ARC
International Women's Day Luncheon
Brought to you by Afterpay
Join us for the ARC International Women's Day Luncheon
Celebrate progress, leadership and impact with the newly formed Australian Retail Council (ARC) at our International Women’s Day Luncheon. Come together to celebrate the achievements of women in retail, hear inspiring conversations and drive action for the future of our industry.
Taking place on Thursday 5 March at the iconic The Calyx, Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, this event offers the perfect setting to connect with peers, enjoy exceptional food and engage in meaningful conversation.
Featured speakers
Amanda Bardwell
Group CEO & Managing Director Australian Food
Woolworths Group
Erica Berchtold
Chief Commercial Officer
David Jones
Katrina Konstas
EVP, Country Manager and Head of Sales APAC
Afterpay
What to expect:
You’ll hear from an inspiring lineup of industry leaders, including:
- Amanda Bardwell, Group CEO & Managing Director Australian Food, Woolworths Group
- Erica Berchtold, Chief Commercial Officer, David Jones
- Katrina Konstas, EVP, Country Manager and Head of Sales APAC, Afterpay
Together, they’ll share insights on leadership, career journeys and accelerating action for women in retail.
This is an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day, celebrate progress and be inspired by the voices shaping the future of retail.
Tickets are limited and this event will sell out. Secure your place before registrations close on Wednesday 25 February.
Special thanks to Afterpay, our event partner, for making this event possible.
We look forward to celebrating the achievements of women in retail together.
Event details
- Thursday 5 March 2026
- 11:30am – 2:00pm AEST
- The Calyx, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Full speaker lineup
Amanda Bardwell
Group CEO & Managing Director Australian Food
Woolworths Group
About Amanda
Amanda Bardwell was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director on 21 February 2024, effective 1 September 2024.
Prior to this, Amanda was Managing Director of WooliesX, leading the Group’s eCommerce, digital and rewards and loyalty businesses since March 2017. Amanda joined Woolworths Group in 2001 and has held a number of roles across both the Supermarket and Drinks businesses. Amanda holds an MBA from the University of New South Wales and a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology Queensland and is a member of Chief Executive Women.
Erica Berchtold
Chief Commercial Officer
David Jones
About Erica
With over 20 years of experience in retail and tech, Erica Berchtold is a seasoned senior executive having been CEO of online retailer THE ICONIC, Managing Director of Rebel Sport, CEO of ASX listed Mosaic Brands Ltd and currently as Chief Commercial Officer of David Jones.
As a leader that has continuously broken new ground in traditional industries-and made no apologies for prioritising her family at the same time-Erica is committed to the role she plays having been one of the few female CEOs in ANZ and operating as a C-Suite executive for over 15 years. She has also held industry positions, having previously been a Councillor on the Board of the Australian Retailers Association, President of the Australian Sporting Goods Association and board member of Sydney FC A-League club to name a few.
Though Erica mentors many women-and men-informally, she also formally mentors aspiring leaders through programs such as Mentor Walks, an organisation that brings female leaders and aspiring business women together to help build a network to share career advice. Erica uses her voice and profile to drive positive change, which extends to creating an inclusive environment where women feel empowered and supported at all business levels.
Erica is committed to her community, presenting to business students at schools, contributing to local government business forums, and sharing her expertise at conferences and roundtables across industries. She values courage, humility, resilience and curiosity, and has always lived by the motto “why not”.
In addition to her extensive leadership experience and roles across many industries, Erica is a proud wife and mum of three young children.
Katrina Konstas
EVP, Country Manager and Head of Sales APAC
Afterpay
About Katrina
Katrina is Country Manager and Head of Sales at Afterpay APAC (part of Block, Inc NYSE: XYZ). Katrina is responsible for leading the Afterpay business in Australia, New Zealand and China, accelerating merchant and customer growth across the region, and driving innovation for Afterpay as a leading global Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) brand.
