Copyright 2025 HEX
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MITCHELL HUGHES
Mitchell Hughes is the Founding Partner of NextGen Ventures, Australia’s first student-focused VC fund. At 23, he has raised $2m to back the nation’s most ambitious young founders, combining early capital, mentorship, and community to accelerate startups from idea to global scale.
FOUNDING PARTNER @ NEXTGEN VENTURES
TIM O'SULLIVAN
Tim has launched over six businesses in the beverage and hospitality space, building brands that are loud, bold, and impossible to ignore. Known for his high energy and front-facing role, Tim brings ideas to life through creative marketing and disruptive innovation.
CO-FOUNDER @ BAEJUICE
INCREDIBLE AMPLIFICATION
Hear from our past attendees about their experience at #HEXPO2024
SEAN GREALY
Sean is the Co-Founder of Sell Anything, helping SaaS and tech companies drive revenue and scale sales. An award-winning founder with 8 years in B2B SaaS, he’s also a Startmate Accelerator alumnus and South Australian Young Achiever of the Year.
CO-FOUNDER @ SELL ANYTHING
SCOTT MILLAR
Scott is a leading generational strategist, keynote speaker, and two-time TEDx presenter. Working with 20,000+ young people each year, he bridges generational divides and equips leaders to thrive amid workforce shifts, emerging tech, and the next-gen consumer.
CEO & FOUNDER @ BOP INDUSTRIES
PALOMA NEWTON
Paloma is the Co-Founder and CEO of Elita Genetics, a pioneering company bringing stem cell therapy to Australian pet owners. Through Elita Genetics, Paloma is helping redefine what’s possible in pet healthcare one wagging tail at a time.
CEO & CO-FOUNDER @ ELITA
YOUR CURATED MASTERCHEFS
Learn from the best with over 25+ speakers. As always, the HEXPO team is curating a stellar roster of innovation leaders to share their journeys and experiences with the community (more lineup revealing soon!)
And the experience supported by our Community Partners:
Friday 19th September 2025 @ Melbourne Australia
350+
Attendees
14
Keynotes + Sessions
25+
Legends + Mentors
WHAT'S ON THE MENU
15 minutes
9:25 am - 9:40 am
THE INSATIABLE GENERATION
Mitch Hughes knows first-hand what it means to be hungry. Hungry for success, impact, capital and change – and he's not alone. In a world that had Gen Z founders looking for scraps around the VC table, Mitch launched Next Gen Ventures – Australia's first venture capital fund for students, by students. Don't miss this freshly baked opening session!
Mitchell Hughes
Founding Partner at NextGen Ventures
15 minutes
10:50 am - 11:05 am
KITCHEN BREAK
Time to whisk yourself away for a breather! Whether you're kneading a snack or just want to stir up some conversation, this break is your jam. Lettuce relax before we toast to the next session!
30 minutes
11:50 am - 12:20 pm
FLAVOURS WITHOUT BORDERS (APAC Edition)
From street stalls to supermarket shelves, this one’s a world tour. Flavours Without Borders celebrates the diverse founders bringing their culture to your kitchen — and your cap table. Learn how they turned recipes into empires, all while navigating visas, validation, and vegemite. A rich, emotional, and inspiring session with soul food vibes.
Panellists
Bass Sakdatorn, Co-Founder @ Homm Dessert
Brian Ooi, Co-Founder & Director @ Naked Asian Grocer
Jasmine Collins, Supervisor/All-Rounder @ Migrant Coffee
50 minutes
12:45 pm - 01:35 pm
LUNCH TIME
Take a bite out of the day, chew on new ideas, and dish out great convo.
20 minutes
12:25 pm - 12:45 pm
HOT TAKE
One mic. One mouth. Ten spicy questions. In this podcast-style showdown, a bold startup leader fields fire from our host while chowing down on increasingly hot snacks. Equal parts insight and entertainment — like Hot Ones, but with venture talk and less crying (we think).
Fireside Chat
Garry Williams, Founder @ Group &
Kayla Medica, Fractional Product Marketer @ Mehdeeka
15 minutes
03:25 pm - 03:40 pm
KITCHEN BREAK
Time to whisk yourself away for a breather! Whether you're kneading a snack or just want to stir up some conversation, this break is your jam. Lettuce relax before we toast to the next session!
