Aiden is APAC Managing Director and Partner at IRIS by Argon & Co, with deep executive experience helping organisations apply AI, data and technology to drive supply chain performance and resilience. A former CEO and CIO, he has led large-scale transformations across retail, utilities and financial services, including reshaping an AI and data-led consulting business and delivering technology turnarounds. Aiden brings a practical, outcomes-focused perspective on how AI can be embedded into supply chain decision-making at scale

Andrew Henderson is a recognised thought leader with over two decades of strategic policy experience across Australia’s food system, including food security, biosecurity, traceability, and food safety regulation. A trusted advisor to governments, industry, and private sector organisations, he has held senior policy and advisory roles, serves on industry boards, and is a published author contributing to policy discourse and professional development. Andrew is known for bringing diverse stakeholders together to develop practical, resilient solutions informed by a deep understanding ofAustralia’s policy landscape.

Ant Halstead is a former lawyer turned supply chain and operations leader with more than 15 years’ operational experience helping organisations lift performance while navigating disruption, complexity and uncertainty.

His career spans four continents and senior roles with Unilever, Boston Consulting Group and now the Australian Antarctic Division.

At Unilever, he held end‑to‑end supply chain leadership roles across Australasia and South‑East Asia, including Head of Supply Chain for New Zealand and Regional Supply Chain Manager across 11 markets, with accountability for planning, logistics, innovation, manufacturing performance, network design and major transformation programs. He subsequently led an Integrated Business Planning strategic review for the Unilever UK and Ireland business, before coordinating its COVID‑19 supply chain response. At Boston Consulting Group, he led transformation engagements across European and North American clients in the consumer goods, automotive and pharmaceutical sectors, delivering inventory optimisation, cost reduction and structural performance improvements.

After leading the supply chain at the Australian Antarctic Division for three years, Ant now serves as Director of Operations Planning, where he leads the planning and coordination of the operations that sustain Australia’s Antarctic and sub‑Antarctic research stations. While Antarctica might seem far removed from fast-moving consumer goods, many of the underlying supply chain challenges are strikingly similar: constrained capacity, long lead times, volatile demand, supply reliability risks, competing priorities and limited network flexibility.

Drawing on both his global consumer goods experience and his work in Antarctica, Ant offers a unique perspective on how to perform effectively when uncertainty is not temporary, but an enduring reality.

Bryden Campbell is the Founder and Managing Director of Brand Rebellion, a Canberra-based brand and workforce consultancy helping organisations align their positioning, people and future direction.

Recognised as one of Australia’s emerging voices in employer branding and workforce positioning, Bryden works at the intersection of brand, talent attraction and organisational strategy, helping industries better understand how perception shapes workforce sustainability. Her work focuses on a simple but increasingly critical challenge: if industries cannot clearly communicate who they are, what they offer and why they matter, they will struggle to compete for talent.

Working across government, defence, technology, tourism and industry sectors, Bryden has helped organisations rethink how they communicate careers, opportunity and industry relevance in increasingly competitive markets. Her work often explores the gap between industry perception and reality, particularly in sectors experiencing workforce shortages, ageing demographics and changing capability needs.

Bryden was recognised as Canberra Businesswoman of the Year and Canberra Small Businesswoman of the Year in 2024, and was a 2025 State Finalist in the Telstra Best of Business Awards.

Christy has 20+ years of leadership experience across multinational, boutique, and start-up agency environments. Originally from Michigan USA, she began her recruitment career in Sydney in 2005 and joined Miller Leith in 2025 as Director – NSW before progressing to Chief Executive Officer. Known for her energy and integrity, she has a well-developed executive network and an impressive track record of placements at MD/GM and senior commercial and functional leadership levels within the FMCG, Retail and product based B2B industries. She is passionate about building trusted partnerships and creating meaningful talent outcomes that make a real difference for individuals, teams, and organisations.

Claire Robertson works with senior leaders and organisations navigating the gap between what got them here and what the next level of complexity demands. As founder of Fulfilling Potential and a leadership advisor with 25 years of senior global HR and OD experience in global organisations including Unilever and Commonwealth Bank – she brings both the corporate credibility and developmental depth to make that work stick. Her practice spans executive coaching, organisational development, and keynote speaking.

Colm Maguire is the Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary of the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC).
He leads the organisation’s work to strengthen collaboration, innovation and outcomes across Australia’s food and grocery sector.
Colm brings extensive leadership experience from across industry, member-based organisations and sport.
Before joining the AFGC, he was Chief Operating Officer at the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, where he led major transformation and cultural change programs. He also served for a decade as Chief Executive Officer of Touch Football Australia.
Colm has held board roles with the Council of Small Business Australia and is currently Chair of Netball ACT. He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Leaders and Managers. Colm was also inducted into the Leading Teams Hall of Fame.

