31 AUG - 3 SEP 2026 | Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
RAKESH PILLAI EXECUTIVE CHEF A senior culinary professional with 25 years’ industry experience at prominent Australian venues as well as international five star hotels and resorts in United Arab Emirates and India, Rakesh has been a leader within ICC Sydney’s culinary team since the venue’s opening in December 2016. Rakesh
David is the Chief Happiness Officer and Head of Partnerships at Restoke, where he has played a key role since 2020 in growing the company into a platform used by over 10,000 hospitality professionals worldwide. With two decades of experience across hospitality venues, suppliers, and technology, he brings a comprehensive
Julio Azzarello Sales & Marketing Director – Gourmand Providore NSW, ACT & Regions Director – Australian Culinary Federation Julio Azzarello is a seasoned chef and industry leader with over 40 years’ experience in the hospitality sector. His career spans executive roles in multi-outlet hotels and restaurants, international culinary appointments, and
Sascha Rust is a chef-turned-entrepreneur and co-founder of HarvestStack, a technology platform reshaping how fishers, farmers, and food buyers trade. With a background spanning award-winning kitchens, sustainable seafood, and agri-tech innovation, Sascha is passionate about working on systems that restore balance to nature. His work bridges food, technology, and sustainability.
Joseph Loayza is a seasoned chef with a deep passion for culinary excellence, creativity, and sustainable kitchen practices. His early career in fine dining took shape in some of the world’s most acclaimed kitchens — including Diverxo (Spain), St. Peter, Cafe Paci, and Firedoor — where he honed his technique
Starting his career back-of-house, Ricky worked in kitchens across Europe before moving to Australia, where he held Executive Chef roles at venues including the iconic Saddles Mount White, Black Bottle, and Jimmy Liks. Passionate about great produce, Ricky made the move into sales and is now Sales Manager at Sydney-based
I started my apprenticeship in my local pub at the age of 15,from there I worked in various fine dining restaurants, gastro pubs and 5-star international hotel chains. I have also been lucky enough to work abroad and have spent a couple of years in the Whitsundays which to this
Jayne Gallagher is the CEO of Honey & Fox, a strategic branding and marketing agency. She is the driving force behind Provenance Powered Marketing, a unique approach that transforms origin stories into premium positioning, helping food businesses access high-value markets and build powerful brands that command premium prices around the
Currently serving as the Group Products Manager at SKOPE , Stuart oversees all new product launches and manages international partner brands from Spain, Italy, and the USA. With a foundation as a trained chef and years of hands-on experience in kitchens around the globe, Stuart brings a unique blend of
