Feeding the Future 2026
Feeding the Future is the Infant Nutrition Council’s (INC) premier conference, bringing together leading local and international experts from across the infant formula and toddler milk industry.
Held over two days in Auckland, this event offers delegates the chance to explore the latest research, regulatory updates, emerging trends, new technologies, and global trade insights shaping the future of infant nutrition. Hear from industry leaders, understand evolving regulations, discover cutting-edge innovation, network with decision-makers and be part of a shared mission.
Whether you influence policy, supply critical ingredients, develop infant formula products or guide regulatory framework, Feeding the Future 2026 offers the insights connections, and strategic perspectives you need to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving industry.
Secure your place and be part of the conversation shaping the infant nutrition industry and Feeding the Future
REGISTRATIONS CLOSING 7th August 2026
For any registrations after this date please email amyd@imagineexperiences.com.au
RESERVE YOUR SPOT
The most transformative
event for the infant nutrition sector
Over the coming weeks we will be sharing exciting updates on Program
Highlights, Standout Speakers, and further Sponsors. Stay tuned, register now
and secure your spot
Location
Host City: Auckland, New Zealand
Experience Auckland—New Zealand’s vibrant harbour city known for its beautiful coastline, island escapes, top-tier dining, and rich cultural heritage. From waterfront precincts to volcanic viewpoints, Auckland offers an unforgettable backdrop for your conference visit.
Conference Venue: Grand Millennium Auckland
Located in the heart of the city, the Grand Millennium provides easy access to dining, entertainment, and iconic attractions such as Sky Tower, Aotea Square, and Viaduct Harbour.
Gala Dinner Venue: The Maritime Room
Set on Princes Wharf with sweeping views of the Waitematā Harbour, The Maritime Room blends contemporary elegance with New Zealand’s maritime heritage—an exceptional setting for an evening of connection and celebration.
Format
Tuesday 25 August
Welcome Reception
Wednesday 26 August
Conference Open
Conference Sessions
Gala Dinner
Thursday 27 August
Conference Sessions
Conference Close
Program
Tuesday 25 August 2026
05:00 PM - 08:00 PM - Welcome Reception & Registration
Wednesday 26 August 2026
09:00 AM - 10:25 AM - Session 1: Conference Opening
10:45 AM - 12:30 PM - Session 2: Global Economic Outlook | Trade Diversification
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM - Session 3: Food Safety
03:30 PM - 05:00 PM - Session 4: Resilience | The Food Regulatory Environment
06:30 PM - 10:00 PM - Gala Dinner
Location: Maritime Room, Princes Wharf
Thursday 27 August 2026
09:00 AM - 10:00 AM - Session 5: Innovation & Research -
Fuelling Tomorrow
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM - Session 6: Mandatory Marketing Controls
01:30 PM - 03:30 PM - Session 7: Exploring AI | Conference
Close
03:00 PM - 03:30 PM - Networking Opportunity -
Afternoon Tea
WHAT TO GAIN
Why Attend?
Feeding the Future 2026 is designed for professionals across the infant nutrition sector who want to:
Ticket Pricing
REGISTRATIONS CLOSING 7th August 2026
For any registrations after this date please email amyd@imagineexperiences.com.au
Introducing our first Keynote Speaker
Brad Olsen is the Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Infometrics and is widely recognised as one of New Zealand’s most respected and engaging economic commentators.
Nicknamed “Bad News Brad” by ZM’s Fletch, Vaughan, and Hayley, Brad has been described as a “boy wonder and economist extraordinaire” and “the face of economics in New Zealand” and has built a reputation for cutting through noise and getting to the heart of what really matters.
Brad calls it how he sees it – without fear nor favour – in an engaging, witty, sometimes funny, but always informative way that helps audiences understand the economic forces shaping New Zealand and the decisions that sit ahead.
He is a community leader, and one of New Zealand’s youngest Justices of the Peace, performing both ministerial and judicial duties – alongside being a marriage celebrant. He serves on the Institute of Directors’ Wellington Branch Committee and is a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network. His work in the community has been recognised numerous times: he was named New Zealand’s Queen’s Young Leader in 2016, one of Asia New Zealand Foundation’s 25 to Watch in 2019, and Young Wellingtonian of the Year 2020.
Introducing our Opening Speaker
The Hon Andrew Hoggard, New Zealand Minister for Food Safety and Minister for Biosecurity to give Opening Address.
Life-long Dairy Farmer, currently farming in Kiwitea with his wife and two daughters. Studied at Massey University, getting a Degree in Agricultural Economics, before going farming. Previously competed in the Young Farmer of the Year contest, winning the Manawatu Rangitikei Regional in 2003 and progressing to the Grand Final that year (but not winning). Which led to various roles in Young Farmers, then onto Federated Farmers finally getting to be the National President 2020-2023. Over that same period was also on the Board of the International Dairy Federation, representing farmers globally.
