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
Adrian Richardson
Chef / Stanbroke
Alexandra Preece
General Manager / Gradi Group
Andrea Green
Queensland Food Service State Manager / Mission Foods
Andrew Briese
Founder / The Culinary Group
Andy Ashby
Chef & Owner / C'est Bon
Anna Pholaket
Owner / Melrose Restaurant & Rooftop Bar
Ansie Bekker
General Manager Commercial Hospitality / Wesley Mission QLD
Bernie Hogan
CEO / Queensland Hotels Association
Brett Boyle
CEO / RiseUp
Bryan Seeborun
National Food Safety /Catering Products & Innovation / Regis Aged Care
Carly King
Managing Director & Editor / Inside Gold Coast
Carolyne Helmy
Chef de cuisine / The Star
Chris Ravlich
Executive General Manager / Gloria Jeans Coffee and Cibo Espresso at Retail Food Group
Chris Ridd
Executive Director / PaySauce
Daniel Semrani
/ Gigi's Pizzeria
Daniel Turner
Head of Operations / Firehouse Subs
Elena Duggan
/ Straight To The Source
Emma Lillie
Chef Mentor / Maggie Beer Foundation
Eugene Went
Co-Owner & Head of Digital / Merge Marketing
Francis Barram
CEO / Enspara
Greta Wohlstadt
Multi-Site General Manager / Anyday Hospitality Group
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 / Feros Group
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
General Manager / Firehouse Subs
Kenny Pham
Operations Manager / Andonis Café & Bar
Kristie Booker
FMCG Director / Imagine Collective
Lawrence Daniels
Managing Director / Fuego Coffee
Liz Kearins
Advisory Council Chair / Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
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
Mindy Woods
Owner / Karkalla
Nerida Conway
MC, Virgin Australia Podcast Host, Hospitality Owner /
Nicolas Harth
Chef / Carinity
Nicholas Rae
Head of Coffee / Toby's Estate
Paul Rifkin
Executive Chef Consultant / chefpaulrifkin consulting
Phil Di Bella
Founder / Coffee Commune
Raihaan Esat
General Manager / International Coffee Traders
Rachelle Yilmaz
CEO & Founder / Visumé
Rob Comiskey
Co-founder & Director / Comiskey Group
Ryan Kalatzis
Senior Business Development Manager / Naked Syrups
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
Sean Carthew
Founder / Burger Urge
Shuyi Zheng
Owner & Operator / Musk Cafe & Bar
Spencer Patrick
Owner, Chef / Harrisons
Stefano Spataro
State of Origin Pizza Battle Finalist / Elementi restaurant
Tamanna Relia
Founder & Director / Cents & Solutions
Tawnya Bahr
Co-Founder / Straight To The Source
Telina Menzies
Culinary Consultant /
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
Venessa Barnes
Co-Founder / FoodLogic
Warren Jones
Director Foodservice Sales Australia / Mission Foods