Thought leadership

Local and international speakers

Industry insights

Find out what's new

Industry recognition

Celebrate our high achievers

May 20-21 2026

Brisbane, QLD

the signature event for the nation’s food and grocery sector

About Food and Grocery Australia

Food and Grocery Australia (FGA) unites CEOs and senior executives from across the fast-moving consumer goods sector, offering a premier platform for industry leadership.

In the wake of recent global disruptions, alongside ongoing political, economic, and social shifts, the 2026 program promises to be an essential investment for business leaders. Attendees will gain cutting-edge insights, diverse perspectives, and actionable strategies to navigate today's complex landscape.

The event provides an un-paralleled networking occasion for top executives and the opportunity to hear from a range of local and global keynote speakers on key themes influencing and impacting our industry.

Meet our speakers

Bernie Brookes AM

Chair
AFGC

Paul Eastwood

Managing Partner
Argon & Co

Brent Smart

Chief Marketing Officer
Telstra

Paul Bloxham

Chief Economist (Australia, New Zealand and Global Commodities)
HSBC

If change is not optional, then neither is foresight.

Brad Howarth

Brad Howarth

Master of Ceremonies

Leah Weckert

CEO & Managing Director
Coles Group

Doug Jones

Group Chief Executive Officer
Metcash Ltd

Dr Jessica Gallagher

Paralympian

James Guild

Head of FMCG Commercial
NIQ Australia

Richard Taylor

Retail and Consumer Goods Leader APJ
Amazon Web Services

Annette Karantoni

Managing Director
Woolworths Retail

Gus Balbontin

Former executive director and Chief Technology Officer of Lonely Planet

Anthony Laye

Effective Communication & Behaviour Expert

Being a great leader starts from within and asking yourself; ‘How Are You Turning Up?’

Anthony Laye

Melodie Nye

ANZ Chief Executive Officer
Mars Pet Nutrition

Dan Shields

Managing Director
Sention

Anna Croft

Chief Commercial and Sustainability Officer
Coles Group

Jimmy Rees

Entertainer and comedian

Bryan Raymond

Lead Consumer Analyst
JP Morgan

This program is subject to change without notice

As at 17 April 2026

9:00 - 10:00 am

Registration opens

10:00 - 10:15 am

Welcome to Country
Food and Grocery Australia Conference Opening

Bernie Brookes AM | Chairman | Australian Food and Grocery Council
Paul Eastwood | Managing Partner |
Argon & Co

10:30 - 11:15 am

International Keynote: Counterintuitive Leadership

Gus Balbontin | Former executive director and Chief Technology Officer of Lonely Planet

11:15 - 12:00 pm

A business conversation with Woolworths

Annette Karantoni | Managing Director | Woolworths Retail

12:00 - 12:30 pm

The Australian economy

Paul Bloxham | Chief Economist (Australia, New Zealand and Global Commodities) | HSBC

12:30 - 1:30 pm

Lunch

1:30 - 2:15 pm

Gaining commercial advantage through creativity

Brent Smart | Chief Marketing Officer | Telstra

2:15 - 2:45 pm

Economic insights

Bryan Raymond | Executive Director, Lead Consumer Analyst | J.P. Morgan

2:45 - 3:15 pm

Consumer trends and innovation

Nick Ryan | Founder and Chief Commercial Officer | Acumen

3:15 - 3:45 pm

Afternoon Tea

3:45 - 4:15 pm

Navigating the future consumer and the new era of global marketing

Melodie Nye | ANZ CEO, Mars Pet Nutrition

4:15 - 5:15 pm

Keynote address: Resilience - Change - Adaptability - Leadership

Dr Jessica Gallagher | Motivational Speaker, Paralympian

5:15 pm

Day 1 Close

From 6:00 pm

Food and Grocery Australia Gala Dinner

Featuring Keynote Speaker & Special Guest: Jimmy Rees OAM, Australian Comedian

9:00 - 9:00 am

Day 2 Opening

Brad Howarth | Master of Ceremonies

9:00 - 9:45 am

International Keynote: The People Puzzle

Anthony Laye | Effective Communication & Behaviour Expert

9:45 - 10:30 am

Designing for a Rational Appetite: Winning in an Era of Intentional Consumption

James Guild | Head of FMCG Commercial | NIQ Australia

10:30 - 11:00 am

Retail Reimagined: How AI is transforming digital commerce & CX in 2026

Richard Taylor | Retail and Consumer Goods Leader | AWS

11:00 - 11:30 am

Morning Tea

11:30 - 12:00 pm

TBC

Watch this space!

