31 AUG - 3 SEP 2026 | Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
A background in accounting in IT and then further skilled in hospitality management and commercial cookery. Now operating a family run hospitality business being run initially by my father for over 40 years and now myself over 20 years.
John Hart OAM is National President of Restaurant & Catering Australia, the peak body representing more than 57,000 cafés, restaurants and caterers across the country. John led R&CA as Chief Executive Officer for 18 years, from 1999 to 2017, a period in which the association grew tenfold and the sector
Angela is the co-owner of Melbourne Hospitality People, which includes Republica St Kilda Beach, Captain Baxter, Mr McCracken, Encore St Kilda and Toorak Hotel. With more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, Angela is an early adopter of technology with a genuine passion for all things tech and
Wes Lambert CPA, FGIA, CAE, AAiP, MAICD is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Restaurant & Café Association (ARCA), the national peak body representing more than 56,000 restaurants and cafés across segments of Australia’s Accommodation and Foodservice industry. In this role, Wes is a leading national voice for one
A Chef by trade, Tony started his career at the 5-star Resort Hotel, Hyatt Regency Coolum Resort & Spa, spending five years training in their nine kitchens. He then travelled to the US to take a role with Disney as Chef de Cuisine aboard one of their luxury Cruise liners
Tia Spanos Tsonis is a Melbourne-based hospitality operator and co-owner of the Vanilla in Oakleigh, a restaurant and dessert destination known for its distinctive atmosphere and loyal following. Working within Melbourne’s renowned café culture, she and her family have spent years developing hospitality spaces that focus on experience, warmth, and
Paul Wainwright is Partner and Design Director APAC at Harrison, leading brand and hospitality design across the Asia Pacific region. With more than 15 years’ experience delivering projects throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America, he helps hospitality brands use design to strengthen customer experience, commercial performance and
Nick Markessinis is the founder of ReelWork, a video based hiring platform helping hospitality and retail employers see the person before the interview. After 15 years running cafes and conducting thousands of interviews, Nick brings practical insight into building better teams faster.
Mathew Le Milliere is the General Manager at ReelWork, a video-first hiring platform that makes hiring simpler and faster. Prior to this, he spent over 10 years managing high-volume QSR, hospitality, and retail operations across Australia living the reality of high-volume hiring firsthand.
Curry Queen Manpreet Sekhon is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, entrepreneur, and media personality with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. As the founder of Elchi, Masti Fitzroy, and Eastern Spice, she is renowned for blending authentic Indian flavours with contemporary dining experiences. A passionate advocate for women
