QSR Media Conference & Awards 2025 powered by Red Bull
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OVERVIEW QSR Media Conference & Awards 2025 powered by Red Bull
In a landscape where change is constant, embracing new challenges becomes paramount for businesses to thrive because these changes are sometimes lessons to how the brand should adapt its strategies for growth.
This year, at the QSR Media Conference & Awards 2025 powered by Red Bull, happening on 20 October 2025 at The Hilton Sydney Hotel, the top industry leaders will come together to talk about changes and how they learned to leverage it to their advantage. Through a series of insightful sessions and keynote addresses, attendees will gain valuable insights into rebranding, digital innovation, customer experience enhancement, menu diversification, and sustainability initiatives.
In conjunction with the conference, the prestigious QSR Media Awards will recognise top brands that have demonstrated outstanding performance and innovation in various categories such as product innovation, marketing campaigns, customer engagement initiatives, and sustainability practices. This event offers an unparalleled opportunity for industry professionals to network, learn from leading experts, and celebrate the achievements of brands driving innovation and excellence in the fast-food industry.
Venue: The Hilton Sydney Hotel, Sydney, Australia
To view the awards page, click here.
SPEAKERS


Jim Bitticks
President & COO
Dave's Hot Chicken

President & COO
Dave's Hot Chicken
Jim Bitticks is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Dave’s Hot Chicken. He oversees the day-to-day operation of the company with direct oversight over operations, training, procurement, construction, marketing, and technology. Jim joined the Dave’s team when there were just four restaurants open and has helped grow the brand to over 260 locations across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and the Middle East. In addition, Jim is a franchisee of Dave’s Hot Chicken with four locations currently open in the Inland Empire of Southern California.
Prior to his current role, Jim was the Chief Restaurant Officer and EVP of Operations, Training, and Construction for Blaze Pizza, and oversaw the successful growth of that brand from two restaurants to three hundred seventy-two restaurants before making the move to Dave’s in 2020.


Brett Houldin
CEO
El Jannah

CEO
El Jannah


Chris Green
CEO
Hungry Jack's

CEO
Hungry Jack's
Chris is a seasoned industry veteran starting as a 14-year old with McDonald’s as crew in Sydney and spending 28 years progressing through the global system including roles in the USA, South Africa and Malaysia. After McDonald’s Chris moved back to Australia as the CEO of Red Rooster where he turned around and transformed the business. Red Rooster was the first traditional Quick Service
Restaurant to deploy a full service delivery model before the aggregators arrived in Australia.
A dynamic & authentic business leader with proven capability of leading large scale and high growth businesses, Chris became Hungry Jack’s CEO in 2019 focussing on making Hungry Jack’s even better and bigger. There is a key focus on developing the best restaurant teams in the industry, strong operations & marketing, with a particular focus on the Drive thru, Digital and Delivery channels. Many of the existing restaurants are currently being refurbished and extra lanes added to Drive Thrus. With currently 450 restaurants in all parts of Australia there is a rollout plan to increase the network to 600 restaurants in the next 7 years. The Hungry Jack’s system has developed a Growth Mindset & is fully aligned around the All Fired Up! Business Plan. The plan is guest obsessed with key menu enhancements including Jack’s Café Barista Coffee, Jack’s Fried Chicken, and a Plant Based Whopper.


