Meet the NZSCA Board & Staff
Board 2025/2026
Carl Sara | President
Sucafina, Ōtautahi / Christchurch
+64 21 389 965
With more than 25 years in New Zealand’s coffee industry, Carl has worked in business as a Barista, Café Owner, Roaster, and Trader. During that period, Carl has had the chance to serve in various industry representation roles, including on the Board of World Coffee Events, including a term as Chairman, and previously has contributed 5 years on the Board of NZSCA, including a year as President in 13/14. Carl says that “I believe in the New Zealand Coffee industry, our people, and our businesses. They have matured with a healthy, competitive, but supportive community spirit, and I am excited to have an opportunity with NZSCA to help build a future that stands on the shoulders of a strong and proud coffee history.
Richard Corney | Vice President
Flight Coffee, Pōneke /Wellington
+64 27 286 9968
Richard has been in the coffee industry for 20 years, beginning with his first cafe in 2006, his career has taken him from behind a coffee machine to coffee farms in Colombia, washing stations in Burundi to head judging the World Barista Championships. Richards work with World Coffee Events has taken him all over the world teaching WCE Rules & Regulations and hosting national coffee championships. His work in Raw Material has been some of the most rewarding. Developing and building new relationships with in-country partners for project work in Rwanda and Burundi and connecting coffee buyers with meaningful and impact-driven coffee value chains all over the world. Richard was a Certified Q-Grader between 2015-18 and volunteered for the Coffee Quality Institute and the Coffee Corps Programme. At the beginning of 2021, Richard stepped into the Managing Director role of Inigo Coffee Group and back into the ‘dark’ (roasted) side of the industry.
Megan Wyper | Immediate past President
Acme Cupco, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington
Megan has been a coffee professional all her working life, both here in Aotearoa and in the UK. From working alongside other passionate individuals in helping build their businesses up and diversifying, to completing, judging, and roasting Speciality coffee.
Megan used competitions, not just as a competitor but also as a judge to showcase her skills, meet people, and build her portfolio so that she could further her career in Speciality coffee.
She’s passionate about equality within Aotearoa’s coffee culture, and small business and about helping others find their pathway within the industry just as others helped her with her own path. “Volunteering on the board for the past five years has been about giving back to the community that has given me so much.”
She’s been with Acme Cupco for the past 6 years in a marketing and sales role that has taken her all over the world working with their international distributors. In 2022 Megan, alongside her business partner, purchased Acme Cupco from the founders, Jeff and Bridget. Megan is the co-owner and managing director of Acme Cupco.
Alice Burton | Tresurer
John Burton Limited, Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland
Alice has worked in coffee for 10 years. She grew up around tea and coffee with her grandfather (Jack), father (John), and uncle (David) all working in the industry, so the dinner table chat was always interesting! In 2014, she spent 12 weeks doing a ‘coffee internship’ in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, discovered her love for working at origin, with suppliers and producers, and never looked back.
Alice is incredibly proud of the contribution that her family has given to our industry and hopes to continue that legacy, while adding her own personal touch. In her role as head of operations for JBL, she’s involved in all aspects of running a business and is passionate about inclusivity, community, and education.
Scott Pepler | 2nd Vice-Chairperson
Havana, Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland
Scott is super excited to be part of the NZSCA Board and 2nd Vice President. He has been part of the association from the start and was part of the originals that started the NZ Barista Champs. He is a past NZ Head judge and a sensory judge at five World Barista Championships. He has extensive management experience, including Coffee Operations, Quality R&D, and logistics. Scott has managed big projects like setting up the new UCC Coffee Roastery, which is called “The Roastery at Twenty-Three”.
How long have you been in the industry: I have been in the industry since 1993 and started as a technologist for a Swiss-owned Instant coffee facility. Since then, I have had experience in all forms of coffee, from scale to specialty.
What you gain from being on the Board: I feel I will bring a genuine desire for Roaster member collaboration. We are in the most challenging times for our industry, and I think there is a lot we can share with our current challenges. I do feel we need to work closer on non-competitive industry issues.
Sarah McMath | Membership and Events portfolio
Goodman Fielder, Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland
Throughout my diverse career, I have defined my skills in marketing and activations, working across various industries. My specific focus on the food service and coffee industry over the past three years has been particularly rewarding. In my role as Marketing Manager for Meadow Fresh Food Service, I have collaborated closely with cafes, baristas, and other stakeholders to promote the specialty coffee industry.
I am excited about working alongside the talented and passionate individuals I have met in the specialty coffee industry. The collaboration and camaraderie within this community has been inspiring and energising. Together, we have produced some great events and had a lot of fun doing it. I am looking forward to working with this team, and the wider industry to keep the momentum going!
Wayne Burrows | Education and Events portfolio
ACR Coffee Roasters, Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland
I have been extremely fortunate to have spent 18 years in this amazing coffee industry. What I enjoy the most about coffee is exploring taste through manipulating roast and extraction parameters. All coffee deserves to be treated with respect and enjoyed. I feel that I’m at my best when I’m giving coffee its voice through training, experience sessions, and competitions. Come join me on my coffee journey. Let’s all learn together.