With over 25 years’ experience in supply chain planning. Helping organisations transform their capabilities around planning, systems and management frameworks such as S&OP/IBP focusing on FMCG & Retail industries. Dan has been involved with the AFGC for over 10 years, partnering on the supply chain survey, developing insights how supply chains are performing across the industry.

Together, they will explore early insights from the recent AFGC Supply Chain Survey and dive deeper into AI industry trends, as well as take the audience through a practical application of how AI is helping make supply chains more efficient and resilient.

Deb Yates has over 28 years of experience leading people, culture, change and transformation across a range of organisations both in Australia and overseas.

Prior to joining Coles in June 2025 Deb was the Global Chief People Office at Lendlease and has held a number of senior leadership positions including National Managing Partner for People and Corporate Affairs, KPMG Australia; Chief HR Officer at Reckitt Benckiser (RB) where she worked in Australia, the Netherlands, United States and United Kingdom. She has also held senior HR roles in News Limited, National Meat Association and Qantas.

Deb has a Bachelor of Arts, Psychology from Macquarie University and Master of Commerce, Employment Relations from University of Western Sydney.

Dr Sandra Cuthbert is a senior public sector leader with expertise in science-based regulation, organisational strategy, and stakeholder engagement, having worked in central, line, and portfolio agencies including PMC, Finance, DAFF, and FSANZ. She has extensive experience working at the intersection of government, industry, and the community, ensuring regulatory frameworks are both evidence-driven and practical.

In her current role as Chief Executive Officer of Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), Dr Cuthbert leads a binational agency responsible for developing and maintaining the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. She oversees scientific risk assessments, policy development, and regulatory harmonisation to protect public health while supporting a dynamic food industry.

Sandra enjoys learning and has qualifications in veterinary medicine and surgery, law, and governance and is currently undertaking a Senior Executive Master of Business Administration.

James is a lifelong marketing professional with extensive experience across South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and global teams. With a career that includes global powerhouse companies such as Mars, Suntory and Intersnack, James has helped shape and manage some of the most iconic FMCG brands over the course of his two decades in the industry. Today, James leads his consultancy with one single-minded mission: To make marketing better for all.

James Guild is the Head of FMCG Commercial at NIQ Australia, with over 20 years of experience in the FMCG industry, including the last decade in Australia. James specialises in building long-term partnerships with Retail and FMCG organisations.
He is a seasoned leader known for driving data-driven decisions and leveraging the power of human insight and technology. Prior to joining NIQ, James has held key roles at Kantar Worldpanel, IRI and Salesforce. He is passionate about helping brands navigate the evolving Australian FMCG landscape and driving growth through insights, empowerment and innovative solutions.

Jay Meek is the General Manager for Austrade’s Trade Diversification Taskforce, which has been established to help Australian businesses respond to an increasing level of global economic uncertainty by building the resilience and diversification of Australia’s exports. Jay was formerly the General Manager for Trade at Austrade, which assists Australian exporters to grow internationally further and faster. Prior to joining Austrade, Jay was the Deputy Secretary of Trade Victoria in the Victorian Government where he managed 23 international offices and more than 200 staff. Jay holds a Bachelor of Agriculture from the University of Adelaide. He has held a number of senior commercial and government positions in his career.

Jaye Wee leads consumer, shopper and brand solutions at NIQ, a global leader in consumer intelligence. Partnering with FMCG brands across Australia and New Zealand, she transforms consumer data into impactful growth strategies, balancing immediate shopper activations with long-term brand building.

Shaped by her multicultural experiences across Singapore, Japan and Australia, Jaye brings a distinctive perspective on how consumers make decisions, how brands create enduring relevance, and how growth can be unlocked even in the most constrained environments.

Today, as AI and agentic commerce fundamentally reshape the path to purchase, she is at the forefront of a vital industry shift: helping brands master the dual challenge of staying visible to ever-changing algorithms without losing the human connections that ultimately drive trust, loyalty and long-term growth.

Karen McWilliams is the Sustainability Leader in the Policy and Advocacy team at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ). She is responsible for shaping and influencing sustainability-related issues of relevance to Chartered Accountants, including modern slavery, climate change, nature and sustainability reporting matters. Karen chairs the finance, risk and audit committee of the UN Global Compact Network Australia Board and is a member of the Australian Government’s Nature Finance Council.