12:00 - 12:30 pm

RO(A)I: Return on Artificial Intelligence

Paul Eastwood | Managing Partner | Argon & Co

12:30 - 1:00 pm

A business conversation with Metcash

Doug Jones | Chief Executive Officer | Metcash Ltd

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Lunch

CEO Connect with speaker - TBC

2:00 - 2:45 pm

Pathways to Disruption: The convergence of cyber and physical risks in food supply chain

Dan Shields | Managing Director | Sention

2:45 - 3:30 pm

A business conversation with Coles

Leah Weckert | CEO & Managing Director | Coles Group
Anna Croft | Chief Commercial and Sustainability Officer | Coles Group

3:30 pm

Close

Register

Registration to Food & Grocery Australia is now open. If you have any questions, please contact our Events Team for more information.

Full
Member

$1995

Associate
Member

$2995

Affiliate Member

$2995

Non
Member

$3995

Sofitel Brisbane Central

249 Turbot Street Brisbane QLD 4000
+61 7 3835 3535
Contact Sofitel Brisbane and quote code: AFGC-FGA2026 to secure the discounted room rate of $275 per night.
Parking

Get directions

Our Sponsors

Interested in becoming a sponsor of Food & Grocery Australia 2026?

Download the Sponsorship Prospectus or contact our Events Team to discuss the options available!

Argon & Co

Major Sponsor

Vusion

Neeting Hub, Coffee Cart and Lanyard Sponsor

DP World

Gala Dinner Sponsor

Relex

Power Pack Sponsor

Flow Power

Event Supporter

Active International

Event Supporter

Ofload

Event Supporter

Our Partners

NIQ

Insights Partner

Touchstone Executive Search

Executive Search Partner

CHEP

Global Supply Chain Partner

GS1

Standards Partner

Have a question about attending or sponsoring?
Contact us today!

Brad Howarth

Brad Howarth is obsessed with helping people and organisations adapt to change. As a writer, researcher and author Brad has been examining the impact of technology-driven change on business and society for 25 years, writing for local and international publications including The Australian and BRW, and now he primarily works on developing whitepapers and research reports. Brad works with an extensive network of collaborators and thought -leaders, and brings an evidence-based approach to understanding current and future scenarios based on identifying case studies that represent best practice and defining their shared traits.

Brad has authored four books focusing on topics including change and adaptation, entrepreneurship and innovation, and life in a highspeed broadband society, and continues to contribute to numerous publications in Australia and around the world.

Brad is involved in an ongoing research program to understand and respond to the impact of technologydriven change. He works directly with businesses and community organisations to create strategy documents, research reports and discussion papers, and facilitates workshops that bring greater understanding regarding the impact of change and the possible responses.

Some of the findings of this work are included in his books Managing for Change and Innovation is for Everyone, co-authored with Peter Fritz AM, and he continues to write on these topics for numerous publications here and around the world.

Brad is also a passionate advocate for the need to ensure that all members of society can share the benefits of digital technology, having served as Ambassador for the Broadband for the Bush Alliance and Champion for the National Year of Digital inclusion. Brad believes that as more and more elements of society switch to digital technology it is vital that we do not create a society of digital ˜haves and ˜have nots, but instead ensure everyone has access to digital services and the training to use them effectively. Brad is an accomplished Keynote Speaker on the topic of change, delivering presentations focusing on topics such as the impact of technology on business and society, the future of work and management structures, and how organisations can best understand and respond to change.

He is also in demand as an MC, having hosted conferences and events for organisations including the Committee for Melbourne, the AHRI, and Worksafe Tasmania. Brad brings deep domain experience across numerous industries, and his background as a journalist makes him well suited to facilitating panel sessions and on-stage interviews.

Brads message is simple “If change is not optional, then neither is foresight."

Jimmy Rees OAM

The recognisable entertainer from ABC’s ‘Giggle & Hoot’

As the face of ABC’s pre-school program Giggle & Hoot, Jimmy Rees is one of Australia’s most recognisable entertainers across a range of mediums, including TV, stage and social media. He continues to lead innovation in Australian entertainment as a co-founder of the live streaming and VR media company Transported™.

Having studied in Media Arts, Jimmy was looking to begin his stage career when he was presented with the opportunity to audition for a new pre-school program with the ABC. With his delightful charm, Jimmy scored the role and would later debut in 2009 with his best mate ‘Hoot’ on the beloved ABC program Giggle & Hoot.

Thanks to the huge following and positive reception, Giggle & Hoot were able to meet audiences by touring the country. Their live show, Giggle & Hoot & Friends, played to 51 sold-out audiences across Australia, including 34 shows at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall and eight shows at The Sydney Opera House.

