Robert Parker

Councillor

Robert is proprietor of Your Habitat - a seven store homewares chain with outlets in Tasmania and Canberra.

Robert started his career as a Management Trainee with Myer. After twelve years in various management roles he decided to gain some international experience in London managing a Wedgwood retail store on Oxford Street. Robert worked for two years in the UK and when he returned to Australia he was appointed retail manager of the Charles Davis hardware chain in Tasmania.

Having extensive experience in retail, Robert established Your Habitat in Hobart, and over 24 years Your Habitat has gained a reputation of being among the finest homewares stores in Australia. Your Habitat has attained international recognition winning the prestigious "Global Innovator Award" organised by the International Housewares Association in the USA, as well as several Australian awards including the Tasmanian Small Business of the Year.

Robert is widely regarded as a leader in Tasmania's retail community. He was the founding President of the Hobart City Heart Business Association and President of the Tasmanian Branch of the ARA for several years. Robert served on the National Council during the ARA's formative years and has recently been elected to again serve representing Tasmania.

Robert's experience and understanding of the industry has seen his company grow from just one employee when it started, to over 120 today. Passionate about the retail industry - especially as a training ground for young Australians - Robert has seen many of his previous employees go on to assume senior management positions within the industry in Melbourne and Sydney.

As a new councillor, he is keen to help the ARA regain its position as the pre-eminent voice of a unified retail industry throughout Australia.