Introducing Speaker: Mitesh Khatri
Mitesh Khatri is one of the senior business partners at NielsenIQ (NIQ) across Australia and New Zealand. With more than 20 years of experience in market research, consumer intelligence, and strategic consulting, he has worked across 350+ product and service categories, partnering with many of ANZ's largest organisations,
including leading manufacturers in the Infant Nutrition sector. His expertise spans FMCG, Retail, Media, Pharmacy, Travel & Tourism, Technology, and Banking. Throughout his career, Mitesh has advised senior executives on growth
strategy, consumer behaviour, customer experience, and market performance, while collaborating closely with major retailer groups here locally including Woolworths, Coles, and Foodstuffs.
Passionate about turning data into action, Mitesh specialises in helping organisations unlock the commercial value of insights by translating complex consumer and market intelligence into practical strategies that drive growth, innovation and competitive advantage.
Mitesh holds an MBA from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management and is committed to helping businesses make confident, consumer-centric decisions that deliver measurable outcomes.
Introducing Speaker: Joe Davis
Joe Davis is one of Australasia’s most in-demand speakers on artificial intelligence, exponential technology, and the future of leadership. He advises boards and executive teams globally on how to navigate disruption, adopt AI, and unlock new opportunities for growth.
We are living through the most accelerated period of technological change in human history. During our conference, Joe will present Human x Machine, a high-energy, interactive keynote exploring the forces behind exponential change. He will demystify how AI works and challenge audiences to think differently about the decade ahead. Equal parts provocation and practical playbook, leaving you with practical insights you can immediately apply to your work, organisation, and future.
Introducing Speaker: Dr Jared Raynes
Dr. Jared Raynes is Chief Scientific Officer at All G and a leading expert in dairy protein science, with over 13 years of experience specializing in casein micelles and milk protein structure. He led the development of the world’s first recombinant casein micelle, marking a significant breakthrough in the field.
Previously, Jared served as Food Chemistry Leader at CSIRO and is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor at The University of Queensland. At All G, he drives the company’s scientific vision, leading research and development to unlock the potential of human-recombinant milk proteins.
At the conference Jared will present, Recombinant Proteins and New Opportunities for Innovation in Infant Nutrition
Introducing Speaker: Julia Grace
Science-based. Heart-led. Genuinely memorable.
Julia Grace, is New Zealand's mental health keynote speaker for conferences, workplaces, and education. She combines neuroscience, lived experience, and original music to create well-being sessions that land differently.
With 30 years on stages across five continents and a career built on making complex ideas accessible, she delivers science-backed content that we hope participants can find immediately practical and meaningful.
Named PSA NZ Keynote Speaker of the Year 2025 and author of Be Kind to Your Mind, Julia is known for leaving rooms changed, not just entertained.
Julia will present a session on Resilience.
Introducing Speaker: Thomas Druke
Tom Druke, Senior Marketing and Business Development Manager, Balchem Corporation is a subject‑matter expert in choline nutrition with extensive experience translating emerging science into practical formulation insights for early‑life nutrition. In his session Evolving Choline needs across the Lifespan, Tom will explore the evolving evidence base for choline in pregnancy, lactation, and infancy, with a focus on neurodevelopment
and long‑term cognitive outcomes.
The presentation will incorporate newly published follow‑up research assessing adolescent outcomes in children whose mothers consumed VitaCholine® during pregnancy. This work builds on earlier findings from
Caudill et al. (2018) and Bahnfleth et al. (FASEB, 2022), which demonstrated that prenatal choline supplementation positively influenced infant processing speed and attention in school‑aged children. The latest data extend
these observations into the teenage years, providing further insight into the sustained impact of maternal choline intake on cognitive function.
Drawing on this growing body of evidence, Tom will discuss implications for infant and young child formula design, highlight gaps between current intakes and emerging requirements, and outline practical considerations for formulating with choline in compliant, stable, and future‑ready applications.
Introducing Speaker: Emma Breen
Emma Breen is Director of Nutrition Standards at Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), with extensive experience across government, food regulation and public health policy. She leads the development and assessment of nutrition-related food standards, including fortification and standards for infant formula, foods for
special medical purposes and sports foods. Emma also provides strategic advice on nutrition policy and represents Australia as Head of Delegation to the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU), contributing to the development of international food standards.