The show continues to delight crowds around Australia, having toured their Christmas show in 2015 to promote their new album, Jimmy’s Christmas Party. The album was co-produced by Jimmy himself, and features duets with famous Australian icons like Tina Arena, Justine Clarke, David Campbell, Deborah Mailman and Fifi Box.

Outside of his work with ABC, Jimmy is also a prolific stage actor. He starred alongside Magda Szubanksi and Kyle Sandilands in Bonnie Lythgoe’s 2014 production of Snow White at The State Theatre. Not long after, he would collaborate with Bonnie Lythgoe Productions again to produce the 2016 adaptation of Cinderella. Most recently in 2019, Jimmy starred alongside Peter Rowsthorn and Lucy Durack in Sleeping Beauty.

Jimmy continues to entertain Australians through a range of media appearances, including as a fan-favourite in the 2018 reboot of Dancing With The Stars. Since 2020, he has also become one of the country’s most successful TikTok creators, reaching millions of fans with his relatable and comedic sketches.

A leader in Australian entertainment, Jimmy leads change as a co-founder of the media production company Transported™, where he helps brands utilise innovative production tools like virtual reality and live streaming to reach their audience.

Known for his affable charm and quick wit, Jimmy Rees has cemented himself as a multi-talented performer in Australian entertainment.

Dan Shields

Global Leader in Risk, Governance, and Emerging Threats
Dan is internationally recognized as a leader in threat management, risk, and governance, with extensive experience advising executive teams, Boards and interagency response teams on safeguarding strategic assets and enhancing resilience. A dynamic public speaker, Dan addresses topics including cyber resilience, and emerging fields such as cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, where he is pioneering solutions to address modern, multidimensional risks.
In 2005, Dan founded RiskLogic, transforming it into the region’s largest provider of risk and resilience services. After stepping down as CEO in December 2021, Dan now leads Sention, an organisation that specialises in multi-dimensional threat intelligence and delivering innovative risk consulting programs that build organisational resilience.
Dan brings over 25 years of experience in developing and implementing risk management and governance programs across 35+ industries globally. His recent efforts include the development and implementation of cyber-security workshops across more than 20 countries. These initiatives focus on cutting-edge challenges, integrating risk governance with digital and cyber security to protect high-value assets.
Dan’s career began with NSW Fire and Rescue as a professional firefighter, providing him with a unique foundation in operational leadership and crisis response. This blend of practical expertise, strategic leadership, and a commitment to innovation positions Dan as a trusted advisor capable of helping organisations navigate complex risks, safeguard shareholder interests, and achieve long-term success in an increasingly interconnected and high-risk environment.

Thought leadership

Industry insights

Industry recognition

the signature event for the nation’s food and grocery sector

the signature event for the nation’s food and grocery sector

About Food and Grocery Australia

Meet our speakers

Meet our speakers

Bernie Brookes AM

Paul Eastwood

Brent Smart

Paul Bloxham

Brad Howarth

Leah Weckert

Doug Jones

Dr Jessica Gallagher

James Guild

Richard Taylor

Annette Karantoni

Gus Balbontin

Anthony Laye

Melodie Nye

Dan Shields

Anna Croft

Jimmy Rees

Bryan Raymond

Program

Registration opens

Welcome to Country Food and Grocery Australia Conference Opening

International Keynote: Counterintuitive Leadership

A business conversation with Woolworths

The Australian economy

Lunch

Gaining commercial advantage through creativity

Economic insights

Consumer trends and innovation

Afternoon Tea

Navigating the future consumer and the new era of global marketing

Keynote address: Resilience - Change - Adaptability - Leadership

Day 1 Close

Food and Grocery Australia Gala Dinner

Day 2 Opening

International Keynote: The People Puzzle

Designing for a Rational Appetite: Winning in an Era of Intentional Consumption

Retail Reimagined: How AI is transforming digital commerce & CX in 2026

Morning Tea

TBC

RO(A)I: Return on Artificial Intelligence

A business conversation with Metcash

Lunch

Pathways to Disruption: The convergence of cyber and physical risks in food supply chain

A business conversation with Coles

Close

Register

Full Member

Associate Member

Affiliate Member

NonMember

Sofitel Brisbane Central

Sofitel Brisbane Central

Get directions

Our Sponsors

Our Sponsors

Argon & Co

Vusion

DP World

Relex

Flow Power

Active International

Ofload

Our Partners

Our Partners

NIQ

Touchstone Executive Search

CHEP

GS1

Have a question about attending or sponsoring?Contact us today!

Welcome to Country
Food and Grocery Australia Conference Opening

Full
Member

Associate
Member

Non
Member

Have a question about attending or sponsoring?
Contact us today!