20 minutes
03:40 pm - 04:00 pm
THE LEMON TWIST
From the heat of the Masterchef kitchen to the sweetness of her very own pastry workshop, Jess Lemon knows that success rarely follows a straight recipe. The Lemon Twist is a candid fireside chat about grit, creativity, and carving out your own flavour of success when the traditional path doesn’t quite fit. Jess shares how she rose to the challenge at just 18, whisked her way onto national TV, and later self-funded a space to create, experiment, and inspire.
Jessica Liemantara
Entrepreneur Speaker @ Jess Lemon
20 minutes
11:05 am - 11:25 am
BEYOND THE KIDS MENU
This isn’t your average generational talk. Beyond the Kids Menu explores how founders, leaders, and learners can collaborate across age gaps to build career magic — with a side of empathy. From Gen Z interns to Boomer board members, how do we serve up mutual respect and shared success? Grab a seat — we’re ordering off the grown-up menu now.
Scott Millar
CEO & Founder @ BOP Industries
20 minutes
04:30 pm - 04:50 pm
THE SECRET SAUCE
Every great startup has that thing — the not-so-obvious ingredient that takes it from good to unforgettable. In this saucy spotlight, HEX lifts the lid on its secret recipe for regional expansion, TNE success, and student-powered growth across APAC. You’ll get a peek behind the prep bench — and maybe even steal a few tips for your own startup kitchen.
Jeanette Cheah
CEO and Co-Founder at HEX
30 minutes
02:55 pm - 03:25 pm
THE GREAT FOOD FIGHT
Are degrees still on the menu? Four big brains. One spicy debate. In this delicious showdown, HEX’s cofounders, a hospitality tech CEO, and a tech communications expert serve up hot takes on whether university degrees are still worth the dough. Will tradition be roasted? Will academia be left on the chopping block? This conversation is anything but half-baked. Forks out. Opinions served raw.
Sizzling Debate
With Brendan Leeds, Emmanuella Grace, Paz Pisarski, Jaclyn Benstead and Chris Hoffmann.
19 SEPTEMBER 2025 | MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
FEASTIVAL OF IDEAS & INNOVATION
If your ambition’s been stuck on simmer, it’s time to fire things up.
This September we’re plating up a high-flavour, high-energy gathering of Melbourne’s boldest entrepreneurs, foodies, creatives, and changemakers. HEXPO is a buffet of bold ideas - designed for our chefs of change: educators, founders, small biz owners, creatives, and culinary dreamers.
We are cooking up an experience that's Michelin-star worthy.
WELCOME TO THE FEASTIVAL
INSPIRED
HEXPO2025 will allow you to feast on fresh perspectives and spicy stories that will fire up your imagination, challenge your thinking, and awaken your appetite for change.
✨
CONNECT
Mingle with a smorgasbord of brilliant minds—founders, creatives, rising leaders and changemakers ready to stir the pot with you from all over Australia.
🤝
ACTION
Be prepared for interactive sessions and walk away with a full plate of tools, next steps, and the confidence to cook up real impact in your world.
🏆
🌟 Managers 🌟 L&D Managers 🌟 HR Managers 👑 Educators / Teachers 😎 Graduates
⚡️ Founders ⚡️ Startup Community 😎 Early Careers 😎 Career Transitioners 🚀 Emerging Leaders
This is not for the faint hearted. Only the brave achieve greatness.
19 SEPTEMBER 2025
ARE YOU HUNGRY
FOR NEW IDEAS?
All Night?
5:00 pm - Late
AFTER PARTY
Wrap up the week with a bang at our HEXPO After Party — a night of bold beats and brilliant minds. It’s your chance to celebrate connections made, ideas sparked, and the magic of the HEX community. Come for the vibes, stay for the surprises!
HEXPO2025
Party
CURATED ACTIVATIONS
MATCHA RAVE
Fuel your brain with beats and brews. A caffeine-fueled networking jam to spark your creativity and keep your afternoon buzzing.
Wed 17th Sept from 5:00pm @ No Vacancy Gallery
In collaboration with:
Swap slides for schooners. Casual chats, bold ideas, and lightbulb moments over a pint in your new favourite thinking space.