Bonnie Lam | Education and Events portfolio
The Coffee Dojo and The Coffee Shack, Wānaka
Hospitality was my first job at 16. I’ve been involved in it intermittently over the years, and now it is my main focus. I own two hospitality businesses, The Coffee Shack Wanaka and The Coffee Dojo Wanaka. For me, hospitality is a lifestyle choice that needs to integrate into my life rather than me working for it. This approach extends to everyone who works in my businesses. I always emphasise that this is a lifestyle business, prioritising our lives. My association with NZSCA comes through competing in the national barista championship, which has been a significant influence in my life. Through years of competition, I have encountered many supportive individuals, and serving on the board is one way I can contribute back.
Competitions are often misunderstood. After participating in the regional barista championship for two years, it is evident that the focus and culture have shifted, especially through conversations with some of the competitors.
I am honoured to be part of this board and am always available for discussions.
Leon Dumper | Events Portfolio
Milk Lab Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland
With over 15 years of experience as a barista across New Zealand and Canada, my journey in coffee has been anything but ordinary. Alongside working as a barista, I’ve worn many hats—from coffee account manager and trainer, to touring the world as a musician, tour manager, and stage tech, and even working as a ski instructor.
Coffee has always been the constant thread in my career. For a long time, I didn’t realise it could become a real job—let alone a career with purpose and impact. Now, in my role as Business Development Manager for MILKLAB New Zealand through Aitkens Hospitality, I get to travel the country visiting cafés, coffee roasters, and suppliers to showcase the MILKLAB range, train baristas on how to steam and serve plant-based milks, and host latte art events—both in person and online.
I am passionate about showing baristas that there’s so much more to this industry than just making coffee behind the machine. I love helping them grow in skill and confidence and showing them that there’s a future in coffee beyond the daily grind. Whether it’s through hands-on training or fun, high-energy events, I love seeing people push themselves, build community, and fall even more in love with what they do.
Sean Ellis | Education
Kaffelogic, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland
My coffee journey began in South Africa around 2017, starting as a barista and immersing myself in the country’s vibrant coffee community. This early experience ignited a passion for competition, leading me to participate and deepen my involvement over time. These competitive endeavors fueled my curiosity about roasting and furthered my coffee education. I’ve been fortunate to contribute to various coffee projects, both locally and internationally. Recognizing coffee as a catalyst for innovation, I believe my insights can offer valuable knowledge to industry members, making complex information accessible to everyone. Currently, I focus on guiding others in roasting and brewing.
Andrew Feldon |
Mouthwater Coffee, Palmerston/Manawatu
Andrew Feldon has been part of the New Zealand coffee industry since 2004, being a franchisee, and privileged enough to have worked for various roasters around NZ, and is now the owner of Mouthwater Coffee Company in Manawatu. Over the years, he’s worn a number of hats in coffee, from barista and business owner to competition competitor, then judge and enthusiastic long black drinker. His daily dad jokes have become infamous in Palmy.
Andrew is passionate about creating a more connected, inclusive, and supportive coffee community, building on what those who have been working hard to do that. With a love for practical solutions, good people, and even better coffee, Andrew brings a grounded, people-first approach to the NZSCA board, with the occasional dad joke thrown in for good measure. Andrew is eager to jump in and help out where he can.
Staff
Jessica MacDonald | Marketing and Administration Coordinator
NZSCA and Digital Jess, Muriwai Beach /Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland
+64 21 372 630 | info@nzsca.org
Jessica is the Communication and Administration Coordinator for the NZSCA. Jessica’s journey in specialty coffee began over 20 years ago, when a move to Melbourne sparked her love for the craft while working at Icoco in Albert Park. This early curiosity evolved into a deep passion, leading her to London, where she supported high-end events across Europe and helped establish a roasting operation, gaining extensive technical knowledge of coffee and equipment along the way.
In 2010, Jessica joined Square Mile Coffee Roasters, where she progressed through the company to become Head Roaster, overseeing quality control as the business grew from a startup to a leading name in the UK’s specialty scene. During this time, she earned her Q Grader certification and became an active contributor to the global coffee community, serving on the Cup of Excellence jury, coaching baristas, judging competitions, and chairing the WCE Rules & Regulations Subcommittee.
In her role with the NZSCA, Jessica brings a strategic and thoughtful approach to communications, combining her digital marketing experience with a deep understanding of the industry.
Jessica is passionate about making information accessible, building momentum for industry events, and shining a spotlight on the people who power New Zealand’s coffee scene.
Contractor
Emma Markland Webster | NZSCA Event Manager
AMC Roastery Supply and Monster Trucks Coffee, Whakatu / Nelson
+64 21 415 810 | emma@nzsca.org
Emma is the New Zealand sales manager for AMC Roastery Supply and Owner of Monster Trucks Coffee.
Emma has 20 years of experience in New Zealand’s Coffee industry and was New Zealand’s first Barista champion. She holds the title of New Zealand’s highest-ranked female Barista. She represented New Zealand in the year 2002 with a World Barista Championship ranking of 5th and was also a World Barista Championship Judge 2003 through to the present and World of Coffee Events Rules and Regulations and National Committee member, a key organiser of the New Zealand Coffee Championships and NZSCA events.
Join Today!
To join the NZSCA fill out the online application form and pay the annual dues (an invoice will be sent).
Memberships are renewed automatically on 1 April every year unless written notification is made to the Communications and Administration Co-ordinator of the NZSCA.
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