meet our crew
Our team are an incredibly dedicated bunch of coffee experts & enthusiasts with years of experience throughout all levels of hospo. From baristas to venue owners, sales, marketing, roasting & tech support, we’ve done it all. Our team are united by a deep love of coffee & a passion to create a sustainable future for everyone.
Could one of these legends be your new best friend? Reach out below for more on joining the Locale fam.
josh jackson.
GROUP GENERAL MANAGER
Pace to his mates. He’s the glue here at Locale, holding everything together since the very beginning. His role has expanded into a Group GM role covering both Locale & Genovese businesses, as well as running Loveramics & working closely with the roasting crew in developing Locale’s coffee program.
He’s worked in the hospo industry his entire working career – from cheffing through to sales & management roles & everything in between.
Pace steers the ship here & loves a cheeky filter coffee while he’s doing it.
kristin jackson.
MARKETING MANAGER
KJ has worked in Sales & Marketing roles across a range of industries including food, wine & coffee. She’s been with Locale from the early days & has been the creative force behind the Locale brand since 2020.
KJ is super passionate about the environment & the ability for businesses to create positive change, driving Locale’s sustainable & community-based initiatives.
She starts the day with an oat flatty & prefers a batch brew in the arvo.
paul solway.
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER
Beginning his coffee journey as a barista at a small cafe, Pauly realised he had a deep love for coffee & the industry, a drive to help people succeed and the ability to make you buy whatever he’s selling!
He’s been such an integral part of Locale since the very beginning & the main reason behind the success we’ve seen in WA.
Now managing the sales team nationally & showing mad love for the cold brew, Pauly is the best friend you never knew you needed.
rach commander.
WA STATE MANAGER
Since scoring her first coffee gig at 15, Rach knew that she wanted to learn everything there was to know about creating the perfect cup. After a good 12 years, both in the Tassie and Melbs coffee scene, including owning her own cafe, she brings a wealth of knowledge to our sales team.
A woman of many talents, Rach has some mad barber skills & has even danced professionally as a go-go girl! Her favourite thing about coffee is the people – a perfect fit for Locale.
Rach’s go-to coffee order is a soy flatty – “a hug in a mug”.
will krutop.
VIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
With 7 years in the coffee game, Will brings a wealth of experience from both sides of the machine. His journey started at The Bean Smuggler – a tiny, community-driven spot that pumped out 70kg a week. Since then, he’s worn many hats, from managing the Industry Beans flagship to working with large-scale roasters.
Will’s favourite part of the gig is the people. Whether it’s helping specialty cafes bring their vision to life, or supporting high-volume venues, Will thrives on connection.
His go-to brew? A strong flat white, of course.
damien mancktelow.
QLD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Damien’s been in the coffee game for 8 years, getting his start at Gloria Jean’s before finding his way deeper into the world of specialty coffee. Since then, he’s built a real love for the industry – from the hustle of a pumping cafe to the layers of knowledge and flavour that come with great coffee.
What he loves most about coffee is the people – the relationships, the depth, and the energy of the industry. Nothing beats pulling shots and slinging milk when a cafe is absolutely humming.
His go-to? Filter first thing in the morning, followed closely by a flat white.
shinji shimoyama.
NSW CUSTOMER SUPPORT
While working a gap-filler role at a cafe inside The Gallery of NSW, Shinji got his chance to live out his coffee dream when the head barista called in sick. He grabbed it with both hands & has been brewing ever since.
Working in the coffee industry for 15+ years now, Shinji loves that there’s always new coffees & exciting flavours coming from all over the world, and getting to share his passion with as many people as possible.
When it comes to his go-to order, it’s a close call between an espresso or filter – sometimes both!
These superstars are backed up by an awesome roasting crew, tech & training support staff, as well as a killer back-of-house team working out of Coburg in VIC.
Hit the button below to get in touch…we always love a chat! Or for more on wholesale/cafe supply, head over to our wholesale page.
