EVENTS GALLERY
ARA International Women’s Day Luncheon
2025
Today, we honoured the incredible women driving change in retail – championing leadership, equality and empowerment. It was truly inspiring to be surrounded by such a passionate and supportive community.
A heartfelt thank you, to our incredible speakers for sharing their stories and insights, and to all the attendees. Your voices, leadership and support continue to shape the future of our industry.
We are also grateful to Afterpay for supporting today’s celebration.
ARA Leaders Forum 25
2025
The ARA Leaders Forum 2024 is all wrapped up, and what a fantastic event it was. Two days of inspiration, innovation, and collaboration have come to a close. Thank you to all the speakers, sponsors, partners, and attendees who made this event unforgettable.
It wouldn’t be possible without our partners; presenting partner American Express, event sponsors and exhibitors, our inspiring speakers and of course all our members. We sincerely thank everybody who attended and presented this year and let’s take the insights gained to shape a brighter future for Australian retail.
ARA Employment Relations Breakfast
2024
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the annual ARA Employment Relations Breakfast in Melbourne.
The event provided a platform to discuss workplace wellbeing and critical actions needed to support retail employees.
From the impactful Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri Elder Annette Xiberras to the insightful keynote by Dr. Laura Good and the expert panel featuring Lindsay Carroll, Richard Millington, and Daniel Cavedon, the event facilitated conversations about Respect@Work, best practices, and creating a safer retail environment.
Thank you to ARA’s strategic partner – Rest, for supporting this event.
ARA Peak Season Insights Breakfast
2024
Ahead of Peak Season Trading, we had an insightful event exploring key trends, predictions and consumer behaviours set to shape this year’s holiday season.
We extend our thanks to our panel of speakers: Roy Morgan’s Head of Retail Research – Laura Demasi, MST Marquee’s Senior Analyst – Craig Woolford, Monitor Deloitte’s Strategy Director – Jo Jericho, and Afterpay’s Director of Partner Marketing – Kevin Azzopardi, for sharing their invaluable data and insights.
A special thank you to our event partner, Afterpay, for their ongoing support and commitment, and to our gift partner, Glasshouse Fragrances.
ARA Retail Awards 2024
2024
What an unforgettable night at the ARA Retail Awards 2024!
We’ve celebrated the achievements, innovation, and leadership that make the Australian retail sector so remarkable. A huge thank you to all our attendees, winners and sponsors for making this event a success.
Here’s to another year of excellence and innovation in retail!
We extend our gratitude to American Express, our event sponsor, and to all our award category sponsors whose support made this celebration possible.
Finally, thank you to the Australian retail community for your contribution to our industry.
ARA Sustainability Breakfast 24
2024
Sustainability in retail is increasingly at the forefront of industry transformation and an ongoing focus for the ARA and its members. The event shed light on several key themes that are shaping the Circular Economy landscape, including the importance of collaboration and partnerships with values alignment, as well as the use of data, visibility and seeing waste as a resource.
A special note of thanks to the event sponsors Salesforce and Australia Post, and our gift partner Bunnings.
ARA x NRA Retail Crime Symposium 24
2024
We were thrilled to welcome 200 leading experts from government, police, academia and the retail community, to the ARA x NRA Retail Crime Symposium 24.
The event united our industry with the focus on tackling the increasing challenges of retail crime, assaults on retail workers, and the rise of organised crime in both physical stores and online.
We extend our gratitude to event sponsors, Duress and Body Cameras, for their invaluable support.
ARA x Deloitte DE&I Symposium
2024
We were delighted to welcome our members and broader retail community to the third annual ARA x Deloitte DE&I Symposium in Sydney.
This event came during a very crucial time for our sector in addressing some of the challenges not just within our industry, but in society more broadly. The symposium showed us that as a sector we are ready to reflect, have difficult conversations and collaborate on how to shift the dial.
We extend our thanks to ARA Strategic Partner Deloitte for co-hosting this important event with us.
ARA CEO Lunch
2024
We were thrilled to host the return of the highly anticipated ARA CEO Lunch 2024 – the premier networking experience for retail leaders across Australia’s $420 billion retail sector. The event engaged in high-calibre discussions and provided insights into this year’s topic – cutting-edge innovations in retail.
Guests were immersed in the elegance of Meers Hall at the Art Gallery of NSW whilst indulging in a sumptuous two-course lunch accompanied by premium wines.
We extend our special appreciation to American Express, our valued event partner, for their continued support in making this event possible.
ARA International Women's Day Lunch
2024
We were delighted to host members of the ARA retail community at our recent ARA International Women’s Day Lunch at Port Melbourne Yacht Club.
