2026 SPEAKERS
From award-winning chefs & baristas to pioneering restaurateurs, the Food & Hospitality Queensland stage is set for hospitality’s brightest minds.
FULL LIST OF 2026 SPEAKERS FROM A-Z
Aaron Prosser
Head of Growth and Operations / Beyond Payments
Adam Caracciolo
Supply Chain General Manager / Zarraffa’s
Adrian Richardson
Chef At Large / Stanbroke Meats
Adriano Zumbo
Consultant, Research & Development Bakery/Desserts / Zumbo Brands
Alexandra Preece
General Manager / Gradi Group
Andrea Green
Queensland Food Service State Manager / Mission Foods
Andrew Briese
Founder / The Culinary Group & Cooking the Books
Andy Ashby
Owner & Head Chef / C'est Bon
Angela Di Brino
Business Development Manager / End Food Waste Australia
Anna Pholaket
Owner / Melrose Restaurant & Rooftop Bar
Ansie Bekker
General Manager - Commercial Hospitality / Wesley Mission QLD
Asantha Wijeyeratne
Executive Director, CEO and Co-Founder / PaySauce
Avalon Macrae
Director / Chargrill Charlie’s New Farm
Ben Hehir
Head of Training and Development / Australian Venue Co.
Bernie Hogan
CEO / Queensland Hotels Association
Billy Gibney
Owner / Meat at Billy's
Brett Bolwell
CEO / Barista Equip
Bryan Seeborun
National Food Safety /Catering Products & Innovation / Regis Aged Care
Caylie Field
Team Lead / Dementia Australia
Carly King
Managing Director & Editor / Inside Gold Coast
Chris Jordan
Chef / Three Little Birds
Carolyne Helmy
Chef de cuisine / The Star
Chris Ravlich
Executive General Manager / Gloria Jeans Coffee and Cibo Espresso at Retail Food Group
Daniel Semrani
/ Gigi's Pizzeria
Daniel Turner
Operations Manager / Firehouse Subs
David Bruhn
Sales Director / The Culinary Group
David Martin
National General Manager Hotel Services / For Purpose Aged Care Australia
Dean MacPherson
Business Development Manager / Coffee Alliance
Dom Bird
Managing Director / Wild Foods
Donna Kramer
Co-Founder / Aruga - PR Agency
Elena Duggan
/ Straight To The Source
Emma Allan
Founder / Simple Food Safety Software
Emma Lillie
Chef Mentor / Maggie Beer Foundation
Eugene Went
Co-Owner & Head of Digital / Merge Marketing
Francis Barram
CEO / Enspara
Fran Harper
Head of Sales & Marketing Global / Paramount 21 Ltd
Fiona Napier
Business Broker / Stockbridge Business Brokers
Greta Wohlstadt
Multi-Site General Manager / Anyday Hospitality Group
Gianna Cowper
Co-owner / Pici Restaurant & Bar
Gustav Lammerding
Head of Marketing / Banjo's Bakery Cafe
Hannah Evans
General Manager Hospitality Services / RSL LifeCare
Heather Smyth
Deputy Director of Research, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation / Australia's Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA)
James Frostick
Editor / The Weekend Edition
Jamie Gannon
Culinary Director /
Jane Villari
Assistant Director, Speech Pathologist / Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Jenna Muhor
Owner & Operator / Paddock Bakery
Joel Chrystal
Culinary & Hospitality Innovation / Imagine Collective
Johnny Di Francesco
Head Judge / Gradi Group | AVPN
Julie Dundon
Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian / Nutrition Professionals Australia
Julie Woodall
Head of Property / Firehouse Subs
Justin Wilshaw
Head of Hospitality & Lifestyle / Estia Health
Kate Haselwood
Executive Manager / Dr. Oetker Queen Professional
Keary Shandler
Client Partner / OnTalent | Leadership, Workforce & Sustainability
Kenny Pham
Operations Manager / Andonis Café & Bar
Kristie Booker
FMCG Director / Imagine Collective
Lance Burrows
Managing Director / BVS Consulting
Larry Myers
Co-Founder & Data Scientist / HospoCaddy
Lawrence Daniels
Managing Director / Fuego Coffee
Liam Dempsey
CEO / Dirk's
Liz Kearins
Advisory Council Chair / Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Liz Pike
Group Marketing Manager / Ghanem Group
Lorelle Chittick
General Manager / Brisbane Economic Development Agency
Martin Boetz
Owner / Short Grain Restaurant
Matt Conroy
Senior Operations Strategist & Lead Partner / Imagine Collective
Matt Golinski
Chef /
Megan de Beer
Origin Tea's Matcha Specialist / Origin Tea
Melanie Shortland
Master Sales & Pricing Strategist / PaySauce
Mindy Woods
Owner / Karkalla
Nicholas Mitrossilis
Founder & CEO / The Yiros Shop
Nerida Conway
MC, Virgin Australia Podcast Host, Hospitality Owner /
Nerida Kong
General Manger / Fonzie Abbott
Nicolas Harth
Chef / Carinity
Nicholas Rae
Head of Coffee / Toby's Estate
Paul Rifkin
Executive Chef Consultant / chefpaulrifkin consulting
Phil Boss
COO / RiseUp
Phil Di Bella
Founder / Coffee Commune
Raihaan Esat
General Manager / International Coffee Traders
Rachelle Yilmaz
CEO & Founder / Visumé
Rick Mead
Managing Director / Pelican Rouge
Rob Comiskey
Co-founder & Director / Comiskey Group
Robyn Fok
B2B Integrated Marketing Manager APAC / SevenRooms
Ryan Kalatzis
Senior Business Development Manager / Naked Syrups
Sally McCray
Director, Nutrition, Dietetics and Foodservices / Mater Health
Sam McKnoulty
Director / Merge Marketing
Sam Saulwick
Co-Founder & Co-Owner / The Bread Social
Sam Taylor
Head of Coffee / Soul Origin
Sandra Glaister
Chief of Governance, Risk and Research / Southern Cross Care Queensland
Sarah Baldwin
Owner & Head Chef / Joy Restaurant
Sarah Franklyn
Head of Partnerships / Impact Data
Sarah Jayne Farley
Product Development Manager / Few & Far Food Professionals
Sean Carthew
Founder & Managing Director / Burger Urge
Shuyi Zheng
Owner & Operator / Musk Cafe & Bar
Simone Pentis
Franchise Lawyer / Advantage Partners Lawyers
Spencer Patrick
Owner, Chef / Harrisons
Stefano Spataro
State of Origin Pizza Battle Finalist /
Tamanna Relia
Founder & Director / Cents & Solutions
Tawnya Bahr
MC | Podcast Host | Food Expert / Straight To The Source
Tim Kummerfeld
Founder / Foodie Coaches
Tony Ibbotson
Founder & Creative Director / The Creative Method
Tracy Steinwand
Senior Executive and Franchise Leader /
Trish Harty
Marketing Consultant / Harty Food Media
Warren Jones
Director Foodservice Sales Australia / Mission Foods
Will Cowper
Co-owner / Pici Restaurant & Bar