Speakers
Below are the 2026 panelists and presenters, ranging from leading operators to industry experts.
Brendan Atkins
Market Insights Manager
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
PROFESSOR JANE BURNS
Acting CEO
Well and Productive CRC
Luke Butler
Managing Director
AUS & US, Hastings People
Chris Cornforth
Co-Founder and Group CEO
Harvest Hospitality
Bianca Dawson
Chief Training & Development Officer
Australian Venue Co
Nick Evans
Director, Data Analytics & AI
Lion
Stephen Ferguson
CEO
Australian Hotels Association (AHA)
Cathy Fitzgibbons
Director
The Glen Hotel
Paula Hammond
Chief People Officer
Sonnel Hospitality
Anna Hurley
Publican
Hurley Hotel Group
James Ingram
Co-founder and Managing Director
Peninsula Hospitality
John James
Founder
Dr Anna Kiaos
Founder
Mind Culture Life Australia
Arthur Laundy
CEO
Laundy Hotels
Kate MacDonald
Senior Vice President
JLL Hotels & Hospitality
Rachael Paul
Co-owner
Bat & Ball Hotel
Danielle Richardson
Owner and Director
Laundy Hotel Group
Brett Robinson
Group CEO
The Point
Kayla Seeney
General Manager and Licensee
Camden Valley Inn
Elliot Solomon
Chief Executive Officer
Solotel
Steven Speed
Managing Director
WDS Hotels
Ben Williams
Group Director of Pubs, Clubs and Hotels
Oolio
Stephen Wools
Co-founder and CCO
Ballers Clubhouse