Gareth Spence leads NAB’s Australian Economics team, providing in‑depth analysis & forecast of the Australian & global economy and financial markets, internally to NAB’s Executive team as well as external to both large and small business customers alike. He is responsible for the NAB Business Surveys, a trusted source of insights on conditions in the business sector and oversees the team’s forecasts for the Australian and global economies.

Matt Everitt works with Vypr, the consumer insight platform that helps brands, retailers, and foodservice operators understand changing consumer behaviour through fast, research-grounded insights. He specialises in the frozen and chilled sectors and regularly presents Vypr's consumer research to the industry. At the conference, he delivers exclusive national data commissioned by FSAA on how Australians are dining in 2026.

Julian Moore is one of Australasia's leading voices on the practical use of AI, working with businesses, associations and government across Australia, New Zealand and the UK. He is known for a story-driven style and live demonstrations, building working AI tools on stage in minutes. He created Australia's first AI board member and founded the country's largest AI music channel. His focus is always the same: what AI can do today, and how you put it to work.

Gary O'Brien is Managing Director of Envirochoice Food Packaging Australia and an FSAA Board Director leading the association's sustainability and ESG agenda. He brings leadership experience across global and mid-market businesses, with deep expertise in sustainable packaging and environmental compliance. He works closely with state and federal regulators to keep industry engagement on packaging reform practical and commercially grounded.

Markus Werner is Culinary Director at Delaware North Australia and New Zealand and an Australian Culinary Federation Certified Master Chef. He has led kitchens and dining operations across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, with a paddock-to-plate philosophy and a hand in revitalising more than 50 venues. He speaks on sustainability from the kitchen side, where menu, sourcing and cost meet.

David Ritter is CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific, which he has led since 2012 after five years in a senior campaigns role with Greenpeace in London. A lawyer and author by background, with a focus on Indigenous rights and the climate crisis, he is a widely published commentator and holds honorary affiliations with the University of Sydney and the University of Western Australia. He brings a campaigner's perspective to the sustainability conversation.

John Hart OAM led Restaurant & Catering Australia as Chief Executive for 18 years and chairs FSAA's Policy and Advocacy work. He sits on a range of boards across tourism, food standards and industry, and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2021 for service to tourism. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Law and a Master of Business Law. He moderates the closing panel.

Nicholas DiMartino is Head of Commercial at Del-Re National Food Group, one of the largest independently owned foodservice distributors in Victoria. He is part of the family's next generation now running the business, which supplies restaurants, hotels, cafes and venues across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. He brings a distributor's view to the closing panel.

Jenny Thomas is a sales executive with a strong track record in FMCG, developing and executing growth strategies and leading teams to sustainable, profitable results in highly competitive markets. She is known for creating exceptional customer experiences, growing sales and building brand equity. She has a particular focus on developing capability in her teams, mentoring people to manage and influence across the full value chain, and brings that commercial view to the closing panel.