The Global Coffee Report (GCR) Leaders Symposium has released its final panel of speakers for the 2026 event, including some big international names.
Winnie Nawei, Managing Director of Kenangan Coffee Australia, will travel from Indonesia to represent the fast-growing coffee chain in the panel discussion on Global influence in the Australian coffee market.
Joining Winnie on the panel is Louis-Philippe Boucher, Co-Founder of DAK Coffee Roasters from Amsterdam; Sasa Sestic, Founder and CEO of ONA Coffe; and Sonja Needs representing the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Melbourne.
“I’m really looking forward to this session and the chance to share lessons from ONA’s journey and our experiences on the global stage,” says ONA Coffee Wholesale Founder and CEO Sasa Sestic.
“Growth in this industry often comes from looking beyond our own backyard, learning from different markets, cultures, and perspectives. If I can spark a few new ideas that help others see fresh possibilities in their businesses, it will be well worth it,” Sasa says.
The panellists will discuss how a new era of international coffee chains are making their presence felt in the Australian coffee market, the challenges and opportunities of starting a global roastery, and the pricing impact of geopolitical, economic, and climate pressures.
“Our GCR Leaders Symposium lineup is complete with a relevant overview at the global coffee market and key brands and representatives that can share their experiences with the audience on how they’ve carved their own business success in foreign markets,” says Sarah Baker, Event Moderator and Prime Creative Media Publisher.
The GCR Leaders Symposium will commence the day proceedings of the Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) on 27 March from 8am to 11.30am, before a full schedule of MICE Day Two begins from 11am at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“Attending the Symposium is the ideal way to maximise your time in Melbourne ahead of another great day at the expo. It’s the one time of year industry leaders can gather to be influenced and inspired by some of the great discussions of relevance to the current and future state of the Australian coffee market,” Baker says.
Starbucks Australia CEO Braeden Lord will join the GCR Leaders Symposium for a keynote discussion examining the lessons of Starbucks Australia’s past, the realities behind its current resurgence, and the future of the brand as it looks to grow sustainably within Australia’s world-leading coffee culture.
Other panel discussions will focus on How to scale smart, with Nomad Coffee Group Founder and CEO Craig Dickson, Di Pacci Coffee Company Worldwide Director and Founder CEO Michael Rababi, ST. ALi CEO Lachlan Ward, and Coffee Supreme CEO Andrew Low.
Talking about Coffee beyond the cafe and its evolution into the hospitality, petroleum, and airport space will be The Big Group CEO Kate Langford, Freedom Fuels CEO Mark McKenzie, and SSP Australia & New Zealand’s Martin Ngugen.
The full line-up and schedule for the symposium can be found on the MICE website.
Access to all three days of MICE is also included in the GCR Symposium ticket.