RAISE THE BAR
Tue 16th Sept from 5:30pm @ Morris House Melbourne
In collaboration with:
Throughout the week, curated activations will pop up across the venue—designed to spark connection, creativity, and curiosity. From surprise hands-on workshops to bite-sized challenges and immersive brand moments, these mini experiences offer a playful way to engage with ideas, meet new collaborators, and collect memories (and maybe prizes) along the way. Keep your eyes open—you never know what you’ll stumble into next.
20 minutes
04:05 pm - 04:25 pm
SIPPING ON SUCCESS
From Korean hangover cure to a fast-growing startup, Bae Juice is redefining what it means to go global. Join one of the co-founders as he shares the real talk on hustle, hype, and how to build a brand that truly hangs on.
Tim O'Sullivan
Co-Founder @ BaeJuice
Connect with legends from
JULIA TAI
An ex-founder of Aquip Talent, Julia joined HEX while still at university & now leads operations across the business, securing multi-year, million-dollar government grants, championing BIPOC inclusion. Off the clock, she dives into fashion tech & sustainability.
BUSINESS OPERATIONS COORDINATOR @ HEX
JACLYN BENSTEAD
Jac is a tertiary education and product development expert with global experience across the UK, US, Japan, and Canada. Now in Melbourne, she leads program design, runs an e-commerce venture, and mentors generously.
CO-FOUNDER @ HEX
CHRIS HOFFMANN
Chris is a Californian-born international higher education expert passionate about evolving education, fostering professional growth, and creating impactful global experiences.
CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF PARTNERSHIPS OFFICER @ HEX
15 minutes
9:45 am - 10:00 am
HOW TO INFLUENCE A CRAVING
From viral food videos to shaping where Melbourne eats — meet the creators who turned cravings into careers. This session breaks down how one of Melbourne's content queen @melbfoodieee grew a cult following of over 530k+ followers on Instagram and TikTok, built trust with food lovers, and turned recommendations into real-world influence. Hungry for growth? Start here.
Ailene Wu
Content Creator @ MelbFoodieee
30 minutes
10:05 am - 10:35 am
CREAM OF THE CROP
How to score a seat at the hottest place in town — this early-careers panel serves up the journey from student life to landing roles at top-tier, mouthwatering companies. Hear how our panellists scored their seat at the table, navigated imposter syndrome, and seasoned their careers with passion, persistence, and a pinch of luck.
Panellists
Daisy Sun from Canva, Cadon Ho from The Push, Josh Mcleod from Local Brewing Co., and Julia Tai from HEX.
15 minutes
11:30 am - 11:45 am
POP, DROP & SCALE
From backyard batches to a booming brand, Sam has been popping off since he was 10. Join us as the owner of Sam's Popcorn spills how he grew a side hustle into a household name one kernel at a time. This is an all-flavour keynote on bold branding, sweet wins, salty setbacks, and the hustle it takes to scale your passion into something truly poppin’.
Sam Weavers
Owner & Founder @ Sam's Popcorn
HEXPO is where bright minds meet over a buffet of big ideas. From bite-sized workshops to meaty career moments, we’re dishing out inspiration, skill-building, and deliciously fun connections—seasoned with games, prizes, and flavourful surprises. Come hungry for innovation!
$139
LAST CALL
RESERVE
Full-week pass (activation activities & main day pass) + After-party.
↓
$269
LAST CALL
VIP RESERVE
Full-week pass (activation activities & main day pass) + After-party + Intimate VIP Dinner with speakers and partners at one of Melbourne's iconic venue.
★
$49 AFTER
PARTY
Join our after-party from 5.00pm onwards. First drink and nibbles on us. An unforgettable night + networking experience.
✲
🎫 RESERVE YOUR SEAT
$25
ACTIVATION PASS RESERVE / EVENT
Want to join the Matcha Rave or Pub Learning? Unlock the full flavour of the week with your Activation Pass! Attend sessions, collect stamps, and earn tasty rewards. The more you feast on ideas, the more you win!
☺︎
$39 Online Virtual Event Ticket
Day pass. Engage in new friendships, embark on exciting quests, and explore the immersive world of HEXPO2024.
◉
$35
LAST CALL
FOR STUDENT
Main day pass + After-party.
For any students with a valid student ID (from High school, tertiary and university).
★
5 minutes
9:20 am - 9:25 am
WELCOME TO HEXPO2025
Festival of Ideas, where bold thinkers, innovators, and changemakers collide. Find your seat, acknowledge the country and welcome our attendees into the space.
