20-21 May 2026 | Crown Melbourne
THE FUTURE OF RETAIL STARTS HERE
Australia’s Essential Event for Retail Professionals
In today’s rapidly evolving retail landscape, industry leaders are navigating unprecedented challenges – from digital transformation efforts and shifting consumer behaviours, to emerging sustainability demands and market volatility. To thrive in this dynamic environment, businesses must continue to adapt quickly, forging the resilience and agility needed to maintain the competitive edge.
The future begins at Retail Leaders 2026. Join and gain actionable insights to address the sector’s most pressing challenges to date. Designed with strategy and innovation at its core, this event will equip leaders with the tools, skills, and connections needed to drive business growth, optimise operations, and create unforgettable customer experiences. Don’t just adapt to the future of retail – lead it.
Why Attend
- 1Unrivaled Expertise
- 2High-Calibre Content
- 3Invaluable Networking Opportunities
2026 SPEAKERS
Michael Ward
Managing Director
Michael began his career in chartered accountancy with Ernst and Young in 1980, before taking his first Group Finance Director position at Bassett Foods PLC in 1986 gaining an MBA during this time. In 1989, he was appointed Group Finance Director of H.P. Bulmer Holdings PLC, before moving into the retail space in 1994 as Managing Director of Lloyds Chemists PLC. As Managing Director of Harrods, he has overseen programmes of huge growth and expansion both in the UK and globally within the brand, as well as the transition to new ownership by the Qatar Investment Authority in 2010.
Megan Welch
Chief Executive Officer
Drew Green
CEO & President
Jack Gance
Co-Founder
Hilton Seskin
Chief Executive Officer
Elle Roseby
Group CEO & Adairs MD
Brooke Donnelly
General Manager Group Sustainability
Peter Zhou
Director of AI & Data Science
Angela Winkle
Chief Customer Officer
Alex Baillie
Vice President & General Manager, Disney Consumer Products, South Asia Pacific
As VP & GM of Disney Consumer Products, Alex is responsible for licensing Disney’s portfolio of brands across the South Asia Pacific region – comprising Australia & New Zealand, India and Southeast Asia. He works with retail and licensing partners to enable the extension of stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and more into the day-to-day lives of fans across the region.
Over the last 17 years, Alex has held various executive positions in Disney across Europe and Asia, including as Head of Digital Partnerships in Europe; Head of Strategic Partnerships and Head of Studio Marketing in Southeast Asia; Chief Marketing Officer of South Asia; and Chief Marketing Officer Asia Pacific for the Consumer Products Commercialisation business.
Prior to Disney, Alex has a wealth of experience in a variety of partnership and sales-related roles, including at The Daily Telegraph, eBay, The London Stock Exchange and Top Gear.
Jere Calmes
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Garlick
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Garlick is a seasoned retail leader and CEO of Retail Zoo. With a career spanning over two decades, Chris has led some of the world’s most recognised consumer brands through significant transformation and growth.
Prior to joining Retail Zoo, Chris was CEO of Starbucks Australia for 10 years, where he spearheaded the brand’s turnaround and re-established its relevance in a competitive market. He also held senior leadership roles at Coles Supermarkets as General Manager of Non-Food, and at BP over a 16-year tenure, where he led the Convenience Retail business in Australia and served as Vice President of Product & Offer Development for BP America, based in Chicago.
Chris is known for his ability to blend strategic vision with operational excellence, building high-performance cultures and delivering strong commercial outcomes. At Retail Zoo, he leads a portfolio of dynamic brands including Boost Juice, Betty’s Burgers and Salsas, with a focus on sustainable growth, innovation, and customer experience.
Kevin Gunn
Executive General Manager Supply Chain & Manufacturing
Ian Burl
Chief Retail Officer
Marc Costabile
Chief Retail Officer
Jon Wild
Chief Growth & Marketing Officer
Darren Wedding
Chief Supply Chain Officer
Darren is a principle-centred leader possessing diverse experience in all facets of Supply Chain Management with more than 30 years of experience in sourcing and supply chain, having served in a broad array of roles in industries including military, steel manufacturing, FMCG, pharmaceutical, retail, and third-party logistics, with nine of those years based in Asia. From March 2025, Darren has led the sourcing and supply chain functions as the Chief Supply Chain Officer of MYER.
Angus McDonald
Chief Operating Officer
Ricardo Pereira
Chief Financial Officer
With over 20 years’ experience in finance and purchasing across retail and engineering/technology sectors, Ricardo’s journey with IKEA began in Portugal in 2014.
As Chief Financial Officer at IKEA Portugal for almost a decade, Ricardo worked with the executive team to gain market share and record growth for the company over this time, as well as secure a 65-million-euro investment for business transformation and people in 2022. Ricardo joined IKEA Australia in 2023 and is focused on delivering profitability and financial security while delivering the broader goal of bringing IKEA to more Australians, in more ways and in more places, making it easy, convenient and affordable for people to create homes they love.
