traders
From Invisible to Unmissable Venues: Is Digital Dominance Possible?
Monday 13 October 2025
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
The Business Stage
Joel Cox
Marketing Director
Beetle Digital
Part 2 – Shaping the Future
Monday 13 October 2025
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Coffee Future Lab
Tim Sweet
Sales
Bombora Supplies

BUSINESS & TECH STAGE

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