Coffee Industry Leaders to Gather in Melbourne for GCR Symposium March 27

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. It's a provocative booking for a room full of specialty roasters — and exactly the kind of high-stakes conversation the GCR symposium was built for.

The GCR Leaders Symposium will commence the day proceedings of the Melbourne International Coffee Expo 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. The symposium is taking place within the MICE expo at the Café Education Stage, accessible via Door 9.

Lord has framed the keynote as a moment of industry engagement: "Starbucks is marking 25 years in Australia — a market that sets the global benchmark for coffee quality, innovation, and consumer expectation. Australia's coffee industry doesn't stand still. It's fast, competitive, and constantly evolving, and that environment forces brands to be better. As we enter a year of renewed momentum, participating in the GCR Symposium is a natural way to engage with the industry and share what we're learning."

The "How to Scale Smart" panel is where the specialty sector will get its own reckoning. The session includes ST. ALi CEO Lachlan Ward, Managing Director of Di Pacci Coffee Company Michael Rababi, Founder and CEO of Nomad Coffee Group Craig Dickson, and CEO of Coffee Supreme Andrew Low. Rababi, who opened a AUD$25 million membership-based coffee roasting facility, The Roasting Club, in 2025, will bring real-world lessons to the session. Dickson, whose Nomad Coffee Group operates Veneziano Coffee Roasters in Melbourne, says discipline is the key attribute: "You need clear systems, the right technology, and strong people in place before you chase volume. Maintaining quality, culture and brand integrity becomes harder as you grow, so those foundations matter more than ever. Smart scaling also means listening closely to customers and staying adaptable, ensuring growth enhances the experience rather than diluting it."

The "Beyond the Café" session moves the conversation beyond espresso bars entirely. The Big Group CEO Kate Langford, Freedom Fuels CEO Mark McKenzie, and SSP ANZ National Coffee Operations Manager Martin Nguyen have joined the panel, which will explore the evolution and expansion of quality coffee in the events, petrol, and airport space with speed and consistency to meet discerning customer demands.

Rounding out the program is the "Global Influence in the Australian Coffee Market" panel, which features Winnie Nawei, Managing Director of Kenangan Coffee Australia, travelling from Indonesia to represent the fast-growing chain, alongside Louis-Philippe Boucher, Co-Founder of DAK Coffee Roasters from Amsterdam, and Sasa Sestic, Founder and CEO of ONA Coffee. Sestic says: "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. Growth in this industry often comes from looking beyond our own backyard, learning from different markets, cultures, and perspectives."

The event is moderated by Global Coffee Report Publisher Sarah Baker, who has described the morning as essential viewing. "Attendees can expect a comprehensive morning session featuring a keynote address from Starbucks Australia CEO Braeden Lord on the past, present and future of the brand, expert panel discussions and dedicated networking opportunities," Baker says.

The GCR Leaders Symposium sold out at MICE 2025, with Baker noting that "a big part of that was the way in which we united influential voices from across the global coffee sector." The 2026 edition is a standalone event running from 8am to 11.30am on the morning before MICE opens for the day, and a GCR Symposium ticket also includes access to all three days of MICE.