50 minutes
8:30 am - 9:20 am
REGISTRATION OPEN
Come in, grab a coffee, snap some pics, explore the space, and mingle with fellow attendees before the festival begins. Your journey into bold ideas starts here.
10 minutes
04:50 pm - 05:00 pm
KITCHEN'S CLOSING
Get a takeaway box of ideas, connections, and big dreams—and go feast on the future you’ll create.
FRANCES GOH
Frances, Co-Founder and Head of Community & Growth at One Roof, is an innovation expert and serial entrepreneur passionate about closing the gender gap in business. She’s been recognised as a 2024 AusMumpreneur winner, 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian Australian, and 2025 Startup Awards finalist.
CO-FOUNDER @ ONE ROOF
BRENDAN LEEDS
Brendan Leeds is CEO & Co-Founder of Choosey and Clipboard Hospitality, reshaping how venues hire and empower talent through smarter, faster, more human staffing. With 20 years in venues, events, and startups, he blends industry expertise with tech innovation.
CEO & CO-FOUNDER @ CLIPBOARD HOSPITALITY
GARRY WILLIAMS
Garry runs GROUP GROUP, helping tech companies grow through sharp storytelling, newsletters, and events. He was the first hire at Tractor Ventures, driving its brand as it became Australia’s fastest-growing fintech, and previously led creative innovation at University of Melbourne.
FOUNDER @ GROUP GROUP
AILENE WU
Ailene is a Melbourne-based content creator with a passion for uncovering the city’s most delicious hidden gems. Through her vibrant presence on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube (@melbfoodieee), she’s built a strong and engaged community of fellow food lovers who follow her for authentic reviews, drool-worthy visuals, and insider tips.
CONTENT CREATOR & INFLUENCER
Bass is one of the founders of Homm Dessert, a Melbourne-born Thai dessert café bringing a modern twist to traditional flavours. He's on a mission to share Thai-inspired treats worldwide and win hearts one bite at a time.
CO-FOUNDER @ HOMM DESSERT
BASS SAKDATORN
SAM WEAVERS
At just 18, Sam turned his passion for popcorn into a nationwide brand, Sam’s Popcorn. He donates 40% of sales from special pails to the Childhood Cancer Association and shares his journey on stages, inspiring others to chase their bold ideas.
FOUNDER @ SAM'S POPCORN
DAISY SUN
Daisy is a Backend Engineer at Canva, building scalable systems that power millions of users. An ANU Advanced Computing graduate specialising in Machine Learning, she loves tennis, film photography, and community volunteering.
SOFTWARE ENGINEER @ CANVA
Queen Victoria Market
From fresh produce to cultural treasures, Queen Victoria Market has been a beating heart of Melbourne for over a century. At HEXPO2025, we’re reimagining this beloved landmark as a dynamic space for discovery, networking, and big ideas.
MELBOURNE'S HOME OF CULTURE & CONNECTION
Jessica is an award-winning technology leader, CEO and Co-Founder of Neighbourlytics, and Director at Wade Institute. Through her work, she’s become a trusted voice on innovation, placemaking, and the future of cities.
DIRECTOR @ WADE INSTITUTE
JESSICA CHRISTIANSEN FRANKS
CADON HO
Fuelled by a passion for music, Cadon started as a Red Bull Student Brand Manager, then joined HEX as Events Coordinator in 2024. Now interning at Warner Music Australia, his journey spans from LMusA classical piano to a jazz piano scholarship at Berklee.
BOARD MEMBER @ THE PUSH
OLIVIA RINATO
Olivia is an entrepreneur and mindset specialist in entrepreneurship education. After founding a successful video production company, she now designs transformative digital learning experiences for future founders and innovators.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION MANAGER @ MONASH GENERATOR
CHARLIE PERELINI
Charlie is an energetic generalist passionate about startups, tech, and creating unforgettable experiences. He has delivered 30+ global innovation programs, championing Pasifika talent in startups and tech.
EXPERIENCE DELIVERY LEAD @ HEX
JEANETTE CHEAH
HG20 Young Entrepreneurs, Top 100 Innovators List, 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian Australians; 'Entrepreneurship' Winner and Ecosystem Hero of the Year for Governor of Victoria Startup Awards – Jeanette is at the forefront of transforming education for the future.