She is a Fellow Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Master of Arts in Mathematical Sciences from the University of Oxford.

Kristian leads Oxford Economics Australia’s Consulting business which delivers over two hundred economic research projects per year for private and public sector clients. Kristian’s work focuses on analysing the strategic, planning and workforce implications of the economic outlook. 

Louise believes great workplaces don’t happen by accident – they’re built with intention, courage, and the right people in the room.

With over 25 years of leadership experience spanning manufacturing, FMCG, consulting, and not-for-profit, she brings a practical, no-nonsense approach to creating workplaces where people genuinely thrive. Her focus has always been on solutions that work – not box-ticking exercises, but real, sustainable change that makes organisations better, safer, and more engaging for everyone.

As CEO of the National Association of Women in Operations (NAWO), Louise leads a growing national network of businesses committed to achieving better gender balance across Australia’s operational industries. She works alongside organisations to challenge assumptions, shift culture, and unlock the untapped potential that comes with truly diverse teams. Her hands-on background in people and culture, team leadership, and organisational change means she understands the challenges from the inside and knows how to turn them into opportunity.

Louise also serves as Deputy Chair of the Australian Gender Equality Council, bringing that same practical, people-first lens to systemic advocacy at a national level.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce, completed the Chief Executive Women Leaders Program in 2022, and is currently undertaking her Executive MBA with the Melbourne Business School.

For over 20 years, Marcel Sieira has dedicated his career to empowering industries and governments with the transformative potential of GS1 standards and services, which includes the current adoption and roll-out of Next Generation 2D Barcode technology here in Australia.

Since joining GS1 Australia in 2003, Marcel has played a pivotal role driving innovation and fostering industry-wide adoption of these important global standards. His journey with Australia’s barcode standards not-for-profit organisation began with establishing the Consulting Services Group to develop and launch new industry-based services.

Now serving as Chief Operating Officer, Marcel leads diverse teams in Marketing, Partnerships, Services Adoption, Industry and Government Engagement, and Global Standards and Education.

Marcel’s leadership extends across multiple sectors, including Retail, Agriculture, Healthcare and Transport & Logistics, and addresses critical areas such as digital transformation, paperless trade and e-commerce, supply chain visibility, traceability, consumer and patient safety, cross-border trade, and circularity. With a focus on both private and public sectors, Marcel’s contributions promote global best practices, transparency and seamless industry collaboration.

Before his tenure at GS1 Australia, Marcel built a strong foundation in Sales and Business Development, specialising in cutting-edge solutions such as e-Business applications, Data Synchronisation, and Internet Security. His ability to bridge technical expertise with business strategy has been instrumental in delivering real-world results.

As part of GS1 Australia’s Executive Team, Marcel continues to shape the organisation’s strategic vision, representing it on numerous national and international platforms.

Marcel is particularly passionate about the societal and economic benefits from automation and productivity gains that standards-based supply chain technology can deliver, and the positive impact to Australian communities from increased wellbeing, safety and economic growth.

His unwavering commitment to advancing GS1 standards globally and here in Australia has left an indelible mark on modern supply chains, ensuring they remain resilient, innovative, and forward-thinking to meet the growing need of our fast-paced, digital world.

Mark McCrindle is a social researcher, best-selling author, influential thought leader and TEDx speaker. He is recognised globally as coining the name for the emerging generation, Generation Alpha. Mark’s advisory, communications and research company, McCrindle, count among its clients more than 100 of the nation’s largest companies and leading international brands.

Mark’s highly valued social commentary is presented through his engaging keynotes, research, reports, infographics, videos and media input. He is a trusted advisor and sits on the board of a number of different organisations, after having developed his regard as an expert demographer, futurist and social commentator.

Mark McCrindle, BSc (Psychology), MA, is the author of five books on emerging trends and social change.

Generation Alpha, Work Wellbeing: Leading Thriving Teams in Rapidly Changing Times, The ABC of XYZ: Understanding the Global Generations, Word Up: A Lexicon and Guide to Communication in the 21st Century and The Power of Good.

Recognised with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM), Mark Squirrell’s work as an International Aid Worker has seen him work under pressure in some of the world’s most tense situations. From car bombings to meeting Yasser Arafat, Mark ‘Squiz’ Squirrell OAM has experienced more than most.

After serving in the Australian Commandos and being awarded the coveted “Green Beret”, Squiz took his courage and leadership skills abroad to help others overcome adversity and turmoil.

