Congratulations Max Cui, our 2024 Aotearoa Barista Champion

Meet the NZSCA Board & Staff

Board 2024/2025

Megan Wyper |  President 
Acme Cupco, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington
+64 21 0837 3974

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 diversify, 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.

Steve Jae | Treasurer
La Marzocco, Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland

Steve has over 10 years of experience in running the accounting and financial activities of organisations. His experience also includes distributing the financial resources of organisations, planning the budget, and supporting the management team by offering insights and financial advice that will allow them to make the best business decisions for the organisation.

Steve is a CPA and holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Auckland.

Tom Handiside | Vice President

La Marzocco, Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland

I really enjoy my work and the opportunity to help support the association as it evolves into the future to deliver fun, meaningful experiences for our NZSCA members, plus those new to coffee who are keen to learn more and develop their own coffee careers.

I’ve worked in our industry for twenty plus years, both around the world and now here in Aotearoa.

In my role as managing director of La Marzocco New Zealand I actively work with our wider Australasian team and our global LM family.

I’m always up for chat over a brew, share my experience, views, ideas and hear what more we can do.

As an extension of this, I make time to mentor people and their businesses in NZ and beyond.

It takes a lot of time and effort to make good things happen and do cool stuff that takes us forward as industry. That’s my motivation to be involved with the NZSCA and the reason I continue to step up and actively support our local coffee scene.

Scott Pepler | 2nd Vice-Chairperson
Coffee Contractor, 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.

Why do you do it? I continue to learn and evolve and it’s time for me to give back to the industry that has given a lot to me.

Three desert island non-negotiable’s: Definitely a Boat!, My engineer and the last item my engineer can decide. Hopefully, it’s a coffee!

What’s in your cup: Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. I’ve been to Ethiopia a couple of times, so it’s always a special brew.

Favourite quote: “Never underestimate the power of a good cup of coffee.”

Ken Shi | Co-Chair Events Portfolio
Aoraki Coffee Roaster, Hampton Downs, Kirikiriroa, Hamilton

Involved in the hospitality industry since 2007 and competed in 2013 in Barista, Latte Art, Ken became the Cup Tasters Champion in 2017.

He has also judged in the Latte Art and Barista Championships since 2017.

Ken is also a registered electrician since 2016 so considers himself lucky to be involved in every part of the coffee industry; roasters, technicians, sales, and baristas. Ken knows that they are all very unique but also connected to each other, to feel their pain and experience the beauty of their success.

Alice Burton | Co-Chair Events
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.

Sam Keall  | Co-Chair Education
Havana Coffee Works, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington

Sam has been in the hospitality and coffee game for the last 10 years. His work in specialty coffee has included a variety of roles across barista, technical, and training and sales. He is currently the Sales Manager at Havana Coffee Works. Sam continues to support our industry in his second year on the board.

Jason Moore | Co-Chair Education
Vanguard Specialty Coffee Co, Ōtepoti, Dunedin

Jason is the owner of Vanguard Specialty Coffee in Dunedin. He has been in the specialty coffee industry for over 20 years, having various roles and learning all aspects of the industry.
Jason is a highly skilled and passionate roaster, finessing his craft over the years.

Having competed in numerous barista champs as well as judging, he understands the challenges that individuals face coming into the industry.
Running workshops and training sessions at his roastery is just one of the ways that Jason is helping to make the coffee industry more accessible to everyone.

Jason is extremely passionate about breaking barriers and addressing the inequalities that exist in the coffee value chain through education and raising awareness of the challenges facing growers.

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

Staff

Emma McDougall | Communication and Administration Coordinator
NZSCA, Pae Tū Mōkai / Featherston
+64 21 338 118 | info@nzsca.org

Emma is the Communication and Administration Coordinator for the NZSCA.

After gaining a Degree in Hospitality Management, Emma has worked in Sydney, Dublin, Auckland, London, and most recently Wellington again.

She has owned and managed cafes and tech judged in the 2015 and 2016 NZBC’s.  One of her biggest challenges was completing the SCA Level 2 Barista Guild Certification.  One of the greatest joys she gets from the coffee industry is watching young people progress through their coffee journey.

She is super excited to be working with the NZSCA as it unites the industry and allows her to work with previous colleagues, some of her all-time coffee heroes, and an even wider community of passionate amazing people, some of whom she is yet to meet.

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.

Have you got a question you want to ask us?  Check out FAQ Section or you can Contact Us.

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