Event Details
Date: Thursday 24 July 2025
Time: 8:00am – 5:30pm AEST
Venue: Grand Hyatt, 123 Collins Street, Melbourne
Secure your spot today
Join us for the ARA x NRA Retail Crime Symposium 25!
The ARA x NRA Retail Crime Symposium 25 returns to Melbourne on Thursday 24 July 2025.
This is an event dedicated to fighting retail crime and building safer environments for our people, businesses, and communities.
As a powerful full-day symposium, we are bringing together top leaders from retail, government, and law enforcement to confront the industry’s most urgent safety challenges head-on.
What to Expect:
Inspiring Keynotes from national and international experts at the forefront of retail crime prevention
Expert Panel Conversations featuring leading voices from retail, law enforcement and government, exploring unified strategies to address organised retail crime, cyber threats and safety challenges
Engaging Roundtable Discussions that encourage strategic thinking and cross-sector collaboration
Real-World Case Studies providing actionable insights from retailers who are tackling crime and improving safety with success
From organised crime, loss prevention and cybercrime to workplace safety and community resilience, this is your chance to dive deep into the issues, spark meaningful conversations and walk away with solutions you can apply in your organisation.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the national conversation and shape the future of retail crime prevention in Australia.
Designed for professionals involved in retail safety and crime prevention, including:
- Retail executives & business owners
- Loss prevention & asset protection leaders
- Store & operations managers
- Cybersecurity & IT security specialists
- Risk, legal & compliance teams
- HR & people leaders
- Security & facilities managers
- Government & law enforcement
- Industry & advocacy groups
Register now – this is the must-attend event of 2025!
Single Ticket
Speakers
Helen Cooney
National Assistant Secretary
Shop, Distributive and Allied Employee’s Association (SDA)
Helen Cooney is the National Assistant Secretary of the Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees’ Association. Helen started in retail at a chicken shop and then sold music in a David Jones.
She also stacked shelves overnight in a Big W. In the 1990s, she joined and became a workplace delegate for the SDA, where she returned in 2019 as the Principal Policy Officer working on superannuation and industry training.
Helen is a member of the Retail Employee Safety Council and a Trustee Director at REST Industry Super – the super fund for retail, warehousing and fast food. She holds qualifications in law, directorship, trusteeship and business coaching.
Sarah Faorlin
Head of Acts of Violence & Aggression
Woolworths Group
Sarah is the Head of Acts of Violence and Aggression for Woolworths Group encompassing Supermarkets AU & NZ, Big W, Metro, EcomX as well as broader group business units. Sarah leads a squad of subject matter experts from across Woolworths Group who actively partner with industry, Police and Government to implement preventative solutions to retail violence. Sarah is accountable for the development and execution of strategic objectives across the Woolworths Group relating to Acts of Violence and Aggression whilst navigating emerging risks and challenges in this critical space.
Sarah brings 25 years of extensive retail leadership experience within the Woolworths Group across various senior roles in Operations, Human Resources, Commercial Buying, Stock Loss and Safety.
Kesara Kumaraperuma
National Retail Loss Business Partner
Myer Group
Kesara comes from a legal background and has experience in governance and strategic advisory roles prior to joining Myer. Currently, Kesara serves as the National Retail Loss Business Partner at Myer.
In this dynamic role, Kesara spearheads transformative strategies in retail operations, focused on protecting people and profit.
Their responsibilities encompass strategic planning and oversight of critical initiatives that align with Myer’s overarching goals, with a primary focus on operational efficiency and governance.
Kesara works closely with Myer’s executive leadership team and stores to identify and maximize opportunities, supporting the delivery of the Myer Group Strategy in line with Myer’s financial imperatives.
Nathan Lee
Branch Manager of the Legal and Framework Policy Branch
Safe Work Australia
Nathan Lee is Branch Manager of the Legal and Framework Policy Branch at Safe Work Australia. He has held a variety of government policy roles on issues including national security, foreign investment and WHS. Nathan grew up in Queensland and, before his career in government, was a Mandarin language teacher.
Nick McDonnell
Senior Director – Trust & Safety, Global Public Policy
Auror
Nick leads Auror’s public policy, trust and safety functions including privacy and assurance, regulatory and government engagement, and communications.
Prior to Auror, Nick worked in public policy for a global technology company across areas such as election integrity, counter terrorism, combating online fraud and child protection.
He is a barrister and solicitor (New Zealand admitted) and holds qualifications in laws, political science and public administration. Nick lives in Sydney.
Michael Schneider
Managing Director
Bunnings Group
Michael was appointed Managing Director, Bunnings Group in May 2017 following his appointment as Managing Director, Bunnings Australia & New Zealand in March 2016. Prior to this, Michael led the store operations teams across Bunnings Australia and New Zealand, after joining Bunnings in 2005.
Before joining Bunnings, Michael held a range of senior operational, commercial and human resource roles across regional and national markets, both in retail and financial services businesses.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of NSW and has completed the Advanced Management Program at INSEAD, and the Advanced Strategic Management Program at IMD. Outside of Bunnings, Michael supports a range of not-for-profit and community organisations.
