Discover the 2024 program

Tuesday 15 October

  7:45am
 Level 17 Foyer

Registrations open

  8:30am
 Level 17 Main Plenary

Welcome and Icebreaker Session

Session 1 - Navigating consumer trends and industry challenges

In today's rapidly evolving market, understanding and adapting to consumer behaviour and economic shifts is paramount for retailers and suppliers alike. This session will delve into the complex interplay of economic factors, consumer preferences, and industry challenges, offering insights and strategies for navigating these dynamics effectively.

This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and provide actionable insights into:

  9:15am
   Level 17 Main Plenary

Keynote Speaker - Amanda Stevens

  9:55am
   Level 17 Main Plenary

Leadership Panel

Anna Croft | Commercial Officer | Coles Group
Esme Borgelt | Chief Executive Officer | Kinrise
Scott Hadley | Managing Director - Australia/New Zealand | Chobani Australia

  10:25am
   Level 17 Main Plenary

Mentor Session

  10:45am
   Level 17 Foyer

Morning Tea

  11:15am
   Level 17 Main Plenary

Networking challenge

Session 2 - Harnessing knowledge and technology for enhanced efficiency and engagement

In an advancing digital landscape, leveraging technology isn't just a choice but a necessity for businesses aiming to optimise efficiency and foster meaningful consumer engagement. This session explores key strategies and considerations for integrating technology effectively across operations, customer interactions, and workforce development.

This session aims to equip delegates with the knowledge and tools necessary to harness the full potential of technology, ensuring sustainable growth and competitive advantage in an increasingly digital economy. Speakers will discuss:

 11:30am
   Level 17 Main Plenary

Keynote Speaker - Jess Wilson

 12:10pm
   Level 17 Main Plenary

Leadership Panel

Alex Davison | Chief Executive Officer | L'Oréal
Paul Foster | Chief Executive | George Weston Foods
Paris Golden | Managing Director | McCormick Company

 12:40pm
   Level 17 Main Plenary

Mentor Session

 1:00pm
   Level 17 Foyer

Lunch

 1:45pm
   Level 17 Main Plenary

Networking challenge

Session 3 - Path to sustainability: Meeting consumer expectations amid economic realities

Sustainability has emerged as a critical factor influencing consumer preferences and business strategies. This session delves into the multifaceted challenges and opportunities faced by businesses striving to integrate sustainable practices while traversing economic pressures and shifting consumer demands.

This session will provide strategies and insights into the complexities of sustainability in a competitive market landscape, ensuring business resilience and responsible growth in alignment with evolving consumer expectations.

 2:00pm
   Level 17 Main Plenary

Keynote Speaker - Ashleigh Morris

 2:40pm
   Level 17 Main Plenary

Leadership Panel

Andrew Leakey | General Manager | Mars Wrigley
Eleanor Khor | Managing Director - ANZ & Strategy | The a2 Milk Company
Kylie Evans | Country Manager | Novonesis

 3:10pm
   Level 17 Main Plenary

Mentor Session

 3:30pm
   Level 17 Foyer

Afternoon Tea

Session 4 - Leading with resilience: Leading yourself, your team and your business in a rapidly changing industry

Organisations don’t outperform their leaders. And there is no greater predictor of company success than leadership impact. The data tell us these things clearly. But it’s also never been harder to be a leader in business – dealing with rapidly changing markets, the ESG pressures that are reshaping FMCG, evolving consumer expectations, profoundly disruptive new technologies all the way up and down the supply chain (and at the point of sale!)… all these challenges make the role of the leader more complex, dynamic and pressure-filled than ever.

 So how do young, emerging leaders learn to lead not only with the skill and capabilities required to best manage themselves, their teams and their business of the future, but also with the resilience to not run themselves into the ground while doing it?! It’s a critical question that aspiring future leaders must grapple with to fulfil their potential, rise through the ranks, and have a sustainable positive impact.

 4:00pm
   Level 17 Main Plenary

Keynote Speaker - Dom Thurbon

 5:00pm
   Level 17 Main Plenary

Session Close

 5:00pm
   Level 2 Bayside Room

Networking Drinks

 7:00pm
   Level 2 Bayside Room

Event Close

Amanda Stevens

Amanda Stevens is a renowned thought leader on the customer experience.

