Rocky Veneziano
Co-Founder
Rocky remembers making his first espresso at age six while standing on a milk crate in order to reach the machine. With an uncanny ability to identify business opportunities, co-founder Rocky was instrumental in establishing Veneziano Coffee Roasters.
Craig Dickson
Managing Director
Managing Director, and company pioneer, Craig, has more than 25 years industry experience. As former AASCA President, Craig initiated the annual MICE event and brought the first WBC to Australia. He is arguably Australia’s barista ‘Super Coach’, mentoring numerous champions and industry luminaries.
Ben Romeril
General Manager
Ben brings over 15 years’ experience managing national brands and sales in the hospitality and coffee space. He leads the sales & marketing crew. Ben starred as the lead talent in a national Vodafone commercial shot in our Melbourne roastery!
Jack Allisey
Green Coffee Buyer
Jack evaluates our green coffee supply, manages the complete production schedule and develops relationships with our direct trade farms. Oh and he’s pretty handy on a roaster!
2nd World Roasting Championships 2017
2nd Australian Roasting Championship 2018
Certified Q Grader
World Brewers Cup Judge 2019
Jade Jennings
Training & Development
Jade is an experienced industry professional having mastered both specialty and franchise training and operations. She’s always challenging our trainers for a better result. And her track record speaks for herself...
2nd Australian Barista Championships 2016
3rd Australian Barista Championship 2017
Eleonora Genovese Women in Coffee Awards Rising Star 2018
Pete Licata
R & D Consultant
Pete has 17 years of experience in the Specialty Coffee industry, with in depth time spent between cafes, roasting, and coffee farms. He has consulted with companies globally, and enjoys mentoring up and coming coffee professionals. As a World Barista Champion and published author, Pete is well versed in public speaking as well as world class coffee preparation
2013 World Barista Champion
Certified WBC Sensory Judge
Coach to 2014 WBC Champion
Michaela Gerard
State Sales Manager - Queensland
With over 20 years in the hospitality industry running cafes and training baristas Michaela heads up our team in QLD.
She also recently become part of the ASCA board, representing the barista guild and also the ASCA competitions committee.
Accredited WBC Sensory Judge
Accredited WBC Tech Judge
ASCA Board Member
Michael Flinn
State Sales Manager - Australian Capital Territory
A proud Canberra local, Michael has strong experience building business relationships within the hospitality industry. Michael loves spending time engaging with others and encourages high level customer interaction, always looking to improve the experience from both sides of the coffee machine.
‘The effect we have on others is the most valuable currency there is’