SPEAKER BIOS

Hugh leads BloombergNEF (New Energy Finance) research teams covering sustainable food and agriculture systems, land use, nature and biodiversity. Hugh has 15 years of experience helping companies, investors and policymakers navigate the energy and ecological transition. Hugh previously spearheaded consumer clean-tech research at BNEF, examining how new technologies such as alternative proteins, rooftop solar and electric vehicles can disrupt markets. Before that he led the firm's North America clean energy research, and earlier produced analysis on distributed energy, utility strategy and carbon markets within BNEF's Australia research team. He holds an engineering degree from the University of New South Wales  

Scott is the Sustainability Lead for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners in Australia. With 15 years' experience in environment and sustainability and over 20 years in FMCG he’s well versed in decarbonising supply chains, packaging circularity and water stewardship. Scott was formerly a chemical engineer out of Sydney University and has successfully blended his technical background and significant industry knowledge to engage everyone from the Board room to customers and those on the factory floor in the CCEP sustainability strategy. He lives in Sydney with his wife and two boys, loves to travel and yes has a house full of Coke paraphernalia.  

Sarah is a dynamic leader in sustainability and ESG strategy with over a decade of experience spanning the retail, food, beverage, and manufacturing sectors. As the Group ESG & Environment Manager at Lactalis Australia, she leads national initiatives in decarbonisation, waste reduction, and circular economy transformation across multiple manufacturing sites. Her work is grounded in both strategic vision and practical implementation, driving measurable impact across complex supply chains. Sarah’s career began at Coles, where she laid the foundation for the Liquor team’s sustainability efforts, and later played a pivotal role in supporting Endeavour Group’s ESG transition during its demerger from Woolworths. One of her most innovative projects was the launch of ReCork, Australia’s first national cork recycling initiative. Sarah holds a Master of Sustainability, a Master of Journalism, and a Bachelor in Climate Science—a rare combination that reflects her ability to communicate complex environmental challenges with clarity and purpose. She’s also known for building robust ESG data systems from the ground up and aligning sustainability frameworks with both regulatory and commercial priorities. 

Marissa is a safety professional with 15 years’ experience across public and private sectors, including emergency services and global FMCG companies. Four years ago, Marissa took the same mindset and strategic risk management skills that drove long-term success in safety, to lead the development and implementation of Monde Nissin Australia’s sustainability strategy. Along the way Marissa had to rapidly adapt to just how broad sustainability can be, learn a lot, engage widely, then look for where the opportunities are. Approaching this challenge by identifying smart, practical wins that benefit the business, the environment, our people, and of course the bottom line has laid the path for success 

Lee is the author of "How to Build Sustainability into Your Business Strategy." With over 20 years of experience in sustainability across Australia, the UK, Japan, and New Zealand, Lee has worked in startups, consulting, and as Head of Sustainability for large billion-dollar multinationals Fujitsu and Fonterra. His current clients include large manufacturing, retail, infrastructure and hospitality organisations across Australia, New Zealand. And the Pacific. In 2022, Lee founded his own consulting business, ESG Strategy, where he advises boards and senior executives on sustainability and ESG strategies. He also provides pro bono strategic advice on sustainability, circular economy, and climate change to the Kingdom of Tonga.  

Aida has over 18 years experience driving Innovation, R&D, New Product Development, and Sustainability initiatives. She's played a pivotal role in shaping Edlyn Foods' innovation strategy, directly contributing to a sales increase of over $50M in the past decade.  She's managed 1,200+ projects and launched over 1,000 products, all while improving the speed to market by more than 50% through process optimisation and the integration of technology. By building and nurturing high-performance teams and promoting a customer-centric innovation culture, Aida has transformed technical teams into key drivers of business growth. Her work is driven by a passion for excellence, always pushing beyond conventional boundaries.

As a sustainability reporting technical specialist, Samantha guides her clients through the complexity of local and international sustainability reporting standards and offers practical implementation solutions tailored for each entity. She is responsible for leading the technical interpretation and implementation of Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS) at Grant Thornton Australia, including AASB S2 Climate-related Disclosures. She is also a member of the AASB S2 Implementation Advisory Panel.

Samantha is at the forefront of the technical complexities and practical implementation of sustainability reporting standards. With the benefit of having worked with standard-setters and technical teams on the development of sustainability reporting standards, she helps clients understand how sustainability reporting may impact their business. Combining experience in sustainability reporting, IFRS financial reporting, and external audit, she helps her clients navigate the intersection of sustainability and financial reporting and assurance.

Samantha is a member of the Sustainability Reporting Technical Expert Group for Grant Thornton International. She is also a core member of subject matter expert groups for CSRD/ESRS and IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. Previously she was a member of the Grant Thornton Australia IFRS technical team and an external auditor working with clients in Australia and the UK, including companies listed on the ASX, NASDAQ, and LSE. 

Samantha is passionate about sustainability education and presents webinars regularly on sustainability reporting. She works with clients across all industries but has particular industry expertise in the renewable energy, technology and life sciences sectors.

Tony is a Food Futurist Speaker, food scientist, author and strategic foresight consultant specialising in the future of the food, beverage and agriculture industries.

He has spoken on four continents and regularly appears on podcasts, webinars, TV, radio and print as an expert on the Future of Food. He consults globally to food companies from PepsiCo to KFC, VC investors and top four global consulting companies on the impact of food technology and consumer trends.

He delivers a unique perspective on the Future of Food using his distinctive combination of scientific qualifications, business experience and detailed understanding of food technologies.