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Australian Society of Baking Scholarship Toast, Annual Conference and Chairman's Dinner 2026

Event recap:

The Australian Society of Baking (ASB) has wrapped up a successful series of Melbourne events that combined professional development, industry networking and recognition of emerging baking talent.

Held at Pan Pacific Melbourne on 13 and 14 October, the program began with the Scholarship Toast before moving into the 2026 Annual Conference, AGM and Board meeting, and the Chairman’s Dinner and Awards for Excellence. Final registrations showed 27 guests for the Scholarship Toast, 77 conference delegates and 111 dinner guests—close to the dinner’s 120-person capacity.

ASB President Imran Ibrahim said the week reflected the strength of collaboration across the baking community and the importance of creating opportunities for bakers, pastry chefs, apprentices, educators, suppliers, technical specialists and business leaders to connect.

This year’s conference theme, Innovation, Leadership & Connection: Shaping the Future of Baking, was reflected across a program that addressed energy costs, workplace health, consumer trends, product development, artificial intelligence and operational efficiency.

Conference only Sponsorship Opportunities

The conference also offers a range of sponsorship packages designed to maximise brand exposure and engagement with industry decision-makers, including:

  1. Barista Coffee Cart Sponsor
  2. Conference Stationery Sponsor
  3. Morning Tea Sponsor
  4. Lunch Sponsor
  5. Trade Display Tables & Exhibition Opportunities

These opportunities provide sponsors with direct access to key bakery manufacturers, suppliers, executives, technical specialists and emerging industry leaders throughout the event.

email [email protected] to learn more

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Dr Dea Korcari

lallemand netherlands

Dea’s journey into the world of baking began during her studies in Food Science and Technology at the University of Milan, where she studied extensively sourdough related microorganisms and their effects on the baking performance and health-promoting properties of baked products. She pursued a PhD in Food Systems with a special focus on sourdough starter cultures.

In 2022, Dea took her passion and knowledge to Lallemand Baking Solutions, where she gained firsthand experience with industrial baking enzyme applications. Her role at Lallemand allowed her to bridge the gap between academic research and practical industry needs, enhancing her expertise in employing new ingredients to improve the product quality and optimize baking processes.

In addition to her technical contributions, Dea actively engages in knowledge sharing and communication, and she is passionate about disseminating scientific findings in an accessible manner.

Matthew Baker

heuch cooling systems

Matthew Baker has dedicated over 25 years to mastering the baking and pastry industry. His journey began in the United States, where he started as an apprentice and diligently worked his way up the ranks. After completing his education in baking and pastry arts, Matthew had the privilege of studying under a Michelin Starred Chef for two years, achieving the esteemed position of Executive Pastry Chef. His career then expanded into the role of Technical Bakery Trainer for renowned retailers such as Whole Foods Markets, Walmart, and Panera Bread.

Additionally, Matthew contributed his expertise as a Bakery Operations Manager for the United States Army and Marine Corps. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to the Caribbean, where he successfully owned and operated a wholesale bakery for three years.

In the past eleven years, Matthew has brought his wealth of knowledge to the Australian bakery industry, focusing on new product development, sales, and marketing.

Dr Kaiyang Lim

Corbion

Dr. Kaiyang Lim is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in food science, technology, and engineering. He currently leads a team of food scientists across various industry applications at Corbion Asia Customer Support and Innovation Centre, based in Singapore. Leveraging Corbion core competencies in preservation and his experience in the field, Dr Lim has partnered together with many food producers to meet evolving market needs, such as ensuring smooth transition to natural preservatives while maintaining the highest product standard and delivering innovative solutions to solve market challenges.

In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Dr Lim believes on the importance of the academic contributions to shape the future of food science. He is an adjunct lecturer in few educational institutions in Singapore including the National University of Singapore, Massey University, and Singapore Polytechnic, teaching various food science and technology courses for undergraduate programs.

Dinnie Jordan

kudos blends ltd

Dinnie is the founder and managing director of Kudos Blends. With a unique blend of chemistry expertise, over 30 years of experience in the bakery market, and an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit, Kudos Blends was formed in 1999 with the vision to be ‘the world’s leading supplier of technically driven leavening agents’. This consistent focus on leavening agent technology has ensured the continued research and understanding of the role of this critical ingredient in bakery applications, leading to some ground-breaking product development.

In 2016, Kudos Blends received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the international trade category, in recognition of soaring worldwide sales. Under her leadership, commitment to innovation and customer service, Kudos Blends has become a thriving global player in the baking industry.

Paul Martin

ATMA

With over 30 years in industry, Paul began his working career in 1992 with Waterwheel Flour Mills, becoming a fully qualified Flour Miller.

Paul was promoted to Head Technical Miller for the Bridgewater Victoria site for 10 years. In 2010, Paul took a career jump from manufacturing into sales.

This Sales role took him into the Stockfeed Industry, selling feed additives for Aus Pac Ingredients for the next 7 years.

In 2017, Paul joined Haarslev Industries as Area Sales Manager for Australia. Paul has represented Haarslev for the last 7 years, selling process equipment, spare parts, and services into the ANZ Protein Recycling Industry.

Paul has also been an active member of ATMA, Inc., for over 20 years. He held the position of ATMA president for 13 consecutive years. In 2022, Paul stepped down from this role, to take on the position of ATMA Inc Executive Officer, the position which he holds today.