AUSTRALIAN ALMOND 2026
AUSTRALIAN ALMOND 2026
OFFICIAL CONFERENCE PROGRAM
DAY 1 CONFERENCE PROGRAM – TUESDAY 13 / 10
SESSION 1( 1 hour)
THEME: Taking Australian Almonds to the World MC: Daniela Ritorto
11:00 – 11:15am Welcome: ABA CEO( 15mins)
11:15 – 12:00pm
Eating trends: Weight loss, protein & GLP-1s – Theo Konstantopoulos and Jemma O ' Hanlon( 45mins)
LUNCH( 12:00pm – 12:30pm) 30mins
SESSION 2( 2 hours 15 mins)
12:30 – 1:15pm
1:15 – 2:00pm
2:00 – 2:45pm
2:45 – 3:45pm
THEME: Maximising value and understanding consumers MC: Daniela Ritorto
ABA marketing showcase: Melissa Wyness, Sumit Saran, Joseph Yuan, Poh Ling Yeow, Kyle Chalmers( 45mins)
Product Innovation: Consumption trends – Ashok Krishen, Sumit Saran, Melissa Wyness, Belinda Neville, Deane Hubball( 45mins)
Panel: Global market update / supply and demand snapshot – Australian marketers. Facilitated by Damien Houlahan( 45mins) International Masterchef collaboration – maximising almonds featuring celebrity chefs Poh Ling Yeow and Sanjeev Kapoor( 1 hour)
1:15 – 2:45pm
Trade Exhibit Stage – THEME: Interactive masterclass Facilitated by Peter Jealous
Interactive Masterclass: pest and disease monitoring and detection( 1 hour 30mins)
• Brittany Oswald, Simone Kreidl( Agriculture Victoria) & Greg Browne( USDA) – Almond diseases and disorders, prunus replant disease.
• Len Tesoriero – Monterey.
• Sam Edley( Agriculture Victoria) – almond pests.
• Narelle Borgmeyer( Fruit Doctors) – in-field monitoring.
• ABA Josh Fielke & Peter Reynolds – spray considerations
AFTERNOON TEA( 3:45 – 4:15pm) 30mins SESSION 3( 1 hour)
THEME: Leadership – AGM MC: Kellie Hollingworth
4:15 – 4:45pm Growing Almond Leaders graduation: program highlights & presentation of certificates( 30mins)
4:45 – 5:15pm ABA Annual General Meeting( 30mins)
CONFERENCE COCKTAIL WELCOME EVENT( 5:15 – 7:15pm) 2 hours