Winners Announced
We’re pleased to announce the winners for the ARA Retail Awards 2024.
These outstanding organisations and individuals have demonstrated exceptional performance, innovation and dedication, setting new benchmarks for retail success.
ARA Retail Award 2024
Thank you for being a part of the ARA Retail Awards 2024!
We were thrilled to have you with us as we celebrated the innovation, dedication and outstanding achievements that are shaping the future of retail in Australia.
A heartfelt congratulations to all the award winners and finalists, whose passion and hard work continue to inspire us all.
We extend our gratitude to American Express, our event sponsor, and to all our award category sponsors whose support made this celebration possible.
Nominations open
April 2024
Nominations close
June 2024
Finalists announced
August 2024
Winners announced
September 2024
Award Categories
Sustainability Excellence
People & Culture Excellence
DE&I Excellence
Innovation Excellence
Franchisee Excellence
Store Design Excellence
Customer Experience Excellence
Marketing Campaign Excellence
Shop Small Retailer of the Year – brought to you by American Express
Medium Retailer of the Year
Major Retailer of the Year
Store Manager of the Year
Emerging Talent of the Year
Retail Leader of the Year
Judging Panel
Steve Pinder (Chair)
Managing Director, Accenture
Biography
Mr. Pinder is a Managing Director leading ANZ Retail Strategy.
Steve has spent 20 years defining and supporting retail executive teams through transformational change. He focuses on growth strategy, changing operating model, and consumer strategies spanning merchandising & inventory, digital/omni-transformation, and E2E supply chain. He works with domestic and global clients from hardgoods, apparel, and food segments.
Steve has personal passion for clients’ outcomes, coaching and development, and spending time outdoors with his wife and kids exploring Australia.
Lisa Belcher
Vice President Merchant Partnerships Australia & New Zealand
Global Merchant Services, American Express
Biography
Lisa Belcher is a seasoned sales and marketing executive who is passionate about delivering incremental value to businesses by utilizing the unique assets American Express has developed. She is responsible for the strategy and partnership approach for clients that accept Amex. Her vision is that customer-centric retailers leverage Amex to deliver a superior customer experience.
Lisa is also a proud champion of small business and Shop Small particularly in how she can leverage the assets of big business to support local businesses. Lisa brings almost 20 years of experience in both the US and Australia and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School. She is also on the Board of Directors for Crohn’s & Colitis Australia.
Sally Coates
Founder, The Retail Mentors
CEO, Vimwood Australia
Biography
After a long and fruitless shopping expedition with her mother, Sally’s retail career was determined when she was 12. A decision to have an influence on retail, based purely on a disappointing retail experience, sparked a career that has spanned over three decades. Having held CEO roles, and led large merchandise teams for top performing ASX listed companies and specialty stores Sally has used her experience and skills to infuse the balance of strategy and creativity to drive business growth and customer advocacy.
Sally founded The Retail Mentors in 2020 which has become an international retail network that brings together the leading minds of the retail industry and is dedicated to creating, shaping and influencing business owners, leaders and retail superstars of the future in retail. This is done through the voluntary mentoring program, retail masterminds and advisory support.
Today, Sally is as driven by the same mission she had when she was 12. To have a positive influence on retail.
Alison Covington
Founder
& Managing Director, Good360 Australia
Biography
Alison brought the ‘Good360’ charity to Australia which offers businesses a sustainable and community focused option to redirect their surplus product to help people and our planet.
Their mission is to ensure the excess goods and services that businesses produce every year flow to people in need rather than going to waste. Good360 is Australia’s largest online marketplace connecting businesses’ unsold brand-new goods to Australians in need.
Steve Cox
CEO, Destination NSW
Biography
Steve Cox is the CEO of Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency. Steve is a passionate and energetic champion for Sydney and regional NSW. He drives the strategic direction of Destination NSW to ensure NSW is the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific by 2030.
Steve is also a Director on the Boards of Business Events Sydney (BESydney) and the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse, and a member of the Australia Day Council of NSW.
Tom Ferrier
Founder, Greener
Biography
Tom is a former corporate exec who hung up the suit and tie to create Greener.
Recognised as #1 cleantech in Australia, they are creating a world where getting greener is the better, easier option to help end climate change.
Olivia Hitchens
Principal and CEO, Artemide Law
Biography
Olivia advises many of Australia’s largest private businesses, property owners, high net worth families and private funds and is an expert in Commercial/Business Law and Property.
Known for her ability to solve complex legal problems and strategise, Olivia is a trusted advisor who blends legal skill with business acumen and relentless drive.
As exclusive legal advisor to the Australian Retailers Association and its 8000+ members, Olivia is widely regarded as a Retail, Franchising and Hospitality Law expert and has worked on some of the largest consumer M&A transactions in recent times.
Launa Inman
Non-Executive Director, Professional Coach
Biography
Launa is a professional Non-Executive Director having sat on the Boards of several ASX listed companies including CBA and Super Retail Group. She has significant governance experience on both Remuneration and Audit committees.
Launa is a member of the Australia Post Board. She is also on the Advisory Board of Fantastic Furniture, a large national retailer.
Launa is the Chair of the Melbourne Fashion Festival, which is the largest fashion festival engaging the public in the world. This festival promotes Melbourne as the fashion capital of Australia. She also sits on the Board of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, which protects children against cyber bullying and family violence.
Launa is a former CEO/Managing Director of three iconic Australian companies, Target Australia, which she ran for 7 years, Billabong International and Officeworks.
Maria Palazzolo
Executive Director & CEO, GS1 Australia
Biography
Ms Palazzolo is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of GS1 Australia, a neutral, multi industry global organisation providing global standards and services for efficient supply chains and eCommerce.
Maria has been the organisations CEO for over 20 years and during that time has been instrumental in bringing together industry, government, regulators and associations to collaborate on eCommerce strategies.
Craig Woolford
Senior Research Analyst, MST Marquee
Biography
Craig Woolford is the lead consumer sector analyst at MST Marquee and has been covering all aspects of the retail sector in Australia for more than 23 years. He was previously the Head of Research and also the lead consumer analyst at Citigroup for 16 years and before that CommSec.
Craig’s clients include major superannuation funds that invest in the retail sector and companies across the retail value chain looking to understand the factors that will impact retail sales and profitability. Craig and his team also have a website, retailmosaic.com.au where subscribers can access his insights on the sector and key retailers.
Craig is highly ranked by his investor clients and regularly cited in industry journals and the media for his insights about the state of Australian retailing and performance of the major companies across the retail and food and beverages sectors.
Special thanks to our event partner