Emma will bring valuable insight into how the future of the food regulatory environment continues to evolve to support safe, appropriate and trusted infant nutrition, and what this means for industry and public health into the future. Don’t miss his presentation Regulation Reimaged: Future-Proofing Infant Nutrition Standards
Introducing Speaker: Tamara Yap
Tamara Yap is an Associate Research Director at Ipsos Australia, with over 13 years of experience in market and social research. Tamara specialises in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, with a focus on reputation and stakeholder research. She is skilled in synthesising complex qualitative feedback with quantitative data to produce clear themes and actionable recommendations. With extensive experience helping regulators and
regulated businesses understand the people they serve, Tamara brings a rigorous, evidence-based approach to high-stakes policy discussions. Her work spans government, regulatory bodies, and industry organisations across highly scrutinised sectors where understanding public sentiment is crucial.
At the conference, Tamara will present findings from Project Voix: Exploring Parent and Healthcare Professional Perspectives on Infant Feeding, a comprehensive mixed-methods research commissioned by the Infant Nutrition Council. Tamara's presentation will offer evidence-based insights into how parents and healthcare professionals navigate real-world infant feeding choices and what truly influences formula-use decisions in contemporary Australia — and how these authentic perspectives can inform the policy debate around formula marketing.
Gala Dinner Entertainer Spotlight: James Nokise
James Nokise, a multi-talented comedian, playwright, columnist, podcaster, theatre-maker and social commentator - is known for his fearless approach and his ability to give a voice to under-represented issues.
Over the course of his illustrious career James has been nominated twice for the Billy T Award (2005, 2006) and the Fred Award for Best New Zealand Show (2013), which he subsequently took out in 2019 for his show God Damn Fancy Man. He won Best Male Comedy Fest and the Topp Prize (2024). James was also the winner of best documentary at the 2025 NZ radio awards for his series The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior, and the winner of the Best International Podcast at the 2025 Asia Podcast Awards. James has an extensive touring career, including over a decade of shows in the NZ International Comedy Festival and multiple Comedy Gala performances, as well as years on the international Fringe Festival circuit, performing successful seasons in Edinburgh, Perth and New York.
We welcome James to the stage at the Daabon Oil Solutions Gala Dinner Evening on Wednesday 26 August, 2026 at the beautiful Maritime Room, Princes Wharf, Auckland.
Introducing Speaker: Anne Collins
As New Zealand and India enter a new era of trade opportunity, understanding how to translate policy into commercial success has never been more important. We're pleased to welcome Anne Collins, India FTA Implementation Manager at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), where she leads efforts to help New Zealand exporters leverage the India Free Trade Agreement. With extensive experience in trade strategy and a track record of working across government and industry to unlock growth opportunities, Anne brings valuable insights into one of the world's most dynamic markets. In her session, Unlocking India: Leveraging the FTA for Infant Nutrition Growth, she will explore the opportunities for New Zealand infant nutrition exporters and share practical guidance on market entry, growth, and positioning for success in India.
Introducing Speaker: Liz Lloyd
Liz Lloyd is Senior Corporate Counsel at Nestlé Australia and a member of the INC Board. Nestle is one of the world's leading nutrition and food companies, where she provides legal, compliance and strategic support across a broad portfolio of Nestlé's Oceania businesses and manufacturing facilities. Her role includes a strong focus on Nestlé Health Science, Infant Nutrition, and sustainability initiatives.
Liz will share her insights on Infant Formula Marketing Controls in Australia – Development of Regulations, exploring the evolution of Australia's regulatory framework and the controls that shape the marketing of infant formula products.
Introducing Speaker: Simon Swift
Food safety is fundamental to consumer confidence in infant nutrition products, and few topics command greater attention than the control of microbial hazards in powdered infant formula.
We are proud to welcome Professor Simon Swift from the Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland and the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre, who will take us inside two microrganisms that continue to shape food safety practices across the industry: Bacillus cereus and Clostridium botulinum in PIF.
Drawing on recent contamination events, Simon will examine the risks these pathogens pose, where contamination can occur, the controls available to industry, and the key lessons learned to strengthen future prevention strategies.
Introducing Speaker: Raewyn Bleakley
We are pleased to welcome Raewyn Bleakley, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Food & Grocery Council, to the INC Feeding the Future Conference 2026.
In her presentation, “Challenges and Opportunities facing NZ Manufacturers”, Raewyn will explore the realities of operating in today’s rapidly changing manufacturing environment. From global economic pressures and evolving regulations to ingredient supply and logistics challenges, she will share practical insights into how businesses can navigate change and identify opportunities for growth and resilience.
With more than 20 years of leadership experience across government and industry associations, Raewyn brings a wealth of expertise and a deep understanding of New Zealand’s food and nutrition sector. She holds a Post
Graduate Diploma of Science from the University of Otago, where she studied human nutrition, food science, and food service management.