He holds board roles with the Corporate Mental Health Alliance of Australia, Melbourne United basketball club and is also a board member of the Global Home Improvement Network, representing some of the world’s leading Home Improvement businesses. In addition, Michael chairs FightMND.
David Ojerholm
Partner & Company Director
The Initatives Group
Bringing over 40 year’s experience in financial services, he has specialised in payments for the past 8 years as Partner and Company Director at The Initiatives Group, a leading payments consultancy. His focus is delivering actionable insights and outcomes whether advising, implementing or managing initiatives in payments, consumer and merchant loyalty, preference and payment programs on behalf of card issuers, payments acquirers, international and domestic payment schemes, airlines and retailers.
In his career he has been responsible for businesses in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Australia, as well as numerous groundbreaking initiatives in the payment card loyalty space.
David has a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) from University of NSW, an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management and has been a Graduate Member of the AICD.
Ed Russell
Group National Operations Risk & Protection Manager
Endeavour Group
Ed Russell, Endeavour Group’s National Operations Risk & Protection Manager, brings 15 years of senior leadership from Coles and Endeavour. With experience in retail since 2001, he transitioned to Operations Risk and Protection two and a half years ago.
His focus is safeguarding Endeavour’s 30,000+ team members across their retail and hotel network. His extensive experience spans diverse retail functions, driving a relentless commitment to team safety and security through both internal and external strategies.
Dr Xanthe Mallett
Associate Professor of Criminology
Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
Dr Xanthe Mallett is an Associate Professor of Criminology, with a background in forensic science. Xanthe joined QCDFVR in February 2025, having moved from the University of Newcastle’s School of Law and Justice, where she worked since 2017. Xanthe’s PhD focused around improving methods of forensic facial analysis, and was partially funded by the FBI. She has worked with police forces in the UK and Australia, who have engaged her to provide expert opinion relating to alleged child sexual abuse, gait analysis, as well as the use of advanced DNA technologies.
Xanthe is passionate about communication and public engagement, and regularly makes expert comment on breaking news stories across matters involving criminology and forensic science, as well as contributing to podcasts and long-format investigative pieces. She has written three books, including one analysing cases where women have been found guilty of murdering their children (Mothers who Murder: And infamous miscarriages of justice). Her criminological research centres around understanding women’s place in the criminal justice space – as both victim and offender – and the nexus between those two states, which often intersect. It is this work she will expand upon in her current role.
Alexander Lane
Operations Manager – Loss Prevention
Officeworks
With over 19 years of experience across the banking and retail sectors, Alexander Lane specialises in risk mitigation, operational excellence, and strategic business management. Currently serving as the Operation Manager Loss Prevention at Officeworks, Alexander oversees the implementation of strategic initiatives to minimise loss due to theft, fraud, and other risks.
Prior to his current role, Alexander held other key leadership positions within Officeworks and spent over a decade at ANZ, where he was instrumental in business improvement, operational efficiency, and network deployment, ensuring seamless execution of strategic projects within Business & Private Banking. Alexander’s career has been defined by a commitment to safeguarding organisational assets while enhancing customer and employee experience and safety
Meg Zalewski
General Manager – Retail
Rebel Group
Favourite sporting team? I’m a huge tennis fan, so less teams and more players. However, since arriving in Australia, I’ve embraced lots of new sports, particularly the Matildas, AFL (Sydney Swans) and getting more into Rugby League (Sharks supporter). A Watford FC and Union Saracens supporter (born and bred), means I know how deal with regularly popping up and down into the EPL ☹!
Why rebel? I’m probably one of the most competitive people you will meet and finding a company where this is celebrated for the wins you create as a team rather than a negative, is testament to the culture we are building here at rebel! Most memorable moment in your rebel career? So far it would have to be delivering on our Omni Allocation strategy, Project Kondo’s quick wins (eliminating Pallet scanning) and winning SRG “Rookie of the Year”
Rogan Berry
Group Internal Audit and Risk Manager
Michael Hill
Rogan has a background in risk, consulting and audit. Since joining Michael Hill in 2019, Rogan has been responsible for overseeing the loss prevention and physical security operations across 289 retail stores spanning Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rogan led Michael Hill’s strategic response to a significant rise in retail crime in New Zealand. He has seen the implementation of comprehensive security measures designed to protect staff and reduce criminal activity. This initiative involved close collaboration with internal stakeholders, security integrators, landlords, and senior representatives from government and law enforcement agencies.
Inspector Mark Twamley
Operations Manager, Metropolitan Region
WA Police
Mark Twamley is a senior police inspector with over four decades of frontline and strategic policing experience in Western Australia. He currently leads data-driven crime prevention initiatives focused on retail theft, organised offending, and community safety. Mark collaborates closely with industry and government to develop practical, intelligence-led responses to emerging retail crime trends. Known for translating complex data into actionable strategies, he regularly advises executive leadership on operational effectiveness. Mark is passionate about fostering partnerships between law enforcement and the retail sector to drive down harm, improve safety outcomes, and support sustainable crime reduction.
