One-day conference

Women in Tea & Coffee

Championing women in tea and coffee

The View, London

38-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE

6 May 2026

Women in Tea & Coffee 2026 begins in

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Women in Tea and Coffee

Tea & Coffee Trade Journal held its inaugural Women in Tea and Coffee conference in central London in 2025. This year we’re back in Holborn on 6 May 2026, for another packed day of keynote speakers from the UN FAO, Ahmad Tea and Löfbergs, and three informative panel discussions with an array of top class speakers (the full Agenda is here). There are also two top class workshops, hosted by Whittard of Chelsea and PACT Coffee, and the day is rounded out with a drinks reception.

We’re looking forward to a day of positivity, energy and enthusiasm, highlighting the importance of celebrating and empowering women in the industry.

Watch the video to get a glimpse of last year’s conference. Check out the Agenda and Register here.

Event Sponsors 2026

Sponsor Women in Tea & Coffee 2026

Event Supporters 2026

Why attend Women in Tea & Coffee 2026?

Empowerment & Community: Dedicated to advancing women in tea and coffee

Why attend Women in Tea & Coffee 2026?

Inspiration from Industry Leaders: Women in tea and coffee share their career journeys

Why attend Women in Tea & Coffee 2026?

Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded women across the industry

Keynote Speakers 2026

Zahra Afshar, Head of Legal, Human Rights and Sustainability

Ahmad Tea

Zahra Afshar, Head of Legal, Human Rights and Sustainability

Ahmad Tea

Zahra Afshar is a lawyer turned sustainability leader who has dedicated her career to advancing justice – first in the courtroom, and now across global supply chains. Trained in criminal defence and human rights law, she specialised in prison law and miscarriages of justice before moving in-house to Ahmad Tea, a family-owned business exporting to over 90 countries.
As Head of Legal, Human Rights and Sustainability, Zahra now applies her analytical rigour and principled outlook to one of the world’s most complex and historic supply chains. The tea industry is still largely hand-plucked — especially by women who, since the colonial beginnings of the industry, have been marginalised. Zahra is passionate about restoring duties and progressing rights to these communities, ensuring that those who grow and harvest tea are treated with fairness and dignity.
She leads initiatives that tackle systemic inequality head-on, from closing the living wage gap for tea workers to delivering programmes which improve health, sanitation and education. Under her leadership, Ahmad Tea was honoured with the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in 2024, recognising its commitment to embedding people and planet at the heart of commercial growth.

Zahra has also designed and is piloting a pioneering profit-share initiative to bring visibility and value directly into the hands of those who handpick the tea – ensuring that the people who work the hardest in the value chain are recognised and rewarded.

Educated at Bristol University and the London School of Economics, and called to the Bar, Zahra brings a rare combination of legal expertise, sustainability leadership, and a deep commitment to justice. Her vision is to redefine ethical leadership in global business – proving that supply chains can be not just sustainable, but truly equitable.

Kathrine Löfberg, Chair of the Board

Löfbergs

Dr Erika Valério, Senior Gender and Agrifood Systems Expert

UN FAO

Speakers & Panellists 2026

Jane Pettigrew

UK Tea Academy Founder, tea author and expert

Victoria Cordi

Director of Strategic Partnerships, Rainforest Alliance

Katy Woollard

Product Specialist, Whittard of Chelsea

Hannah Nunn

Founder & CEO, Kickstart Coffee

Joyce Maina

Head of Tea, Bird & Blend

Frances Musgrave, Tea Sourcing Manager

Finlay Beverages

Rebekah Kettrick, Coffee Buying Manager

Cafedirect Group

Bryony Osmond, Master Blender

Twinings

Noelia Villalobos Soto, Executive Director

Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica and Sintercafé

Kerrina Thorogood, Partnerships Director

Fairtrade Foundation

Amy Powell, R&D Food Technologist

Ecotone (Clipper Teas)