She combines current consumer insights with fascinating research into buying behaviour, delivering organisations and business owners powerful strategies for connecting with their customers. Amanda has a double degree in consumer psychology and marketing. She has consulted to some of the country's biggest brands, including LendLease, Microsoft, Procter and Gamble, and even the Australian Liberal Party.

Current Work: Recognised as one of the most entertaining Speakers on the circuit, Amanda has presented at over 700 conferences in 14 countries. She combines practical strategies with a mesmerizing storytelling style, leaving audiences with memorable messages and actionable insights.

Amanda is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), one of the highest accolades awarded by the Professional Speakers Association of Australia. She has shared the stage with Sir Richard Branson, and Sir Bob Geldof and in 2014 was the supporting speaker for Condoleezza Rice at the Global Leadership Summit.

Amanda is a former Young Australian of the Year (Career Achievement, NSW) and in 2003 was awarded the prestigious Centenary Medal by the Governor-General for Business Innovation.

Ashleigh Morris

As Chief Executive Officer and Co-found of Coreo, Ashleigh is bold in her pursuit of systemic change.

Globally recognised as a sustainability leader in business, industry and trade, Ashleigh is regularly invited to speak at international forums, including the World Circular Economy Forum and the United Nations General Assembly. Her work captures the imaginations of leaders across broad sectors to begin the work of transforming our linear economy into a circular economy; one that serves people and nature, rather than one that people and nature serve.

Ashleigh has been recognised as No.13 in the world on the list of Corporate Social Responsibility Influential Leaders for 2020, and as an Australian ASEAN Emerging Leader.

Her strategic foresight is sought after internationally; she is a Responsible Mining Expert and a Director for WasteFuels, working with the world leading biofuel company to decarbonise shipping and aviation. Locally, Ashleigh serves on the board for the Australian Circular Economy Hub. She is a board director for Thread Together, working with a team to design waste out of the textiles industry. She is also championing circular economy as a member of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Legacy Committee. As a volunteer, Ashleigh is a long-serving mentor for the Ellen MacArthur Foundations ˜From Linear to Circular Program, bringing diverse cultures together to regenerate economies, a role given to only a handful of people worldwide.

Ashleigh holds a Bachelor of Environmental Health Science, 1st Class Honours in Environmental Management, and has been further awarded for academic excellence by the University Medal and as a Prime Ministers Scholar.

Dominic Thurbon

Dominic Thurbon has cracked the code for making change happen, with the ultimate formula to drive innovation, future-proof your workforce and design brands that really matter.

Dom is an internationally engaged speaker and facilitator who helps individuals and organisations drive behaviour change in the face of external disruption.

Dom is a Partner in the Climate Change, Sustainability and Community Impact practice at EY, and has authored and researched best-sellers published in over 15 countries, on subjects as diverse as generational change, business strategy, purpose-driven leadership, the future of work and education, and disruption.

He has over 17 years’ experience as a successful senior executive and entrepreneur. At just 23, he was founder and Chief Creative Officer at Karrikins Group, a behaviour change agency he grew to over 150 staff across Australia, New Zealand and North America (acquired by EY in 2019). He was also founder and director at Educator Impact, a technology company providing on-demand teacher quality and student wellbeing solutions (acquired by Qoria in 2022).

Dom has been architect of multiple-award winning behaviour change programs that reach over 500,000 people per year. Over his career, Dom has spoken to a combined audience numbering in the tens of thousands across Australasia, Europe and North America, with clients spanning financial and professional services, technology, FMCG, pharmaceutical and automotive industries, as well as working extensively in education, Government and not-for-profit sectors.

His publications include (as author) Matter: Rising Above the Competition to Become the Obvious Choice, Purpose-Driven Leadership, and Talent Magnets: Attracting Top Staff; (as lead researcher) Flip: How counter-intuitive thinking is changing everything and Game On: How video games change work.

Dom is also a previous world top-10 debater, Tottenham Hotspur tragic, and hasn’t quite given up the dream of becoming a rockstar with his band The Glorious Fourth.

Jess Wilson

Jess Wilson is a real example of small-town girl turned globally recognised and awarded tech entrepreneur.

Jess started her first business at 16 and her second at 22, which she scaled into 130 countries and was a finalist contestant on China’s version of Shark Tank x The Apprentice ‘The Next Unicorn’ which aired to 15M p/episode.

