Retailing "A Career Choice"

Retailing "A Career Choice" - Melbourne

Guest Speaker:- The Hon. Andrew Robb M.P.

Date:- 15 March 2007 - Federation Square

Event Summary & Photos 

The retail industry is the single largest business sector in Australia. It employs over 1.5 million people accounting for 20% of total services employment and is the largest employer of young people between the ages of 18 and 25.

"Retailing: A Real Career Choice" was held at ZINC at Federation Square in Melbourne on 15 March. Keynote speaker for the event was the Hon Andrew Robb MP, Federal Minister for Vocational and Technical Education.

Mr Robb spoke about the direction of the retail industry and career prospects within the sector. He also discussed the Government's response to the skills shortage crisis and the vocational, educational and training needs of the retail industry.

Later in the event a discussion panel - facilitated by ARA Deputy CEO David Edwards - further explored the issues surrounding employment in the retail industry such as staff retention, training, current recruitment practices and the future of recruitment in retail. Panel guests included:

• Ms Jeanette Allen - CEO, Service Skills Council
• Mr Richard Ellery - General Manager, Retailworld Resourcing
• Ms Lenore Harris - Recruitment and Training Manager Vic/Tas Region, Myer Pty. Ltd.
• Mr Stephen Ogden-Barnes - Program Director, Australian Centre for Retail Studies, Monash University.

The ARA National Young Retailer of the Year was also announced on the day.

This year's winner was Amanda Willimott, Marketing Coordinator of Borders, Asia Pacific. The Hon Andrew Robb presented the award to Ms Willimott. Runner up was Garry Coggan, Assistant Manager of Harris Farm Markets.

About The Speaker:

From 1990 - 1997 Mr Robb served as Federal Director of the Liberal Party, and was campaign director for the successful 1996 election of the Howard Government.

For the seven years following 1997, Mr Robb had a successful business career building an Australia wide direct marketing technology company providing strategic advice to major companies nationally and internationally.

In 2004 Mr Robb was elected as the Federal Parliamentary Member for the Melbourne bayside seat of Goldstein. In 2005 he was appointed the Chairman of the Government's Taskforce on Industrial Relations before being promoted to Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in January 2006. During this time, Andrew implemented the $35 million National Action Plan aimed at supporting and improving integration of Muslim communities, facilitated the national conference of over 100 Imams, progressed the settlement of African refugees and advocated the introduction of a new Citizenship Test. Andrew was appointed Minister for Vocational and Further Education in January 2007.

Enquiries

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