Robert Pope
GM - Customer Loyalty
John Bacon
Senior Vice President Supply Chain
Attendees
Speakers
& Networking
Days
Content by leaders, for leaders
Our content is expertly researched and curated with insights from Connect Media’s network of industry specialists. Timely and tailored, it sparks innovation, tackles key industry challenges, and provides the skills and tools for future business success.
Agenda
The Retail Roadmap: Harnessing Success Amidst Uncertainty
- What’s are the critical blind spots for retail leaders in 2026?
- How are current economic and political environments reshaping retail’s performance today?
- Where are retailers allocating their efforts to drive growth without sacrificing profitability?
- What is fueling success for retailers today?
The Loyalty Reboot: Delivering Net-Gen Consumer Growth & Engagement
- What changes have leaders seen in customer behaviour and how are they adapting?
- How are leaders retaining customer loyalty in 2025?
- How are leaders driving new customers to their stores and ecommerce channels?
- How can leaders revamp their customer strategies to cut through the sea of retail noise?
Beyond Disruption: Executive Insights for Resilient Supply Chains
- What are the most underestimated supply chain risks facing leaders in 2026 – and how are they responding accordingly?
- Where is AI and tech moving the needle for retailers in their supply chain operations?
- How are retailers redesigning partnerships with suppliers to navigate risk in uncertain markets?
- How can retailers scale same-day and quick-commerce solutions without eroding margins?
The Profit-Purpose Paradox: Delivering Sustainability Without Sacrifice
- Where are leaders seeing the biggest ROI from sustainability investments?
- What steps can be taken to integrate circularity into retail operations?
- How can retail leaders prepare and effectively transition their businesses for a carbon neutral future?
- How can retail leaders authentically communicate their sustainability impact to stakeholders while avoiding the risks of greenwashing?
Daring to Disrupt: Leadership Insights for Transformative Retail
How are leaders managing risk today while driving business growth and expansion?
What are retailers doing to harness opportunities presented by tech and AI?
How are you redesigning your retail teams for an increasingly digital world?
How are retailers retaining and attracting top talent today?
What’s included in my delegate pass
Access to Full Event Program
Exclusive Networking Opportunities
Executive Insights & Event Content
Delegate registration is strictly for professionals from retailers or consumer brands. Service providers, vendors and consultants within the retail industry are not permitted to register as delegates. If you are a service provider, vendor or consultant, please reach out to jackm@connectmedia.com to discuss your involvement.
Registrations will be reviewed for the correct rate, Connect Media reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone not paying the correct rate. Furthermore, we will not be responsible for travel costs if you do not pay the correct rate.
Join Our Invitation List
Subscribe now and be the first to receive updates, special offers, and priority invitations to the Forum.
Our Partners
Become A Partner
The Retail Leaders is Australia’s premier event for professionals from retailers or consumer brands. We focus on actionable insights and real-world solutions by bringing together the leading voices shaping the sector. Every year we refine our event model to unlock greater value for our partners and to ensure that our delegation’s expectations are exceeded.
Whether you’re looking for brand visibility, lead generation or exclusive event networking opportunities, our sponsorship packages are tailor made and designed to maximise your ROI.
Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss what these opportunities could look like for you and your brand.
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Jack Martin
Growth Manager
Tel: +61 451 548 447
Email: jackm@connectmedia.com
GENERAL ENQUIRIES
Tel: +61 2 8004 8590
Email: team@connectmedia.com
Connect with these companies attending
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with the industry’s most prominent brands at The Retail Leaders Forum. Explore the companies already confirmed and secure your chance to network with the best in the business.
Your event expErience starts here
Venue & Accommodation
crown Melbourne
Conference Hall, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC
Exclusive Crown Accommodation Offer
Enjoy exclusive delegate discounts at Crown’s premium hotel properties – Crown Towers, Crown Metropol, and Crown Promenade.
Discount: Save between 5–10% off the daily rate
Please note: Discount rates are subject to change and dependent on availability at the time of booking. Special event dates may require a minimum night stay.
Booking Links:
We encourage guests to review all terms and conditions carefully when making a reservation to ensure you are aware of any restrictions or requirements.
Content Council
Our content council includes industry experts and influential voices from across Australia to shape the event discussions. Their insights ensure the agenda addresses the most pressing challenges, emerging opportunities, and groundbreaking innovations driving the future of retail.
Theresa Austin
Global Consumer
Engagement Director
(FR)
Brooke Rodger
Chief Operating Officer
Gayle Burchell
Chief Commercial
& Sustainability Officer
Francine Ereira
Non-Executive Director
John Batistich
Non-Executive Director, Foodco Group, Ksubi, Moose Toys & Sunnyfield Disability Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What’s included in my delegate pass?
A Delegate Pass includes access to all sessions, refreshment breaks, networking lunches, and access to provided speaker presentations. Please note: Sharing of speaker presentation’s is subject to approval from the guest speaker. One delegate ticket is entry for one person only, passes cannot be shared. Organiser’s reserve the right to deny entry to anyone not registered.
Is there a group booking discount?
Yes – groups of 3 people or more are entitled to a discount. Full discount information is available on our registration page. If you have any questions about how group bookings work, please contact team@connectmedia.com
Can I transfer my pass?