Jess has taken on industries ripe for disruption utilizing technology with millennial and Gen-Z markets at the forefront, establishing her as a leading voice in women leadership, innovation and emerging technologies.

More recently Jess co-founded Waves Tech Ventures, a company that leverages emerging technologies to create impact. The first portfolio company, Women Making Waves, is a tech company funding and scaling women’s rights law reform in Australia and the United States, introducing a new demographic to philanthropy, working with law reform experts who have changed an accumulative 45+ laws and counting. WMW has collaborated with the likes of Google, Airbnb and TikTok and partnered with the likes of Deepak Chopra’s The Chopra Foundation and Caren Yanis, who built Oprah’s philanthropy portfolio since its launch in December of 2022.

Jess has been pinned by Forbes as one of 1,000 entrepreneurs under 30 to change the world in the next 50 years, appeared on Smart Company’s 30 under 30 three times and toured as the opening keynote speaker for Tony Robbins and Tom Bilyue throughout their national tours.

Jess is most known for her keynotes on leadership, AI and emerging technologies and her fast-paced journey as a female founder over the last decade.

Eleanor Khor

Eleanor joined The a2 Milk Company in August 2018, bringing with her a diverse range of experience, including her time as a corporate and M&A lawyer at Allen Linklaters, a management consultant at Bain & Co, and working in private equity with a focus on consumer goods businesses.

As Managing Director – ANZ and Strategy, Eleanor is responsible for leading the ANZ business unit, as well dirving the Strategy function. Within the Strategy function, Eleanor is responsible for developing corporate and business strategy and the execution of key growth, performance improvement and potential M&A, joint venture and alliance initiatives.

As leader of The a2 Milk Company ANZ business unit, Eleanor is responsible for continuing to grow the Company’s business in Australia and New Zealand to realise the full potential of the a2 Milk™ brand, with a strong focus on expanding the business through innovation.

Paris Golden

Paris is an inclusive and execution focussed leader with a track record of success in senior strategic, commercial and customer roles. He has over 20 years’ experience in blue chip FMCG and pharmaceutical organisations, and is able to leverage a broad base of functional and international experience in the UK, Asia and Australia to lead operations in that achieve accelerated revenue and profit growth.

Paris is experienced in leading collaborative strategic partnerships at CEO and board leve and is recognised for building and driving organisational capability, as well as shaping high performing teams to deliver outstanding results.

Paul Foster

Paul Foster has over 20 years of experience in leading large scale manufacturing businesses; with extensive experience in strategy, marketing and sales.

Originally from Wales Paul joined George Weston Foods in 2013 as the Tip Top Sales Director in Australia, where he led the transformation of field sales through new technology, sales capability and a new approach to customer engagement.

In 2019, he became the managing director of MAURI ANZ to lead and grow the business with a vision of digitalisation, before taking on the role of Chief Executive at George Weston Foods in late 2023.

Paul has a Bachelors degree in Chemistry and Computer aided Chemistry, 1st Class Honours from The University of Manchester.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, he is an avid traveller, often exploring new destinations on his motorbike. He is also passionate about yoga and meditation, which contribute to his holistic approach to leadership and life.

Andrew Leakey

Andrew Leakey is the General Manager of Mars Wrigley Australia, a role he has held since 2019. With over two decades of experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, Andrew has a rich background in both sales and marketing, having worked with renowned companies such as Arnott’s, Cerebos Greggs, Mars, and GlaxoSmithKline.

Andrew’s journey with Mars began over 13 years ago, and he has since held various leadership positions, including General Manager of Wrigley Pacific and Mars Wrigley India. During his tenure in India, he oversaw the opening of the first local Mars chocolate factory in Pune, achieving significant growth.

Known for his leadership style that emphasizes kindness, openness, and visibility, Andrew is passionate about creating a positive work environment where employees feel valued and connected. He believes that a supportive culture leads to thriving employees and, consequently, business success.

Under his leadership, Mars Wrigley Australia continues to be a beloved brand, known for its iconic products like M&M’s, Snickers, Maltesers, Extra, and Skittles. Andrew’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community engagement ensures that Mars Wrigley remains a leader in the confectionery industry.

Anna Croft

Anna has over 20 years’ experience in global retail, specialising in strategic leadership and cultural and business transformation across the United Kingdom and Australia, with leading retailers WHSmith, Tesco, Coles, and MECCA Brands.

