AGENDA
Don’t miss this agenda-setting conference, with an exclusive line up of speakers you won’t see anywhere else
ARA LEADERS FORUM 25 – DAY ONE, WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY
8.00 AM: Registration, Refreshments and Networking
9.00 AM: Welcoming Address
9.30 AM: Retail’s Future Vision
A big picture look at the global trends shaping retail – from AI advances and automation to evolving customer expectations. Industry leaders and experts share exclusive insights on how technology, sustainability, and digital transformation are redefining retail experiences. This visionary session offers a motivating and inspiring outlook for leaders looking to stay competitive and innovative in our fast-evolving landscape.
Unlocking the Retail of Tomorrow
Keynote: The Current Landscape
Keynote: The Future of Retail
10.20 AM: Morning Tea and Networking Break
10.40 AM: Leadership – The New Frontier
How do Australia’s most influential leaders navigate retail’s permanent state of disruption? This highly engaging session explores the evolving role of leadership in retail – tackling challenges and opportunities brought by technological advancements, shifting consumer behaviour, and a growing focus on sustainability. Learn strategies and practical tools to foster agility, create inclusive work cultures, and navigate the complexities of modern leadership with vision, resilience and adaptability.
Leading Through an Era of Change
Fireside Chat: Profit & Purpose: The Balancing Act
- Mirja Viinanen, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA Australia
Panel: Retail State of Play
- Vanessa Matthijssen, Partner, Strategy Consulting and National Consumer Products Lead, Deloitte
- Jennifer Child, Chief Executive Officer, Oroton Group
- Agnieszka (Agi) Pfeiffer-Smith, Managing Director, Dan Murphy’s (Endeavour Group)
- Scott Fyfe, Chief Executive Officer, David Jones
Fireside Chat: Digitisation of The Workplace
- Sarah Hunter, Managing Director, Officeworks
12.00 PM: Lunch and Networking Break
1:00 PM: Customer At The Core
How are personalisation, data-driven insights and seamless omnichannel experiences improving customer loyalty? Experts share their secrets to understanding customer needs, behaviours, and preferences in the world of the connected consumer. Learn how to build stronger, more meaningful connections with their customers. This session empowers retailers to prioritise customer-centricity in every aspect of their operations.
Customer Centric Strategies to Drive Loyalty and Engagement
Keynote: Retail Spending Outlook 2025, Consumer Trends
- Craig Woolford, Senior Retail Analyst, MST Marquee
Panel: The Connected Customer
- Brent Smart, Chief Marketing Officer, Telstra
- Aimee Dixon. General Manager, Enterprise Brand & Retail Marketing, Australia Post
- Hannah Udina, Head of Partnerships, Shopify (ANZ)
- Suzy Nicoletti, Managing Director and Vice President, APAC, Klaviyo
Keynote: Trust & Consumer Sentiment
- Michele Levine, Chief Executive Officer, Roy Morgan
Keynote: How are Speciality Retailers performing in the current market conditions?
- Wayne Rigney, Director, The Retail Score
Fireside Chat
- Ian Bailey, Managing Director, Kmart Group
2.40 PM: Afternoon Tea and Networking Break
3.00 PM: The Impact Economy
How much do ethically minded shoppers influence purchasing? Sustainability, social responsibility, and transparency are essential to attracting and retaining this growing customer cohort. Leading retailers and experts share strategies to align business practices with the values of conscious consumers, from eco-friendly products to ethical sourcing.
Driving Growth with Purpose
Panel: Having Impact
- Ben Peacock, Brand & Creative Director, South Pole
Fireside Chat
- Kate Russell, Chief Executive Officer, Supply Nation
- Mitchell Ross, Chief Executive Officer, Muru Office Supplies
Fireside Chat: Why Say “Yes”
- Alison Covington, Founder and Managing Director, Good360 Australia
- David Walker, Board Director, Good360 Australia
4.15 PM – Day One Closing Remarks
5.00 PM – Cocktails, Canapes & Conversation - Networking event
ARA LEADERS FORUM 25 – DAY TWO, THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY
7.00 AM: Registration, Refreshments and Networking
7.45 AM: Keynote: Kasey Lobaugh, Chief Futurist Consumer Industry, Deloitte
8.30 AM: Connect with Country Smoking Ceremony
9:00 AM: Technology and Innovation
A deep dive into the groundbreaking technologies and strategies transforming retail – including fresh insights from the National Retail Federation’s Big Show. Exclusive conversations with global experts – from AI and automation to immersive customer experiences. This session will highlight how retailers can stay ahead of the curve in a competitive market.
Redefining Retail
Fireside Chat
- Michael Schneider, Managing Director, Bunnings
Panel: Innovation
- Gareth Jude, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, ThinkUncommon
- Carly Lynch, Principal Strategist, Digital Strategy Group, APAC, Adobe
- Kate Box, Director, Global Business Group, Retail ANZ, META
10.20 AM: Morning Tea and Networking Break
10:40 AM: Building Resilience
Retailers are living through the most disrupted period in history – from network risks which come from AI, cybercrime and bio security to global tensions to bushfires and floods. Data privacy and broader retail crime also play havoc with retail resilience. This session focuses on anticipating and manaing risks. Industry experts will discuss best practices for crisis management, cybersecurity, and adapting to market volatility.
Building Strength in Retail and Navigating Uncertainty
Keynote:
- Adrian Turner, Chief Executive Officer, ExoFlare
Panel: Resilience
- Peter Carter, General Manager of Public Policy & Government Engagement, GS1 Australia
Keynote:
- Gillian Smythe, Managing Director ANZ, Salsify
Panel: Crime Prevention
- Sarah Faorlin, Head of Acts of Violence & Aggression, Woolworths Group
12.45 PM: Lunch and Networking Break
1.30PM: People & Culture
Attracting, retaining and nurturing strong teams is central to retail success. Learn how some of our most successful leaders attract and retain top talent, while addressing workplace safety and inclusion. Topics include fostering inclusive environments, ensuring employee well-being, and building a purpose-driven culture that prioritises safety and resilience, equipping retailers to thrive in a dynamic marketplace.
Empowering Retail Teams through an Inclusive and Safe Culture
Fireside Chat
- Karen Bozic, Group Chief Executive Officer, Craveable Brands
- Samantha Devlin, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Careers Department
Panel: People and Culture
- Lindsay Carroll, Acting Chief Executive Officer, National Retail Association
- Gerard Dwyer, National Secretary & Treasurer, Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association
Keynote: Workplace Wellbeing
- Vicki Doyle, Chief Executive Officer, Rest
2.55 PM: Afternoon Tea and Networking Break
3.15 PM: Keynote
Closing Remarks
4.15 PM: Event Concludes
2024 Leaders Forum Gallery
About the ARA
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the oldest, largest and most diverse national retail body. We represent a $430 billion sector that employs more than 1.4 million Australians and is the largest private sector employer in the country. As Australia’s peak retail body, representing more than 120,000 retail shop fronts and online stores, the ARA informs, advocates, educates, protects and unifies our independent, national and international retail community.
The ARA is a not-for-profit, so every dollar is reinvested back into initiatives that support our members. We have a pro-bono council of member representatives with a leading executive team that help navigate the retail industry challenges and collaborate on important industry opportunities and campaigns.
Event Sponsorship Now Available
If you’d like to work alongside the ARA and make a positive difference to the Australian retail industry, please get in touch. We’d welcome the opportunity to understand your vision and develop a program where you will receive the maximum exposure and benefit from your investment.