Katrina is a visionary and strategic thought leader with a career embedded in payments and fintech. She has had over two decades of experience in large multinational and startup environments, holding a variety of leadership roles across sales, marketing, operations, strategy and customer loyalty.
Beyond her role at Afterpay and Block, Katrina sits on the board of Australian charity Cancer Chicks in Sydney, Australia.
Chris Rodwell
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Retail Council (ARC)
About Chris
Chris Rodwell is CEO of the Australian Retail Council (ARC) – the amalgamated entity which will combine the strengths of leading retail peak bodies the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA).
He is determined to elevate the critical contribution the $444 billion retail sector makes to the Australian economy and communities across the nation.
A seasoned CEO and Board Director with experience working across Australia and internationally, Chris was previously the outgoing CEO of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Western Australia (CCIWA).
During his seven-year tenure at CCIWA, Chris secured several major policy outcomes, including landmark reform of Australia’s system for GST distribution, improving environment regulation and employment support for people with disabilities. Chris also led CCIWA in playing a fundamental role in supporting business and workplaces through the pandemic.
Prior to this role, Chris spent an extended period abroad developing Australia’s international trade and investment footprint for both the Australian and Queensland Governments, supporting business across all sectors of the economy.
His work in international business spans Australasia, North America, Latin America, and Europe. Chris will be located in Sydney and has lived and worked across many parts of the nation.
He is married to Katie and together they have four children. He is also a passionate advocate for people with disabilities through D-Dads.
Fleur Brown
Chief Industry Engagement & Marketing Officer
Australian Retail Council (ARC)
About Fleur
Fleur leads the Industry Affairs portfolio for ARC which encompasses policy and advocacy, media, marketing, events and partnerships. Fleur has worked as an executive leader in government, media, marketing industries and prior to joining the ARA ran the award-winning Launch Group agency which was responsible government and investor relations, advocacy and media management for many leading Australian brands and public entities.
With a rich background in technology and innovation, she is a former Director of TechSydney, a founding team member of StartupAUS (now Tech Council Australia) a founding director of TEDxSydney and founder and producer the Nine Network’s Entrepreneurs TV show. Fleur is author of the business book The Business of Being You.
Nathalie Rosette-Barber
Chief Operations Officer
Australian Retail Council (ARC)
About Nathalie
An experienced retail professional, Nathalie has strong operations and management expertise and deep experience as a change agent within retail environments. She is a highly collaborative and results orientated leader with a finance, compliance and commercial background and strong strategic skills.
Her previous roles have included more than 14 years with David Jones in roles including: Head of Strategy Delivery, General Manager Change Management, and Project Delivery; General Manager – Stores Planning; Administration where she has focused on operations performance and planning and working on large scale transformation programs.
Agenda
11:30 AM
Registration, Refreshments and Networking
8:50 AM
Retail’s impossible dilemma: Serving the community without compromising safety and security
8:55 AM
Welcome to Country
9:00 AM
Opening Remarks
Chris Rodwell, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Retailers Association and National Retail Association
9:10 AM
Keynote: Collaboration for Impact
The Hon. Sonya Kilkenny MP, Attorney-General and Minister for Planning, Victoria State Government
9:35 AM
Keynote: The Societal Impact of Retail Crime
Dr Xanthe Mallett, Associate Professor of Criminology, Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, Central Queensland University (CQU)
Dr Xanthe Mallett, Associate Professor of Criminology, Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, Central Queensland University (CQU)
Event partner
About Afterpay
Afterpay is a buy now, pay later service that helps customers shop with flexibility and supports businesses growth. Shoppers can split their purchase into four interest-free payments made over time, making it easier to budget and buy what they need, when they need it.
Merchants get paid upfront, while Afterpay manages the payment schedule with the customer. Afterpay works both online and in-store and is easy to add to existing checkout systems.Millions of customers actively use Afterpay, giving businesses access to a large and engaged audience. With built-in marketing support and a smooth checkout experience, Afterpay helps brands attract new customers, drive repeat purchases, and stay competitive in today’s retail landscape – creating value for both shoppers and merchants.