NZBC Conference 2025
Annual conference to carry innovation theme
The many wisdoms of a former street kid turned internationally recognised scientist and entrepreneur will be shared at this year’s New Zealand Beverage Council conference.
Sir Ray Avery (also bestowed with a Knight of the Realm and inaugural New Zealander of the Year honours) will be one of the keynote speakers at the October 16 conference. Also presenting a keynote address will be Nicola O’Rourke - a director, investor, consultant with more than 20 years’ experience in a range of disciplines across the food and beverage industry.
Both are extraordinarily well placed to speak to the conference’s innovation theme, says NZ Beverage Council co-chair Grant Jeffrey, and securing them as speakers has been a coup.
Sir Ray Avery GNZM is an internationally recognised charismatic and entertaining public speaker who challenges everyone to “Dream Big” and develop game- changing disruptive thinking strategies. It’s an approach that has delivered for this successful scientist, author, inventor, entrepreneur, philanthropist and start up investor.
The multi-award winner uses disruptive technology and thinking to develop game changing businesses and provides companies with the tools to create a culture of innovation.
His career path includes being a founding member of the Auckland University School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and former Technical Director of Douglas Pharmaceuticals. His philanthropic work has included developing an automated manufacturing process to make cataract surgery accessible to the poorest of the poor; and the development of supplementary food bars to address protein energy malnutrition in the developing world. That is, of course, a mere taste of the Sir Ray Avery success story.
Also set to enthral at the conference is Nicola’s address which will speak to her passion for the NZ food and beverage industry and to her desire to foster our country’s entrepreneurial spirit and investment in innovation. Her long-held belief is that NZ’s future lies in value over volume and investing in telling our story and growing innovation via brands is the fastest way to win with consumers.
Throughout her industrious career she has launched over 200 products into global markets. She is the co-founder and managing partner of Founders Advisory, which invests in and advises branded Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) businesses with the aspiration to scale at speed across international markets. She holds board and advisory roles across multiple CPG export and F&B sector for some of New Zealand’s most loved brands.
The line-up of conference speakers will also include Mintel account director Nick Campbell and James & Wells lawyer Ben Cain.
Grant says there’s great relevance in this year’s chosen conference theme, given the non-alcoholic beverage industry in 2025 is characterised by a dynamic landscape of innovation. “That dynamic landscape is driven by a confluence of health and wellness trends, the sober curious movement, and technological advancements,” Grant says.
He says the market continues to exhibit strong growth, presenting significant opportunities for companies that can effectively adapt to evolving consumer preferences. “From the plant-based revolution and the sophistication of mocktails to the focus on gut health and the integration of functional ingredients, innovation is forging change across product categories.”
Furthermore, he says, the advancements in sustainable packaging and the strategic use of digital marketing and technology are reshaping how these products are produced, marketed, and consumed. It’s an exciting time in the non-alcoholic beverage sector.
The one-day conference will begin with registration at 8.30am and conclude with a dinner and entertainment to be held at Tote on Ascot, Ellerslie Event Centre. Non NZBC members are free to join members at the event. Tickets are now available at www.nzbeveragecouncil.org.nz/events
The conference organisers would like to thank the following sponsors for their ongoing support of the NZ Beverage Council: Platinum Sponsors – Sensient Technologies, Gold Sponsors – James and Wells and NZ Sugar, and Silver Sponsors – Alchemy Agencies and RD2 International Ltd.
(June 2025 Supermarket News)