Registration and Morning Tea
Registration opens from 8:30am

Session 1 - Building Resilience in FMCG Supply Chains

Welcome and Introduction

The Big Picture: Economic Landscape and Trends in Supply Chain and Resilience
Gain a clear snapshot of the current FMCG landscape—highlighting key trends, challenges, and emerging opportunities. This session unpacks the major forces reshaping supply chains, from shifting global markets and tariffs to the lingering impacts of COVID-19 on service levels. Learn how businesses are building resilience through smarter risk management, enhanced decision-making agility, and strategies to combat cyber threats and operational pressures. Walk away with practical insights to help your organisation stay strong in a fast-changing world.

Through a Retailer Lens: Retailer Resilience, Synergies and Efficiencies
The retailer and wholesaler landscape is evolving rapidly, creating new challenges and opportunities for trade partners. Peter Hodsdon, Head of Supply Chain Network & Solutions at Metcash, will explore these shifting dynamics and share insights on what trade partners need to consider when optimizing their wholesale relationships. Offering a window into Australia's largest wholesaler's supply chain network, Peter will share key insights and practical lessons learned from Metcash's new Truganina distribution center. He'll provide actionable strategies for suppliers and manufacturers to adapt and succeed in today's increasingly complex and customer-focused wholesale environment.

Session 2 - Overcoming ChallEnges in Logistics

Global Supply Chains Under Pressure: Insights on International Shipping
Global shipping is under pressure - from asset deployment challenges to capacity constraints and the ripple effects are being felt across FMCG supply chains. This session unpacks the key issues disrupting the flow of goods worldwide and what they mean for the industry. Gain practical insights into how FMCG businesses can prepare, adapt, and stay resilient in the face of ongoing shipping volatility.

Innovations and Challenges in Cold Chain Logistics
Cold chain logistics is evolving, driven by changing consumer expectations, shifting category trends, and the need for greater efficiency. This session explores what’s fueling growth in the sector and how new technologies are enhancing visibility, reliability, and sustainability. Discover practical ways FMCG businesses can tap into cold chain expertise to protect product quality, reduce risk, and build greater supply chain resilience.

Road Freight Challenges and Regional Resilience
Road freight networks have faced major disruptions in recent years, with widespread impacts on regional and national transport. This session offers a clear overview of the key events shaping the industry and how it’s responding to mounting pressures. Hear from experts on the strategies being used to reduce risk and build resilience—and explore how stronger collaboration with trading partners can drive agility and fortify supply chains.

Session 3 - Digital Transformation and AI

The Future of Digital Labels & 2D Barcodes
Discover how 2D barcodes are set to transform the food and grocery sector by unlocking better traceability, waste reduction and consumer trust. Learn why global retailers and brands are moving to 2D, what it means for Australian consumers and why collaboration across the value chain is critical to making this a reality. Join us to understand the practical steps to get started on your 2D barcode journey.

AI in Action: Opportunities and Challenges
See how AI is reshaping supply chains and driving smarter decision-making across FMCG!Get a quick dive into key trends and real-world examples of AI in action, and hear from industry experts on what FMCG leaders need to know to make the most of AI and tech-driven initiatives.

Panel: Case Study - AI in FMCG, Roadblocks, Learnings and Success Stories
Join Niels Bennink, GM Supply Chain at Sunny Queen, and Scott Carter, Account Executive at RELEX Solutions, for an inspiring customer journey showcasing how ML/AI transformed Australia's largest egg supplier's supply chain planning capabilities. Discover how Sunny Queen moved from Excel-based planning to an autonomous system that seamlessly connects customer demand to farm operations across 13 warehouses and 5 manufacturing facilities. This case study reveals how ML/AI enabled touchless planning that delivered remarkable results. Learn how AI-powered demand forecasting helped this supply-constrained business put customers first while managing complex production lead times. A must-attend session for supply chain leaders seeking to transform manufacturing operations from reactive to intelligently autonomous planning.

Partnering on Productivity and Resilience: Your Competitive Edge in Uncertainty
Delivering our keynote on partnering for productivity and resilience is Caroline Giller from Primary Connect, the supply chain arm of Woolworths Group. As the largest retail supply chain network across Australia and New Zealand, Caroline will bring a unique end-to-end perspective on navigating the immense pressures facing our industry. From geopolitical and climate disruptions to sluggish consumer spending and rising operational costs, she will demystify how Primary Connect leverages its integrated model to drive sustainable efficiencies without compromising on safety or service. Drawing on real-world examples Caroline will challenge the traditional "cost-out" mindset, advocating for deep, strategic partnerships as the critical lever to thrive in times of uncertainty.

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