Banana Congress speaker line-up to impress

The congress will take place from May 22 to 24 on the Gold Coast, Qld.

Here are three of the speakers from within the substantial line-up to look forward to.

SHANE Webcke is a farmer, family man, businessman, author, news presenter, safety ambassador, speaker and former professional footballer.

At the peak of his rugby league career, he was renowned as one of the best front rowers in the world.

Mr Webcke represented Queensland on 24 occasions and represented Australia in 26 tests.

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Shane has taken his work ethic from football field to his farm in southern Queensland.

He balances his family life with his wife and three children and his professional career, now behind the news desk at Seven.

Tragically, Shane's father was killed in a Queensland workplace incident in 1994.

Shane was only 18. Shane's direct experience with the horrific outcome of his father's workplace fatality, has led him to his role as a safety ambassador.

He shares his message in the hope it will motivate others to put safety first, always.

BERNARD Salt is widely regarded as one of Australia's leading social commentators by business, the media and the broader community.

Mr Salt heads The Demographics Group which provides specialist advice on demographic, consumer and social trends for business. Prior to that Bernard founded KPMG Demographics.

He writes two weekly columns for The Australian newspaper and is an adjunct professor at Curtin University Business School.

He was also responsible for popularising smashed avocados globally.

MARC Jackson is currently the special projects manager at Fyffes, a company synonymous with bananas globally and a history spanning more than 130 years.

Mr Jackson has an extensive experience working in the food production industry, including marketing and farming bananas, as well as in Research and Development.

Fyffes is the number one importer of bananas and the leading marketer of organic and Fairtrade bananas to Europe.

A Nuffield Scholar, Mr Jackson has most recently overseen construction for the world's largest and most technologically advanced pineapple packing house, based in Costa Rica.