Starbucks Australia CEO to join MICE Leaders Symposium – BeanScene

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, and the future of the brand as it looks to grow sustainably within Australia’s coffee culture.

Founded in 1971 with a single store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, Starbucks started its journey as a roaster and retailer of whole-bean coffee, tea, and spices. Today, it operates in 76 markets and is widely regarded as the world’s largest coffee company.

It opened its first Australian store in Sydney’s Hyde Park in July 2000.

Braeden says the Leaders Symposium is a great way to continue to engage with Australia’s coffee industry.

“Starbucks is marking 25 years in Australia – a market that sets the global benchmark for coffee quality, innovation, and consumer expectation,” he says.

“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.    

“Our involvement is grounded in contribution, not positioning. Starbucks may be a long-established global brand, but in Australia we’ve been rebuilding – listening, adapting, and re-earning our place in the local coffee conversation. This keynote is about being open with that journey, sharing practical insights, and connecting with an industry that continues to shape global coffee trends.”  

The GCR Symposium aims to bring together leading roasters, business operators, and industry decision makers to unpack the trends, opportunities, and challenges shaping the local and global coffee landscape.    

Attendees can expect a dynamic schedule which will feature business sessions on ‘How to scale smart’, featuring Nomad Coffee Group Founder and CEO Craig Dickson, Di Pacci Coffee Company Worldwide Director and Founder CEO Michael Rababi, ST. ALi CEO Lachlan Ward, and Coffee Supreme CEO Andrew Low.  

The Symposium will also explore ‘Coffee beyond the café’ and its evolution into the events, hospitality and premium dining space’; and a session on ‘Global influences in the Australian coffee market’, detailing a new era of international coffee brands making their presence felt.  

In addition to the high-level panel discussion, guests will have an opportunity to network throughout the morning, and connect directly with industry leaders before the doors to the Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) open for day two of the dedicated coffee industry event 

Access to all three days of MICE is also included in the GCR Symposium ticket.    

View the full schedule here.