The following program is current as at 29.09.25. Access a pdf copy here.
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2025 National Olive Conference & Trade Exhibition Conference Program Hotel Grand Chancellor, Adelaide, SA |
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| Tuesday October 28, 2025 – FIELD TOUR (optional – separate ticket required) | ||||
| 9:00 AM | Buses depart from Hotel Grand Chancellor | |||
| 10:00 AM | Tour of Oleapak Olive Oil Packaging Service | |||
| 12:30 PM | Lunch at Peninsula Providore | |||
| 1:30 PM | Presentation on Peninsula Providore – brief history, grove set-up, sales/marketing | |||
| 1:45 PM | Exhibitor demonstrations | |||
| 2:15 PM | A walk and talk through the grove, covering: pruning, composting, insectary plantings and processing line. | |||
| 4:00 PM | Buses depart from Peninsula Providore | |||
| 5:15 PM | Buses arrive Hotel Grand Chancellor | |||
| CONFERENCE DAY 1: Wednesday October 29, 2025 | ||||
| 8:00 AM Registration desk open | ||||
| 9:00 AM | Opening | TBC | ||
| 9:15 AM | EVOO quality in the USA and Australia – our story | Paul Miller, AOA Director/Consultant | ||
| 9:45 AM | Consumer market update | Andrew Burgess, Cobram Estate Olives | ||
| 10:10 AM | Conference exhibitors introductions | |||
| 10:40 AM | Session round up & questions | |||
| 10:45 AM | MORNING TEA | |||
| 11:15 AM | Forecasting drought | Dr Dane Thomas, Climate Applications, SARDI, Department of Primary Industries and Regions | ||
| 11:45 AM | Irrigation systems for olives | Tom Hatcher, Swan Systems | ||
| 12:20 PM | Session round up & questions | |||
| 12:25 PM | SPONSOR PRESENTATION | |||
| 12:45 PM | LUNCH | |||
| Afternoon Session: | ||||
| 1:45 PM | Irrigation of olives with reclaimed wastewater | Prof. Arnon Dag, Senior Researcher, Gilat Research Centre, Agricultural Research Organization, Israel | ||
| 2:15 PM | The NOVA site – history and current plans | Ben Pike, University of Adelaide,Waite Research Institute, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine | ||
| 2:45 PM | Drones in the olive grove – efficiency, insights, and innovation |
Mike Thomsett, Earthbound Horticulture / Brian Hearne, UAV Solutions | ||
| 3:15 PM | AFTERNOON TEA | |||
| 3:45 PM | Benchmarking – why it is important | Michael Southan, AOA CEO | ||
| 4:15 PM | EVOO quality: the whole picture | Claudia Guillaume, Modern Olives | ||
| 4:45 PM | Session round up & questions | |||
| 5:00 PM | DAY 1 CLOSE | |||
| CONFERENCE DINNER, 6:00pm – 10:00pm, Kooyonga Golf Club, Lockleys | ||||
| CONFERENCE DAY 2 – Thursday October 30, 2025 | ||||
| 8:00 AM Registration desk open | ||||
| 9:00 AM | Olive Strategic Agrichemicals Review & the Olive Industry Biosecurity Plan: an update | Prof. Robert Spooner-Hart, AOA Scientific Adviser in Sustainable Pest Management / Western Sydney University | ||
| 9:30 AM | The importance of optimizing macro-elements in fertilising olives | Prof. Arnon Dag | ||
| 10:00 AM | SPONSOR PRESENTATION | |||
| 10:20 AM | Session round up & questions | |||
| 10:30 AM | MORNING TEA | |||
| 11:00 AM | Harvest timing and extension growth | Andrew Taylor, Pendleton Estate | ||
| 11:30 AM | Update on Australian Dietary Guidelines, Health Star Rating and Olive Wellness Institute | Jasmine Diamantaras, Olive Wellness Institute | ||
| 12:00 PM | What machinery do I really need? | Michael Thomsett, Andrew Taylor and Tina Knight (Chair) | ||
| 12:40 PM | Session round up & questions | |||
| 12:45 PM | LUNCH | |||
| Afternoon Session: | ||||
| 1:45 PM | Table olives – a new scalable production process and table olive tasting | Prof. John Fielke, University of South Australia / Dr Michelle Wirthensohn, University of Adelaide | ||
| 4:00 PM | DAY 2 OFFICIAL CLOSE and THANKYOU | Michael Thomsett | ||
| AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL OLIVE AWARDS DINNER (optional – separate ticket required) 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM, Hotel Grand Chancellor, Adelaide | ||||
Australian Olive Association Ltd endeavours to keep presentations as represented, however it reserves the right to make any necessary changes to the program.
Platinum Sponsor:
Supporting Sponsors:
The National Olive Conference & Trade Exhibition is facilitated by the Australian Olive Association, partially funded by Hort Innovation using the Olive R&D levy, with in-kind contributions from the Australian Olive Association and funding from the Australian Government. The event is also supported by a range of industry sponsors and exhibitors.