Nicole Haddow, Author and Journalist, shared an important keynote on accelerating gender equality through financial literacy.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra hosted a panel with Virginia Leaf (Wesfarmers OneDigital and Winner of the ARA Women Leaders in Retail Scholarship), Jeremy Meltzer (i=Change) and Katrina Konstas (Afterpay). We also formally announced the launch of the ARA Women Leaders in Retail Scholarship, which is now open for applications.
Special thanks to event partner Afterpay and gift partner Chemist Warehouse for enabling this fantastic event to occur.
ARA Leaders Forum
2024
The ARA Leaders Forum 2024 is all wrapped up, and what a fantastic event it was. This year the industry-leading event spanned over two days, with exclusive agenda-setting conversations to help our leaders navigate the year ahead.
It wouldn’t be possible without our partners; presenting partner American Express, event partners and exhibitors, our speakers who did a fantastic job and of course all our members. We sincerely thank everybody who attended and presented this year and hope you enjoyed the event.
Mark your calendars for the premier retail industry event. The ARA Leaders Forum 25 will unite retail executives from all corners of Australia, offering unparalleled networking and cutting-edge insights from the most influential leaders in the retail sector and industry experts. Don’t miss this agenda-setting conference on 26 and 27 February 2025 at the ICC, Sydney! Tickets now available.
ARA Employment Relations Breakfast
2023
We were delighted to host members of the ARA retail community at our recent ARA Employment Relations breakfast at The Glasshouse Melbourne in November 2023.
Joining ARA CEO Paul Zahra on stage were, Amanda Curatore (ARA Employment Relations), Duncan Stone (PaidRight), and Deborah Potts (REST Super), discussing the hot topics for retailers and human resource professionals – from pending changes to the industrial relations landscape, casual contracting, payroll compliance.
Special thanks to event partner PaidRight for enabling this fantastic event to occur.
ARA Christmas Insights Breakfast
2023
The annual ARA Christmas Insights Breakfast once again lit up our calendars as the number one forecasting event to kick off the Christmas trading season for our vibrant retail community.
Hosted by ARA CEO, Paul Zahra, attendees were treated to a first-hand glimpse of seasonal data insights and predictions, courtesy of our industry experts from Roy Morgan, MST Marquee, Afterpay and Mastercard.
The event was more than just a breakfast; it was a platform for engaging in thought-provoking discussions and exclusive networking with the wider Australian retail community.
A special thanks to our official event partner, Afterpay and thanks to our gift partner, IKEA Australia.
ARA Sustainability & Innovation Breakfast
2023
This event was a remarkable opportunity to delve into thought-provoking discussions, gain insights from industry leaders, and explore the exciting intersection of sustainability and innovation in retail.
Thank you to our keynote speaker Andrea Culligan, Deloitte’s Global GreenSpace Tech Lead Partner, for an outstanding presentation. And sincere thanks to our wonderful lineup of leaders on the panel – Officeworks’ Managing Director Sarah Hunter, Woolworths’ Chief Sustainability Officer Alex Holt and Afterpay’s EVP, Country Manager and Head of Sales APAC Katrina Konstas, for their time and meaningful insights. We would also like to extend our thanks to our event partner, Afterpay, for their ongoing support and commitment to sustainability in retail.
ARA Gender Equality Symposium
2023
The ARA Gender Equality Symposium on Wednesday 12 July 2023 was equally insightful and inspiring.
ARA and Deloitte have been leaders and fierce advocates for gender equality. We are grateful for Deloitte’s continued partnership in enabling this event to occur and also in the leadership of the ARA’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Advisory Committee.
We sincerely thank Elise Sharpley and Natasha Stott Despoja, along with the Deloitte team and our panellists, for their stewardship and sharing of insights.
ARA CEO Lunch
2023
The ARA’s Annual CEO Lunch brought together senior leaders from across Australia’s $400 billion retail sector to reflect on high-calibre, agenda-setting discussions – this year with a focus on reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Special thanks to our principal partner American Express for supporting this event.
Net Zero Accelerator
In person workshops designed to assist attendees in developing a climate action plan
The ARA was proud to host an inspiring two days at the inaugural Net Zero Accelerator two-day workshop in March.
This workshop brought together experts from a range of industries to support retailers committed to decarbonising their businesses, in their transition to net zero. Attendees walked away equipped and inspired to take action, with new industry connections to facilitate their journey, and will continue to be supported with implementation through our monthly roundtables.
ARA International Women's Day
2023
The ARA is committed to addressing imbalances and promoting gender equality across the retail sector to improve choice, career
progression and financial security for women through their working life and into retirement.
Thank you to Rest for sponsoring the event and our inspirational speakers Dr Samone McCurdy, Dr Manisha Amin, Virginia Leaf and Jane Eva Sheridan.
A special thanks to Vicki Doyle for sharing the vision of this celebration event but more importantly for supporting women and their financial progress.