A delegate pass is entry for one person only, passes cannot be shared. A substitute delegate is welcome at any time prior to the event, provided the request is made in writing to team@connectmedia.com
How do I receive my delegate pass?
Following the completion of your registration, you will receive an email confirmation. We will contact you via email the day prior to the event with a QR code, to make your arrival as seamless as possible have your QR e-ticket ready and visible on your device.
Is media registration available?
No, this is a closed and confidential event. Media registrations are not available.
Cancellation Policy:
A full refund less a $250 (GST Inclusive) processing fee is applicable on cancellation requests made in writing within 10 days of registration. No refunds are available for cancellations made more than 10 days after registration. Where Connect Media is required to reschedule the event in the interest of the event partner’s and guests, your pass will be automatically transferred to the rescheduled dates. Should Connect Media be unable to offer, deliver or fulfil any engagement within 12 months, you will be entitled to a full refund.
What is a Service Provider?
A service provider refers to an individual or organisation who supplies products and/or services to the primary audience of the event.
Will there be a delegate list available?
No, Connect Media does not provide delegate lists to attendees.
Fraudulent activities
We’ve been alerted to instances of companies proposing to purchase and sell lists of attendees for our events. Please be assured, we do not engage in the sale or distribution of event-related data. Such companies have no association with us, and we are actively working to halt these deceptive practices.
Regrettably, this type of scam is not uncommon in the media industry. Any information purported to originate from our events and offered by a third party would be completely fabricated. Should you have doubts about the legitimacy of a potential supplier, we urge you to contact us directly.
For any additional questions please contact us on 02 8004 8590 or team@connectmedia.com.
Terms and Conditions
Delegate Pass:
Delegate Pass includes access to all sessions, refreshment breaks, networking lunches, networking drinks reception, and access to approved speaker presentations/on demand content. Please note: Sharing of speaker presentation’s is subject to approval from the guest speaker. One delegate ticket is entry for one person only, passes cannot be shared. Organiser’s reserve the right to deny entry to anyone not registered.
Digital Pass (only applicable for digital events):
A digital pass is valid for the use of 1 user and provides access to live content, inclusive of all keynotes, and sessions. The pass also includes access to approved speaker presentations/on demand content; this will be available to you via email in the week following the event. Please note: Sharing of speaker presentation’s is subject to approval from the guest speaker. Access must not be shared by multiple user’s or redistributed in any way. Organiser’s reserve the right to deny access to anyone who is found violating the above terms.
Payment & Discounts:
Only one promotional discount code can be applied per registrant. All prices and promotions are valid at the time of purchase only and may not be redeemed after the point of purchase.
Registrations will be reviewed for the correct rate, Connect Media reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone not paying the correct rate. Furthermore, we will not be responsible for travel costs if you do not pay the correct rate.
Organiser’s Rights:
Connect Media and Communications Group Pty Ltd endeavours to ensure the conference programme and speaker line-up is correct at the time of the event. All advertised details are correct at time of publishing. Due to unforeseen circumstances Connect Media and Communications Group Pty Ltd reserves the right to alter the programme prior to the event without notice. We also reserve the right to cancel or postpone the event. Where Connect Media is unable to run the event in the next 12 months (from the date of the event), you will be entitled to a full refund. In the unlikely event that it is cancelled or postponed, no compensation will be provided for cancelled/amended travel arrangements.
Connect Media and Communications Group Pty Ltd reserves the right to deny access to any individual that engages in or is alleged to engage in practices that are considered unprofessional and inappropriate for a business conference. We reserve the right to deny access to delegates that may affect the client / vendor ratio of attendance in favour of the interests of sponsors and commercial partners of the event.
In registering for this event, delegates grant permission to Connect Media and Communications Group Pty Ltd to take and to have full and free use of video/photographs containing their image/likeness for promotional use. Should a delegate not agree to the above image release, they must advise team@connectmedia.com.
Cancellation Policy:
A substitute delegate is welcome at any time provided the request is made in writing. A full refund less a $250 (GST Inclusive) processing fee is applicable on cancellation requests made in writing within 10 days of registration. No refunds are available for cancellations made more than 10 days after registration. Where Connect Media is required to reschedule the event in the interest of the event partner’s and guests, your pass will be automatically transferred to the rescheduled dates. Should you be provided with a credit note at the discretion of the event organisers, this credit is valid for the specified amount of passes, and not the monetary value. Should Connect Media be unable to offer, deliver or fulfil any engagement within 12 months, you will be entitled to a full refund.
Event Delivery:
In case of a change in government restrictions and advice, Connect Media reserves the right to make the decision to deliver the event completely digital, or completely in person. Should you hold a different pass, you are entitled to move your registration to digital/in person, or receive a credit for the following edition of the event.
Privacy Disclosure:
We take your privacy seriously. Information collected on this registration will be held in the strictest of confidence on a secure database. This information may be used in order to contact you regarding future events, product development and services offered. If you do not wish to be contacted please email team@connectmedia.com. To view our full privacy policy please visit: https://dashboard.connectmedia.com/privacy-policy/.