As Chief Commercial Officer, Anna is responsible for leading strong strategic relationships with suppliers and evolving merchandise strategy to help Coles become famous for delighting customers with and exceptional customer offer.

Prior to joining Coles in January 2024, Anna was MECCA’s Chief Operating Officer, where she was responsible for the end-to-end experience of finding and partnering with the world’s best beauty brands, then delivering the MECCA offer and their products to customers.

Anna previously spent 10 years at Coles in several roles, growing her career from Buyer to General Manager of Coles Express and General Manager of Grocery.

She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from Kingston University and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Business Information Systems from Leeds Metropolitan University.

Kylie Evans

Kylie Evans is an International Executive with a background in Global Sales and Strategic Account Management with a proven track record in B2B, Food and Pharmaceutical industries.

Kylie has a creative entrepreneurial mindset has enabled me to deliver growth beyond that of the market, engaging with customers to unlock new opportunities and using data to enable teams to deliver strong financial outcomes through a deep understanding of global Food & Beverage development and commercialization challenges and process.

Kylie believes in a focus on driving excellence in individual and teams' performance and describers herself as a polisher of diamonds, investing in individuals' performance enabling them to become the best of themselves. Driving a strong collaborative culture, the results follow.

Esme Borgelt

Esme Borgelt is currently the Chief Executive Officer for Kinrise (Pty) Ltd. Kinrise is comprised of four Australian food manufacturing companies with diverse manufacturing capabilities. Kinrise manufactures and markets well-known brands in the snack food, baking and bakery sectors, including Cobs, Greens and Poppin. Kinrise also collaborates with select regional retailers and manufacturers in ANZ and Asia to co-create trusted food solutions for their brands on their behalf.

Esme joined Kinrise in 2021, following a 17+ year career with the Kellogg Company, where she held various positions across multiple markets. Her last role at Kellogg was Managing Director for the ANZ. Prior to Kellogg, Esme spent ten years at the Kimberly Clark Corporation where she joined as a law graduate and progressed through several roles in sales, customer and market development during her tenure.

Esme is passionate about serving consumers, developing people to their full potential and strongly believes in the power of diversity & inclusion. She holds a Law degree from the University of Pretoria and has participated in professional development through Harvard Business School and INSEAD Business School. Esme is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a member of Chief Executive Women Australia (CEW) and serves on the advisory board of GEM Oral Care.

Scott Hadley

As a seasoned pro in the food and beverage industry, Scott knows how to blend business acumen with a unique organisational culture. His passion for innovative brands and driving success in a dynamic business landscape inspires the Chobani team to continue working hard to disrupt the industry.

With a strong track record for building premium brands and developing high-performing teams, Scott boasts more than 25 years’ experience in the FMCG industry and beyond, all over the globe, including roles at TasFoods, Asahi Beverages, TT-Line Company, Fosters Group and GlaxoSmithKline.

But Scott isn’t just about crunching numbers and crafting strategies; he’s all about fostering a culture as vibrant as Chobani’s fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt. From the office to the factory floor, he champions an innovative and high-performance culture underpinned by a shared passion to make a difference using food as a force for good.

Alex Davison

Alex Davison is the CEO of L’Oréal Groupe, Australia & New Zealand. Alex joined the L’Oréal Groupe in 2016 as the UK & Ireland General Manager of the L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty business unit. In this role, Alex significantly accelerated the business through building strong retailer partnerships and building market-leading capability in both digital and medical. He then became the CEO of L’Oréal Groupe Greece, where the business had three outstanding years under his leadership. Greece was consistently amongst the fastest growing subsidiaries in Europe, with the business delivering three years of double-digit growth and winning market share in every business channel. At the same time, L’Oréal Groupe Greece strongly delivered on the Groupe’s extra financial commitments receiving recognition as a ‘Top 20 Company Changing the world for good’, awarded by Fortune magazine. As CEO of L’Oréal Groupe, Australia & New Zealand, he has guided the ANZ business to become a $1 billion subsidiary of the Group.

Prior to L’Oréal, Alex had a 17-year career with Procter & Gamble, with a strong track record across a mix of global, regional and market roles, including acquisitions. During this time, he lived and worked in six different countries, giving him a rich international and multicultural background.

Alex is a modern and progressive leader, focused on fostering a dynamic culture where everyone is valued and everyone is contributing.