Budding restaurateurs, designers on the rise and aspiring moguls would be wise to take note – The Locals Panel Series is putting the microphone in front of Brisbane’s best and brightest, and encouraging them to dispense their wisdom for us all to devour. In partnership with the trendsetting team at West Village, The Locals Panel Series will be your best chance to get professional insight from a broad spectrum of industry experts. Each evening will see three panellists and a moderator share their thoughts in the inspiring surrounds of West Village’s stunning event space The Bromley Room #2.
The Locals Panel Series will encompass four evenings of enlightening conversation, each dedicated to a hot-topic issue specific to a particular field. The first of the series – taking place in early May – targets our stomachs, and will see three of Brisbane’s sharpest culinary minds discussing the city’s booming dining scene and the future of food as we evolve as a discerning market. In June the focus will shift to design, and a collection of makers, designers and artists will talk about the best ways to break into the design scene, how to work for yourself and how to build an audience. July’s event pivots towards the realm of fashion, and will seek to address how up-and-coming labels can best make a statement whilst competing with fast-fashion conglomerates. The Locals Panel Series will wrap up in August with a return to food, this time asking a group of experts about how we can best make smarter food choices and reduce our environmental impact.
We’ve been drip-feeding the speaker list over the past few weeks, but now we’re done keeping secrets. The panellists have been confirmed, and we’re delighted to say that they’re a who’s who of Brisbane hospitality moguls. For the first of The Locals Panel Series events on Wednesday May 8, we’ll have superstar chef Ben Williamson dispensing his copious amounts of knowledge for the crowd. Ben is a notable figure in Brisbane’s restaurant scene through his work as former executive chef at acclaimed destination Gerard’s Bistro, and will look to further elevate the city’s status once more with his forthcoming restaurant 22 Agnes.
Up next we have Angela Hirst from storied foodie incubator Wandering Cooks, who will also be speaking on our panel. Wandering Cooks has played a huge role in fostering Brisbane’s food culture, empowering more than 100 micro food businesses and helping promote sustainable sourcing, waste and employment practices, not to mention promoting local growers and closing the loop between soil and food. Angela will undoubtedly provide valuable insight into Brisbane’s transforming food culture and what it takes to establish a more diverse and ethical food future for Brisbane.
Chef Josue Lopez will also be joining Ben and Angela on the night, giving insight into his career to date and shedding light on the local industry. From earning hats during his tenure as head chef of GOMA Restaurant to his newest chapter as owner and operator of famed East Brisbane eatery The Wolfe, Josue will have plenty of experiences to draw upon forThe Locals Panel Series.
Moderating our expert panel will be food and travel writer, Queensland restaurant reviewer for Qantas Magazine, and committed foodie Morag Kobez. Morag’s recently completed doctoral thesis is entitled Were we at the same restaurant? Digital disruption and the transformation of the gastronomic field. It explores how social and digital media has made a food critic of us all. Morag will be coaxing our panellists to divulge their thoughts on Brisbane’s burgeoning food scene, and where they see the food industry moving in the future.
Tickets are now on sale! You can get yours right here, right now. Tickets numbers are limited, so if you’re eager to keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to Brisbane’s growth, act quick!
The Locals Panel Series is project made in collaboration with our friends at West Village.