CEO & CO-FOUNDER @ HEX
SAMAR MCHEILEH
Samar Mcheileh, Co-CEO of Scale, has 15+ years in finance, leading $150m transformations, scaling angel networks into full-fledged funds, and championing Australia’s early-stage ecosystem.
MANAGING PARTNER @ SCALE INVESTORS
BRIAN OOI
Brian is the founder of Naked Asian Grocer, Australia’s first zero-waste Asian grocery store. With a mission to strip waste from the industry, he’s redefining how people shop for Asian groceries—making it modern, sustainable, and packaging-free.
CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR @ NAKED ASIAN GROCER
Kayla is the author of The Mehdeeka Method, a guide to establishing product marketing at any business, and works with startups and scaleups to implement PMM in their marketing and sales teams.
KAYLA MEDICA
FRACTIONAL PRODUCT MARKETER @ MEHDEEKA
PAZ PISARSKI
Paz is Co-Founder of The Community Collective, a global movement across 18 countries. She’s trained 280+ businesses—including Canva, Google and MYOB—in community-led growth, spoken internationally, and interviewed leaders like Seth Godin.
CO-FOUNDER @ THE COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
EMMANUELLA GRACE
Emmanuella Grace helps people level up their voice for high-stakes moments—from pitching and leading to presenting on global stages. She’s coached coders to CEOs to speak with confidence, clarity, and authenticity.
COMMUNICATION CONSULTANT @ FIND YOUR VOICE
Josh began as a student intern at Local Brewing Co. and worked his way up to Head of Operations, part-owner, and Director of its newly acquired subsidiary, Wonki. He’s passionate about where commerciality meets sustainability, finding bold and innovative ways to solve problems—and win.
JOSHUA MCLEOD
HEAD OF OPERATIONS @ LOCAL BREWING CO.
JASMINE COLLINS
Jazz, Auckland-born and of proud Samoan heritage, has led teams at Nike, Sephora, and Culture Kings. A former radio announcer, she’s now a content producer, DJ, and Supervisor at Migrant Coffee, bringing her passion for people, culture, and music.
SUPERVISOR/ALL-ROUNDER @ MIGRANT COFFEE
JESSICA JADE LIEMANTARA
A former Masterchef Australia contestant & self-taught pastry chef, Jessica began her journey at 18, reaching the semi-finals of her first culinary competition and later trained under accomplished chefs. Today, she has fully self-funded her own workshop kitchen — a space to create, innovate, and continue growing as a pastry artist.
ENTREPRENEUR SPEAKER @ JESS LEMON
15 minutes
10:35 am - 10:50 am
PITCH A LA CARTE
Just like a great menu, every founder brings their own flavour. Pitch à la Carte is our showcase of fresh startup ideas from Generation Next. It's bite-sized, bold, and served straight from the source. From appetisers of early concepts to fully plated visions, this is your chance to sample what's coming across ASEAN, Australia & Timor-Leste.
Serving Soon
Great talents @ great places
15 minutes
01:35 pm - 01:50 pm
BURNT TOFU
From Top of Funnel to sizzling success, this hands-on workshop is for rising leaders ready to master growth strategies, amplify influence, and transform fleeting attention into meaningful, long-term impact that drives measurable business growth and momentum.
Sean Grealy
Co-Founder @ SellAnything.io
25 minutes
01:55 pm - 02:20 pm
SNACK TO THE FUTURE
Will your 2030 breakfast include bugs, lab-grown bacon, or AI-recommended smoothies? Snack to the Future is your front-row seat to the weird, wild, and wildly necessary world of food innovation. This session explores the technologies shaping how — and what — we’ll eat next. It’s crunchy. It’s juicy. It’s utterly unmissable.
Monash Generator
With Olivia Rinato, Leah Tassios, and Rodney Health
25 minutes
02:25 pm - 02:50 pm
SPILL THE TEA
No PR polish. No “I woke up at 5am” humblebrags. Just four badass women founder panellists on a couch, pouring the hot truth. This is the behind-the-scenes gossip of startup life — the anxiety, the pivots, the burnouts, and the breakthroughs. BYO mug, 'cause the tea will be scalding.
Spicy Interview
With Paloma Newton, Frances Goh, Samar Mcheileh and Jessica Christiansen-Franks.
