A passion for creating amazing coffee experiences. With more than 36 years in the industry, I started my coffee journey with Kraft Jacobs Suchard and have spent my career researching and absorbing coffee information to expand my knowledge of the industry. Self-taught, I understands the importance of staying abreast of new developments in the fast moving, changing world of hot beverages. A driving force behind JDE’s ambition to be both a category and thought leader within the industry, I offer best in class training, sharing an understanding of instant coffee through to the complexity of delivering a traditional cappuccino. My passion for sharing industry insights is matched by my love for the diverse and complex nature of coffee, be it roast whole beans or powdered instants. Along with being responsible for the UK&I, I also am mentor withing the JDE Global training team responsible for creating and delivering our global coffee training programme.

Leah is part of FoodBev’s editorial team, working on FoodBev Magazine and across the various websites. Leah is a seasoned writer and journalist with over 10 years of experience in content creation and story telling, who prides herself in delivering compelling, high-quality content that engages and informs readers.

Erwin Wetzel is an Austrian and French national. Fluent in German, French, and English, with proficient Spanish skills, Wetzel holds Master's degrees in Political Science from the University of Innsbruck and European Political and Administrative Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. Prior to joining EVA, Wetzel gained valuable insights from roles assisting Members of the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions, as well as working for the Federation of Austrian Municipalities. Since joining EVA in 2011, he has held various positions, including Regulatory Affairs Manager and Deputy Director, before assuming the role of Director General in 2014. Wetzel's responsibilities encompass the general management of EVA, strategic communication leadership, and oversight of multiple committees and working groups, showcasing his commitment to advancing the vending and coffee service industries in Europe.

François Knopes is the director of The Collaborative Coffee Network and a freelance coffee consultant with a rich family legacy in coffee roasting dating back to 1936. As a fourth-generation roaster, François was inspired by the specialty coffee movement after witnessing the 2006 World Barista Championship in Bern. He began roasting at 19 and has since delivered over 20,000 commercial batches, training numerous baristas and coffee roasters along the way. With two decades of experience in the coffee sector, François brings a wealth of knowledge as a green coffee buyer, roaster, barista and consultant. He has worked with his family's business, Knopes Artisan Torréfacteur, and collaborated with renowned companies like Taylor St Baristas, Perky Blenders Coffee Roasters and Exhale Coffee. He is also the co-creator of The Independent Coffee Lab in London.

Gerd Mueller-Pfeiffer is the founder of International Coffee Consulting and brings 30 years of experience across the global coffee industry. He spent over two decades at Nestlé, the world’s largest coffee company, holding senior leadership positions with responsibility for major coffee businesses across Germany, the Nordic markets and EMENA.

His expertise covers business and market strategy, brand building, innovation, category development, pricing and revenue growth management, P&L leadership, sustainability, and M&A. He has played a leading role in developing and growing major international coffee brands and business models.

Today, Gerd advises coffee companies, investors and industry organizations on growth strategies, value creation, and the future of the coffee sector. He is also an international keynote speaker and a recognized industry expert on changing consumer behavior, innovation, and emerging global coffee trends.

Nicole Battefeld-Montgomery is a seasoned professional in the specialty coffee industry, based in Berlin. With 18 years of experience in hospitality and over a decade dedicated to specialty coffee, Nicole has become a prominent figure in the coffee world. She is a four-time German Coffee Champion, having won titles in the Barista Competition, Coffee in Good Spirits and Brewers Cup categories twice. She also placed 2nd in the national Cuptasting championship and Latte Art competition. Nicole's expertise and passion for coffee extend beyond her personal achievements; she is also a respected World Coffee Competition coach, mentoring the next generation of baristas to excel on the global stage. Her commitment to excellence and innovation in coffee makes her a leading authority in the industry, continually pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in specialty coffee.

Jessica has worked in the Food and Beverage industry for 15 years across a variety of roles, each one helping to guide and build her in-depth understanding and knowledge of all things drink related. Her work with MONIN has seen her develop hundreds of beverages for National Account chains across the coffee sector and the On-Trade. Since joining the MONIN Beverage Expert team, she works with customers across the globe and helps MONIN distributor partners with training, trend research and custom menu creation, delivering quality and continent at scale. She excels at identifying current and future trends, recognising the significance of consumer demands and delivers those insights to decision makers in the industry with confidence. Prior to MONIN, Jessica worked for various drinks brands for 7 years and holds many years of experience working On Trade in the Beverage industry, to which she credits her fascination and approach to innovation today.