Meet the Speakers #5 - Natascha Mirosch

Natascha Mirosch is the food and nutrition reporter at the Courier Mail. She started off her journalistic career as a travel writer, but her love of good food and interest in the cuisines of the places she visited began to dominate her writing.

During the nineties, she freelanced for many publications in the UK , including regular restaurant reviewing and a wine column.

Between 2000 and 2004, Natascha took time off to have a child, write a book and go back to Uni to finish her degree in literature.

In 2004 she started as restaurant reviewer for The Brisbane News, then moved to the Courier Mail, beginning at HOME magazine, then moving on to feature writing for Good Life, the Tuesday food lift out.

Today, she writes about food for both the news and features section of the Courier Mail and reviews for the annual Courier Mail Food and Wine Guide as well as the Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. Natascha has judged meat for the EKKA, cheese for the Cheese Festival and helped decided What Wine Women Want for the Brisbane Fine Wine Festival.

She is a passionate supporter of artisan producers and locally grown products, a keen, (albeit erratic) cook and always an enthusiastic diner.

Visit Natascha's Blog http://blogs.news.com.au/couriermail/food/

Meet the Speakers #4 - Kenneth Law, Restaurant & Catering QLD

Kenneth is an experienced industrial relations manager, industrial advocate and an administrator in the field of industrial relations in Queensland. His IR / HR experience goes back to 1975, and includes a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the Industrial Relations Act 1999 (QLD), the Workplace Relations Act 1999 and the Fair Work Act 2009.

During Kenneth's career, he have also been involved in the delivery and management of training programs as a well as acting as bargaining agent for employers in the preparation, negotiation, filing and resolving of any issues regarding collective agreements / enterprise agreements as a result of the application of the relevant IR test - now the Fair Work Act 2009.

Meet the Speakers #3 - Peta Ellis, City Publicity

Peta Ellis has been in working Marketing and Communications since 2001. After creating Red Carpet Projects - a boutique pr / publicity firm - in 2003 she continued to specialize in working with unique businesses, service providers and personalities.

As a publicist the main priority is to manage clients brands and public profiles as well as ensuring their messages relating to what they do, who they are, and what they have to offer are always in the limelight.

Peta launched City Publicity in 2009 after identifying a gap in the market to provide accessible, affordable publicity options and useful tools to assist business owners generate valuable publicity exposure.

The rapidly growing world of social media for business with regards to; how to use it, how to engage with it, how to manage it and how to make it work for small business became such a topical issue, Peta identified a the opportunity to provide assistance and usable tools though City Publicity.

She specializes in publicity for social media and provides valuable “Publicity Audits’ for companies and businesses to assess the current visibility of businesses through the eyes of the media.

City Publicity’s website provides buy-as-you need traditional and online PR services, with no contracts and no monthly retainer fees, with the aim to work inline with small businesses and ease cash flow stress.

Peta prides herself on customer service, client satisfaction and return on investment in her services.

City Publicity has REAL people behind her business and boasts being at forefront of digital media communication and online publicity and takes pride in the ever evolving service offering.

She says “PR is constantly changing and we plan to change with it to ensure business owners know what they need to do to keep up to speed. It’s easy to be left behind in the online world of business and consistently upgrading skills and techniques is imperative for survival”.

For more info, visit www.citypublicity.com.au

Meet the Speakers #2 - David Solnet

Dr David Solnet is the Director of Industry and Government Engagement and a lecturer in Customer Service Management at the University of Queensland’s School of Tourism.

Prior to commencing his academic career in 2002, David enjoyed a successful 18-year career in the restaurant and club industries where he held senior management roles in both the United States and Australia – most recently as general manager at Brett’s Wharf in Brisbane. He completed his PhD in service management and organizational psychology – where he researched the links between employee attitudes and customer satisfaction in the hotel industry.

David has authored over 20 academic, peer reviewed papers, many in the worlds top hospitality industry journals, and was recently a short listed finalist for International Best Paper in the marketing journal, Managing Service Quality. He is currently working on a university level hospitality management textbook with co-authors from the UK.

David also engages industry in an advisory capacity, as co-director of the consulting firm ‘Shift Directions’, providing a range of programs and services in the areas of financial analysis, customer service quality, management and supervisory leadership training and performance-based remuneration programs.

Finally, David had the pleasure of serving as the Queensland State Chair of Judges in 2006 and 2007 for the National Restaurant and Catering Association’s Awards for Excellence Program.

Meet the Speakers #1 - Martin Duncan, Freestyle Tout

Martin Duncan originally opened Freestyle Tout (tout meaning everything or all) 11 years ago in Rosalie as a gallery, florist with coffee and dessert.

“I went with the flowers and desserts originally because they are
both feel good, inspired by love and are great for the soul!”

Since its inception, Freestyle Tout has grown into a dessert café with an iconic reputation throughout Brisbane and Australia.

In December 2004, Martin opened Freestyle Tout at Emporium, 1000 Ann St Emporium in Fortitude Valley. Recently Martin opened another Freestyle Tout at West End, 220 Melbourne Street. Martin still has the art and dessert concept at both restaurants enhanced by an all day savoury menu.

Each calendar month, the Freestyle Tout restaurants showcase a new artist.

Martin is a keen advocate for charities such as the Abused Child Trust, Starlight Children’s Foundation and the Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.

Martin, who is a qualified chef with a passion for desserts has regularly featured in the media promoting the hospitality industry, consults to several magazines. This includes a stint as guest chef for Virgin Blue’s inflight magazine Voyeur, with monthly food pages for 11 issues.

Martin is continually helping to promote QLD food events, such as the Celebration of Australian Food & Wine Noosa Style, Hilton Masterclass and smartFOOD.

In March 2005, Martin initiated a monthly networking evening called the Queensland Food Beverage Industry (FBI) with key media, government departments and local foodies. The FBI group is also used to showcase Queensland chefs, produce and wines.

In 2007 FBI extended to the Sunshine Coast. Events are held in both Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast four times a year, showcasing seasonal local produce to chefs, restaurateurs and media.

For more information, visit :
www.freestyletout.com.au
www.qldfbi.com.au

The Line Up

So far we have four confirmed speakers... but more about that later.

Who would you like to hear speak?

What are the hot topics in the industry right now?

What is smartFOOD?

smartFOOD is a one-day forum designed for the café and restaurant industry by the café and restaurant industry in Queensland.

The 2009 event will be held on Monday 28 September
Gardens Theatre, QUT Gardens Point
8am - 4pm

smartFOOD showcases a group of Queensland’s top foodies and industry experts, specific to the café industry, presenting insights into the secrets of their successful careers and recommendations on how to succeed and prosper in the café hospitality industry.

The event is aimed specifically at:
* established cafes looking to improve;
* cafes looking at growing and expanding;
* new cafe owners who are just starting out and looking for advice in one central area; and
* those interested in supporting Queensland's cafe and restaurant industry.

For more information, contact info@smartfood.com.au