Join us in Auckland this August to hear Raewyn’s perspective on the forces shaping the future of manufacturing in New Zealand.
Introducing Speaker: Jenny Bishop
Jenny Bishop is Director, Food Risk Management at New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), where she leads work to manage food safety risks and support a safe and trusted food system. Jenny brings extensive experience across food compliance, regulation and risk management, having previously held senior roles within New Zealand Food Safety, including Director Food Compliance and Response and National Manager, Food Compliance Services.
In her role, Jenny plays an important part in developing food safety requirements, responding to emerging risks and supporting effective management of food safety issues. Today, she will share her expertise on Managing Food Safety Incidents, providing valuable insights into how food safety incidents are assessed, managed and communicated.
Introducing Speaker: Bassam Hallak
Bassam Hallak, Global Director – Sales & Marketing, Nu-Mega Ingredients
We are pleased to welcome Bassam Hallak, Global Director of Sales & Marketing at Nu-Mega Ingredients, to our Welcome Reception.
Bassam brings extensive global experience across strategy, innovation, commercialisation and nutrition, and has been part of the team since 2015. His work has a strong focus on nutritional science, particularly DHA and omega-3s, and their role in supporting health and wellbeing across life stages.
Nu-Mega Ingredients has been engaged in the Infant Nutrition industry for 30 years, contributing to the development of innovative nutritional solutions and supporting the industry through science, research and collaboration.
Under its guiding philosophy, “Nourishing Healthy Beginnings,” Nu-Mega continues to focus on delivering high-quality nutritional ingredients that support the earliest stages of life. Bassam will give us an introduction to Nu-Mega Ingredients and reflect on the company's 30-year journey and engagement with Infant Nutrition.
Testimonial
"The Infant Nutrition Gala Dinner networking event was an excellent platform for advancing dialogue on early childhood nutrition. Inspiring discussions, valuable collaborations, and a remarkable venue made it a standout evening.
Congratulations to the organisers for a high-calibre event driving continued progress across the sector"
Feedback from Feeding the Future Conference 2024
Accommodation
There are two recommended hotel options for your stay during the Feeding the Future Conference 2026.
Grand Millennium
71 Mayoral Drive, Cnr Vincent Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
The Host venue for the INC Conference. Between 23-28 August 2026, you'll be able to stay from only NZD$239 room only using the following group discount code: INC2026
Crowne Plaza
128 Albert Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Between 25-28 August 2026, you'll receive 15% off the Best Flexible rate NZD, with 45 days cancellation
MEET
Our Sponsors
PLATINUM SPONSORS
MAJOR SPONSORS
GENERAL SPONSOR
DAABON OIL SOLUTIONS GALA DINNER EVENING SPONSOR
WELCOME RECEPTION SPONSOR
INFANT NUTRITION COUNCIL
About Us
The Infant Nutrition Council Ltd (INC) is the peak industry body representing infant formula and toddler milk across Australia and New Zealand. Our members account for approximately 90% of production and market value in the region.
Shaping the Future of Infant Nutrition, together:
INC is the unified industry voice – working closely with government and regulators to support strong and effective public policy. Through collaborative partnerships INC helps protect the integrity of local brands while contributing to public health objectives that promote and protect breastfeeding and recognise infant formula, when required, as the only suitable alternative.
Advancing Research, Innovation and the Future:
INC advocates for an evidence-based regulatory environment that supports innovation, harmonisation and global trade considerations to advance evidence-base policy, support public health objectives, and ensure a strong, globally competitive infant nutrition sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a passport to travel to New Zealand?
Yes, you need a passport with six months validity past your return date. Before travelling you will need to complete the NZ travel declaration found here.
What are the cancellation T&C's?
All tickets cancelled after Monday 20th July will be subject to a 100% cancellation fee. All cancellations must be received in writing to amyd@imagineexperiences.com.au before this date.
Where is the conference taking place?
The conference is taking place at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland. The Gala Dinner is taking place at the Maritime Room in Auckland.
Can I purchase additional gala dinner tickets?
Yes, you can purchase these through the registration portal.
Are there discounted accommodation options?
Yes, please see details above for discounts at the Grand Millennium Hotel and the Crown Plaza Hotel.
Who do you recommend for airport transfers?
Rudra Taxi Services
rudra.taxi@outlook.com
+64 225 283 217
What is the ticket pricing?
Information on ticket pricing can be found in the pricing table and details above.
Can I transfer my ticket?
Yes, you can do this up to one week before the conference takes place with notification to amyd@imagineexperiences.com.au
Looking for Pre and Post Travel Ideas?
If you are looking for ideas on what to do during your stay in New Zealand please visit the Tourism New Zealand website found here