ARA Leaders Forum
2023
On Wednesday 22 February 2023, the ARA hosted the first in-person Leaders Forum. This sold-out event included a program of more than 30 speakers who explored the future of retail and the most important issues facing the retail industry.
A special thank you to all who participated, including our special guests speakers and event partners. Thank you to our panel partners AWS, AusPost, Meta, Westpac Data X and paradox and also thank to Rothfield, Latitude and Dymocks for their support
Mark your calendars for the premier retail industry event. The ARA Leaders Forum 25 will unite retail executives from all corners of Australia, offering unparalleled networking and cutting-edge insights from the most influential leaders in the retail sector and industry experts. Don’t miss this agenda-setting conference on 26 and 27 February 2025 at the ICC, Sydney! Tickets now available.
ARA Gala No.1
2022
On the evening of 31 August 2022, members of the retail community gathered to celebrate the culture and resilience of the retail sector at the inaugural ARA Gala No.1 black-tie event, presented by Afterpay.
Guests were welcomed by Emma Mildenhall, Wurundjeri woman, accompanied by a beautiful cinematic and music arrangement featuring Wurundjeri man, Kiernan Ironfield on didgeridoo alongside the The Raah Project Orchestra, and an opening performance of ‘Great Southern Land’ by Bonnie Anderson
With the fabulous Tony Armstrong our Master of Ceremonies for the evening, we heard welcoming addresses from The Right Honourable Sally Capp, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, and ARA CEO Paul Zahra.
Dining on an Around the Nation culinary experience, guests were then treated to a spectacular runway show of Australian Designers. Produced by Afterpay and opened by Afterpay’s Head of Country Katrina Konstas, the runway was a true representation of our combined focus on diversity, equality and inclusion in the retail sector.
The ARA was proud to announce the winner of the Women Leaders in Retail Scholarship, a new initiative founded by the Australian Retailers Association in partnership with Chief Executive Women. CEW Committee Chair Deidre Willmott and Craveable Brands CEO Karen Bozic naming Virginia Leaf, General Manager Finance at Wesfarmers OneDigital, the worthy recipient.
Thanks to Virgin Australia and its award-winning loyalty program Velocity Frequent Flyer, we announced the winner of a special lucky draw prize – a voucher for a whopping 500,000 Velocity Points.
We closed out the evening with an incredible performance by legendary Kate Ceberano, then joined by Bonnie Anderson for a passionate duet of “I’m Every Woman”, and closed with an official toast to the sector by ARA President Nicole Sheffield, before switching gears into the after party vibes.
With special thanks to our event presenting partner Afterpay for enabling the night-of-nights for the retail sector to come to life, partners AWS, City of Melbourne and Virgin Australia, and supporting partners ARA Insurance, Idle Hour Vodka, Joey Scandizzo Salon and San Pellegrino.
ARA Employment Relations Breakfast
2022
We were delighted to host 80+ members of the ARA retail community at our recent ARA Employment Relations breakfast at the InterContinental Rialto Melbourne in November 2022.
Joining ARA CEO Paul Zahra on stage were, Amanda Curatore (ARA Employment Relations), Duncan Stone (PaidRight), and Deborah Potts (REST Super), discussing the hot topics for retailers and human resource professionals – from pending changes to the industrial relations landscape, workplace relations case law, tackling the gender pay gap and payroll compliance.
With special thanks to event partner PaidRight for enabling this fantastic event to occur.
ARA Christmas Insights Breakfast
2022
We were delighted to host 120+ members of the ARA retail community at our recent ARA Christmas Insights breakfast at the Fullerton Hotel Sydney in early October 2022.
Joining ARA CEO Paul Zahra on stage were, Jo Gaines (Salesforce), Craig Woolford (MST Marquee), Jonathan Ranstrand (Mastercard) and Laura Demasi (Roy Morgan), sharing first-to-market insights about this year’s Christmas retail spending forecasts.
With special thanks to event partner Salesforce for enabling this fantastic event to occur.
ARA CEO Lunch
2022
Having navigated the global pandemic, Australian retail is now moving on to tackle the next big global disruption – climate change.
With thanks to our event strategic partner, American Express, this important event saw the launch of our Climate Action plan, sharing what the ARA is doing to help the sector transition to the low-carbon economy of the future.
ARA Deloitte Gender Equality Symposium
2022
The ARA | Deloitte Gender Equality Symposium on 2 June 2022 was equally challenging and inspiring. As leaders, we have the opportunity to step up to this challenge to better our sector and our community.
Deloitte have been leaders and fierce advocates for gender equality, and we are grateful for their continued partnership in enabling this event to occur.
With special thanks to David Leser and Natasha Stott Despoja, along with all our panellists, for your stewardship and sharing of insights.
Together, let’s accelerate meaningful change.