Valentina Molano Paredes, Strategic Planning Coordinator

SKN Caribecafé S.A.S (NKG)

Michele Arias, Sustainability Manager

UNEX (Guatemala) SA

Laura Metcalfe, Coffee Trainer

Pact Coffee

Agenda

Agenda

From 8.30 Registration – Tea & coffee served

9.00 Introduction – Vanessa Facenda, Editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

9.10 – 9.40 Tea Keynote: Zahra Afshar, Head of Legal, Human Rights and Sustainability Ahmad Tea

9.45 – 10.15 Coffee Keynote: Kathrine Löfberg, Chair of the Board, Löfbergs

10.20 – 10.40 Coffee/Tea break

10.45 – 11.25 Keynote speaker: Dr Erika Valério, Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division, UN FAO

11.30 – 12.10 Panel Discussion: Women’s Evolving Roles in Tea & Coffee Agribusiness – Sponsored by Lincoln & York

Panel members: Michele Arias, sustainability manager, Unex Guatemala. Joyce Maina, head of tea, Bird & Blend Tea. Frances Musgrave, tea sourcing manager, Finlays. Anna Nordström, global coffee expert, Löfbergs. Hannah Nunn, founder & CEO, Kickstart Coffee. Lucy George, CEO, Petersons Tea.

12.15 – 13.30 Lunch

13.35 – 14.15 Panel Discussion: Careers in Tea & Coffee

Panel members: Rebekah Kettrick, coffee purchasing manager, Cafédirect. Bryony Osmond, master blender, Twinings. Valentina Molano Paredes, strategic planning coordinator, SKN Caribecafé (NKG). Jane Pettigrew, UKTA founder & instructor, tea author & expert. Amy Powell, R&D food technologist, Clipper Teas. Noelia Villalobos, director of Sintercafe, IWCA/ACE/COE board member.

14.20 – 15.20 Tea & Coffee Workshops (pre-registration required)

Tea Workshop presented by Katy Woollard, Whittard of Chelsea: Discover the story behind two of the world’s most iconic green tea traditions in this immersive tasting experience. In this guided session, we’ll explore the fascinating differences between Chinese pan-fired green teas and Japanese steamed green teas – two styles shaped by distinct cultures, craftsmanship, and processing techniques. Through side-by-side tastings, you’ll learn how heat treatment transforms flavour, aroma, colour, and mouthfeel. We’ll dive into how each method locks in freshness, influences the leaf’s appearance, and ultimately shapes what ends up in your cup. Whether you’re new to green tea or looking to refine your palate, this session will sharpen your tasting skills and deepen your appreciation for the artistry behind every infusion.

Coffee Workshop presented by Laura Metcalfe, Pact Coffee: Pact Coffee Trainer and London Coffee Masters 2026 finalist Laura Metcalfe hosts a tasting of four extraordinary coffees – each one grown by a woman at the top of her craft. As attendees taste, Laura will share the stories behind each cup: the women who produced them and the skill and dedication that makes their coffee exceptional.
She will also discuss her own journey to the Barista Championships, the women who inspired her along the way, and what it means to compete at the highest level of the industry.

Pre-registration required for the workshops – CLICK HERE (you need to be a registered attendee before signing up for the workshops)

15.20 – 15.30 Coffee/Tea break

15.35 – 16.15 Panel Discussion: Why Women are Pivotal to the Future of Tea & Coffee

Panel members: Zahra Afshar, head of legal, human rights and sustainability, Ahmad Tea. Victoria Cordi, director strategic partnership, Rainforest Alliance. Kathrine Löfberg, chair, Löfbergs. Kerrina Thorogood, partnerships director, Fairtrade Foundation. Dr Ericka Valério, senior gender and agrifood systems, UN FAO. Noelia Villalobos, director of Sintercafe, IWCA/ACE/COE board member.

16.20 – 16.25 Closing comments: Vanessa Facenda, Editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

16.25 – 17.00 Drinks Reception

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