Grant Shelton
General Manager – Operations, Trade Optimisation
Coles Group
Grant Shelton was appointed to the role of General Manager – Operations, Trade Optimisation for Coles Group in early 2025. In this role, Grant oversees the Total Loss, Online, Trade and Communications Teams at Coles Group. Grant leads his team in driving exceptional trade outcomes across stores and online. His responsibilities include optimising Click & Collect and home delivery operations, as well as implementing total loss strategies through innovation, seamless in-store execution, and effective cross-functional collaboration.
Previously, Grant served as the State General Manager Vic/Tas (Secondment), where he oversaw 239 stores across both states. Prior to this, he was the Head of Loss Process, a role created to focus on enhancing the process of how stores manage loss. Grant also held the position of Head of Operations in Sydney Metro, overseeing the operations of 90 stores in the heart of Sydney.
With 23 years behind him at Coles, Grant has held various senior roles, including State General Manager for Victoria/ACT and General Manager Central Operations. He has also led the Remuneration and Workforce Planning team, championing simplification and cost-saving initiatives within the Store Support Centre.
Prof Gary Mortimer
Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour
QUT Business School
Gary Mortimer is a Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour at the QUT Business School. Prior to joining QUT, Gary spent over 25 years working with some of Australia’s largest retailers. In 2023, he was appointed as Chair and Independent Director of ‘Services and Creative Skills Australia’ – the largest, federally funded Jobs and Skills Council, representing retail, hospitality, tourism, personal services, and the Arts. He is an active consumer behaviour researcher with interests in understanding positive deviance and customer aggression in the retail and services sectors. He continues to work closely with Australian retailers and peak associations.
Fleur Brown
Chief Industry Affairs Officer
Australian Retailers Association
Fleur leads the Industry Affairs portfolio for the ARA 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.
Ryan Swenson
Director of Policy & Advocacy
Australian Retailers Association
Ryan is an experienced executive recognised for delivering impact-led growth through business transformation and innovation, uniting diverse stakeholders around shared goals to drive meaningful outcomes.
He specialises in aligning business strategies with commercial, social and environmental objectives to create lasting value.
Holding an MBA in Strategic Carbon Management, Ryan is committed to driving systems change and advocating for outcomes that enable a more sustainable, impactful and prosperous future.
Agenda
8.00 AM: Registration, Refreshments and Networking
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
10.00 AM: Keynote: Balancing Innovation and Trust
- Darren Bark, Executive Director, Strategic Priorities, Identity, Investigations & Counter Terrorism, NSW Police and Deputy Chairman, Biometrics Institute
10.25 AM: Morning Tea & Networking Break
Topic in Focus: Organised Retail Crime and Collaborative Prevention
10.45 AM: Panel: Combatting Organised Retail Crime
Hosted by:
- David Stout, Director Policy, National Retail Association
In conversation with:
- Kesara Kumaraperuma, Head of Retail Loss, Myer
- Ed Russell, Operation Risk & Protection Manager, Endeavour Group
- Inspector Mark Twamley, Operations Manager, Metropolitan Region, WA Police
- Meg Zalewski, General Manager Operations, Rebel
11.10 AM: Fireside Chat:
- Sarah Faorlin, Head of Acts of Violence & Aggression, Woolworths
11.35 AM: Panel: Real-World Solutions to Retail Crime Challenges
In conversation with:
- Rogan Berry, Group Internal Audit Manager, Michael Hill
- David De Francesco, National Security Operations Manager, Vicinity Centres
- Alex Lane, Operation Support Manager, Loss Prevention, Officeworks
- Grant Shelton, General Manager Operations, Trade Optimisation, Coles
12.00 PM: Lunch & Networking Break
Topic in Focus: Leveraging Technology to Detect and Deter Crime
1.00 PM: Fireside Chat: Leveraging Technology to Prevent Retail Crime
Hosted by:
- Fleur Brown, Chief Industry Affairs Officer, Australian Retailers Association
In conversation with:
- Michael Scheider, Managing Director, Bunnings
1.20 PM: Keynote: Beyond the Breaking Point: Understanding and Preventing Customer Aggression
- Professor Gary Mortimer, Professor of Consumer Behaviour and Retail Marketing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
2.15 PM: Afternoon Tea & Networking Break
Topic in Focus: The Human Impact of Retail Crime: Prioritising People and Wellbeing
2.35 PM: Roundtable Discussion
3.15 PM: Panel: Protecting Employee Safety and Wellbeing
Hosted by:
- Ryan Swenson, Director Policy and Advocacy, Australian Retailers Association
In conversation with:
- Helen Cooney, National Assistant Secretary,Shop, Distributive and Allied Employee’s Association (SDA)
- Nathan Lee, Branch Manager of the Legal and Framework Policy Branch, Safe Work Australia
3.40 PM: Keynote: The Future of Retail Crime Prevention
- Nick McDonnell, Senior Director – Trust & Safety, Global Public Policy, Auror
4.05 PM: Closing Remarks
- Chris Rodwell, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Retailers Association and National Retail Association