Squiz has escorted food convoys through the Gaza Strip, negotiated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamel Eelam (Tamil Tigers) and brokered deals with Somali Clansmen to ensure the safe delivery of United Nations food aid. In doing so, Squiz continues to master the challenges of performing under pressure.

Inspired by his work with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Squiz climbed his way to the top of Mount Everest to help raise awareness of the global hunger crisis. The gruelling six-week ordeal across glaciers and over exposed cliffs reveal the motivation, habits and adversity skills that facilitated his success.

With a career’s worth of experiences to draw upon, Squiz memorialised his adventures in a memoir titled ‘From Arafat to Everest’. He was also recognised in the Australia Day Honours List with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his service to the international community through humanitarian aid in 2019.

He continues to be deployed on short-term assignments to emergency zones, such as the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa and 2015 Nepal Earthquake.

Using personal anecdotes and real-time scenarios, Squiz challenges his audience to think well under pressure and communicate effectively with their team. Through practical strategies for lateral thinking, Squiz is passionate about helping people navigate the complex global market and improve workplace performance. Unique footage played through Virtual Reality goggles guarantee that your staff will have a life-like, high impact and unforgettable experience!

Matt Weaver leads Howden’s Climate Risk & Resilience practice across the Pacific region. A Fellow of the UK Faculty of Actuaries with over 17 years of experience in insurance, catastrophe analytics, and alternative risk transfer, Matt specialises in translating climate risk into measurable, strategic decisions. Working across agriculture, supply chain and nature-based markets, Matt designs parametric insurance solutions that help food and grocery businesses quantify their exposure to extreme weather and natural hazards, and act on it. He challenges traditional insurance models to unlock investment in climate adaptation, and uses insurance intelligence to make the financial case for resilience. His work spans producers, processors, and supply chain operators navigating a climate landscape that is reshaping cost, continuity, and competitive position across the sector.

Nerida Kelton is the Vice President Sustainability & Save Food, for the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) and the Executive Director for the Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP). She has worked in the Packaging industry for 28 years, with 26 years working for the AIP; the peak professional body for packaging training and education in Australasia. As an active lecturer and trainer in the AIP educational portfolio, Nerida is committed to helping educate and train packaging professionals in the importance of sustainable and circular packaging design, how to design out waste at the start and believes that it is important to showcase and recognise best practice in these areas.

Nerida is also recognised as one of the leading voices globally on the important role that packaging plays in minimising Food Waste and how designing Save Food Packaging can make a difference. She is the lead for the Save Food Packaging Guidelines, has created training courses in this area, has research published on the guidelines, and is also a co-author in the Paradox between Packaging & Waste Position paper that was co-written by WPO, UNIDO and Wageningen University. Nerida is passionate about elevating this conversation across the globe and helping brands to design out waste at the start.

Rose Gooding is Group Head of Sustainability at Goodman Fielder, where she leads enterprise-wide sustainability strategy, governance and delivery across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. She is responsible for embedding climate, sustainable sourcing, packaging, food waste and social impact into core business operations and decision-making, and is leading Goodman Fielder’s mandatory climate disclosure program, including the development of its ASRS S2 report as a Group 1 calendar year reporter.

Prior to Goodman Fielder, Rose held leadership roles in social enterprise, delivering impact initiatives across Asia and the Pacific. She holds degrees in Commerce and Economics from the University of New South Wales.

Scott McGrath is the Director of Stakeholders, Engagement and Policy at the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC).
He leads the AFGC’s engagement with government, industry and media, advocating for policies that support a strong and sustainable food and grocery sector.
Scott brings a strong background in political offices and in state and Commonwealth government roles, giving him deep insight into government processes and jurisdictional challenges.
A skilled communicator, he translates complex technical issues into clear messages that influence decision-making and public understanding.
Scott also oversees the AFGC’s media relations, raising the industry’s profile and driving advocacy on key issues affecting members and consumers.

Stephen founded Miller Leith in 2014 with 10 years’ prior recruitment experience, ranging from large international firms in London to well-known executive search firms in Australia. His determination and disciplined approach, along with his eagerness to deliver a higher level of service has led to the expansion of Miller Leith to become an established partner to the FMCG, retail and broader manufacturing industries nationally. His role of Executive Director allows him to be “in market,” – consulting to clients on a range of talent solutions including executive search, specialist recruitment, contracting, and workforce advisory services. Through his personalised approach, he is seen as a trusted advisor to his network executing leadership appointments across the industry including Board, CEO/ MD/ GM, and other C-Suite/ Director level appointments.