Phil Reed
President
Flynn Global ANZ

President
Flynn Global ANZ
SPONSORS



AGENDA
subject to change...
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM - Networking Registration
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM - Welcoming Remarks
9:05 AM - 9:20 AM - Economist Report
9:20 AM - 9:40 AM - International Keynote
Get the inside scoop on how Dave’s Hot Chicken went from a scrappy parking lot pop-up in 2017 to a red-hot, international franchise concept with nearly 300 locations across the US, Canada, the UK, and the Middle East today. Fueled by mind blowing hot chicken, 4 million Instagram and TikTok followers, and celebrity investors like Usher, Samuel L. Jackson, and Drake, Dave’s Hot Chicken has taken the franchising world by storm. Named the fastest growing restaurant chain in America in 2023, Dave's has opened over 250 restaurants since 2021, and expects to open an additional 100 this year alone.
- Jim Bitticks, President & COO, Dave's Hot Chicken
9:40 AM - 9:55 AM - Speaking Session
9:55 AM - 10:25 AM - Leader's Panel
As 2025 enters its final stretch, this panel brings together top leaders in Australia’s quick-service and fast-casual restaurant industry to reflect on the year’s key takeaways and look ahead to 2026. Panellists will explore how evolving consumer expectations, technological advancements, and operational challenges are shaping the industry, sharing insights and strategies to help brands stay competitive and future-ready.
- Phil Reed, President, Flynn Global ANZ
- Brett Houldin, CEO, El Jannah
- Gaven Needham, General Manager APAC, CKE Restaurants, Inc.
- Chris Green, CEO, Hungry Jack's
10:25 AM - 11:05 AM - Morning Break
11:05 AM - 11:20 AM - Speaking Session
11:20 AM - 11:40 AM - Speaking Session
11:40 AM - 11:55 AM - Speaking Session
11:55 AM - 12:25 PM - Panel Session
12:55 PM - 1:55 PM - Lunch Break
1:55 PM - 2:40 PM - Awards Program
2:40 PM - 3:00 PM - Speaking Session
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM - Speaking Session
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM Panel Session
STAGE 2
10:10 AM - 10:40 AM - Speaking Session
10:40 AM - 11:20 AM - Morning Break
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Lunch Break
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM - Speaking Session
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM - Speaking Session
4:00 PM - End of Programme
4:00 - Cocktail Party
more to come...
CONTACT US
For more details, contact:
Wency Padilla
+65 3158 1386
SPEAKERS


Jim Bitticks
President & COO
Dave's Hot Chicken

President & COO
Dave's Hot Chicken
Jim Bitticks is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Dave’s Hot Chicken. He oversees the day-to-day operation of the company with direct oversight over operations, training, procurement, construction, marketing, and technology. Jim joined the Dave’s team when there were just four restaurants open and has helped grow the brand to over 260 locations across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and the Middle East. In addition, Jim is a franchisee of Dave’s Hot Chicken with four locations currently open in the Inland Empire of Southern California.
Prior to his current role, Jim was the Chief Restaurant Officer and EVP of Operations, Training, and Construction for Blaze Pizza, and oversaw the successful growth of that brand from two restaurants to three hundred seventy-two restaurants before making the move to Dave’s in 2020.


Brett Houldin
CEO
El Jannah

CEO
El Jannah


Chris Green
CEO
Hungry Jack's

CEO
Hungry Jack's
Chris is a seasoned industry veteran starting as a 14-year old with McDonald’s as crew in Sydney and spending 28 years progressing through the global system including roles in the USA, South Africa and Malaysia. After McDonald’s Chris moved back to Australia as the CEO of Red Rooster where he turned around and transformed the business. Red Rooster was the first traditional Quick Service
Restaurant to deploy a full service delivery model before the aggregators arrived in Australia.
A dynamic & authentic business leader with proven capability of leading large scale and high growth businesses, Chris became Hungry Jack’s CEO in 2019 focussing on making Hungry Jack’s even better and bigger. There is a key focus on developing the best restaurant teams in the industry, strong operations & marketing, with a particular focus on the Drive thru, Digital and Delivery channels. Many of the existing restaurants are currently being refurbished and extra lanes added to Drive Thrus. With currently 450 restaurants in all parts of Australia there is a rollout plan to increase the network to 600 restaurants in the next 7 years. The Hungry Jack’s system has developed a Growth Mindset & is fully aligned around the All Fired Up! Business Plan. The plan is guest obsessed with key menu enhancements including Jack’s Café Barista Coffee, Jack’s Fried Chicken, and a Plant Based Whopper.


Phil Reed
President
Flynn Global ANZ

President
Flynn Global ANZ

