The first line-up of speakers at the Global Coffee Report (GCR) Leaders Symposium has been revealed, with some big names involved in the 2026 event.
To be held on the 27 March 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the day aims to bring together leading roasters, business operators, and industry decision makers to unpack the trends, opportunities, and challenges shaping the global coffee landscape.
The first confirmed panel of speakers to be announced will share their insights on the opening topic of the morning, ‘How to Scale Smart’, including Lachlan Ward – CEO of ST. ALi, Mik Di Pacci – Managing Director at Di Pacci Coffee Company, Craig Dickson – Founder and CEO of Nomad Coffee Group, and Andrew Low – CEO of Coffee Supreme.
“We’re excited to welcome some of Australia’s most revered roasters to the GCR Leaders Symposium to share their wealth of knowledge and insights into how they’ve successfully scaled their business and lessons learned along the way. It’s rare to have four of Australia’s largest company directors and CEOs on the one panel. This is a discussion you won’t want to miss,” says Sarah Baker, Event Moderator and Prime Creative Media Publisher.
“But that’s only part of the story. Starbucks Australia CEO Braeden Lord will join the Global Coffee Report 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.
These speakers will also be joined by a representative of Kenangan Coffee and others, on a panel about international success, the barriers to foreign business, and how they plan to adapt international identity within local markets. Also presenting will be Kate Langford, CEO of the Big Group, detailing the expansion of quality coffee in the wider hospitality industry.
Attendees can expect a dynamic schedule from an extended panel of experts, and the opportunity to network and connect directly with industry leaders in the coffee industry.
Access to all three days of the Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) is included in the GCR Symposium ticket.
For more information, visit internationalcoffeeexpo.com/gcr-leaders-symposium-2025
