26-27 MARCH 2025 | MELBOURNE | SOFITEL ON COLLINS
Igniting Innovation in Retail
2025 is set to bring about a transformative shift in the retail landscape. As customer behaviours and expectations continue to shift across an increasingly digitised world, leaders must adapt rapidly to sustain growing demands. But how can brands maintain the edge amongst such uncertainty for the future?
Join The Retail Leaders Forum 2025 to debate, discuss and tackle the most pressing challenges facing the industry today. Designed with strategy and tactics at its core, the event will equip leaders with the tools, skills and connections needed to drive growth, navigate complexity and ignite the innovation needed for tomorrow’s evolving retail landscape.
Why Attend
- 1Valuable Insights
- 2Candid Discussions
- 3Networking Opportunities
- 4Expert Speakers
2025 Speakers
Michael Schneider
Managing Director
Mike Schneider was appointed MD of Bunnings ANZ in February 2016 & the wider Bunnings Group in May 2017. After joining Bunnings in 2005, Mike previously led various operational teams across ANZ. Building on Bunnings’ proud history as a pure home improvement & outdoor living retailer, Mike is evolving the business into an integrated group that spans the full needs of
consumer DIY customers through to end-to-end solutions for trade & commercial customers. The group employs more than 50,000 team members & generated revenues in excess of $18.9bn & earnings of $2.2bn in financial year 2024. Key to this business evolution is driving a diverse Bunnings’ offering including Bunnings Warehouse, Trade Centres, Bunnings Frame & Truss sites along with standalone brands Tool Kit Depot & Beaumont Tiles. This deep transformation has also seen the evolution of the group’s online & marketplace offers as well as significant enhancements to technology & the digitisation of the business to boost customer experience. Mike’s overarching priority as the organisation grows & evolves continues to be preserving & enhancing the unique
Bunnings culture which plays such a vital role in the organisation’s success. Prior to Bunnings, Mike had a diverse career across retail & financial services holding senior roles in operations, human resources & strategy.
Mirja Viinanen
Chief Executive Officer & Chief Sustainability Officer
Jack Gance
Chairman & Co-Founder
Paul Tinkler
Vice President ANZ
Theresa Austin
Global Consumer Engagement Director
Don Meij
Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director
Daniel Agostinelli
Group Chief Executive Officer
Dr Oliver Vogt
Chief Executive Officer Transcend Retail Solutions
Before being named CEO and launching Transcend, Oliver was the Strategy and Transformation Director at Tesco, one of the largest retailers in the world, recently reporting sales of £61.5bn, employing over 330,000 people and trading in five countries.
Oliver has many years of experience in the Fulfilment, Distribution and Supply Chain space and his passion lies in the eCommerce aspect of customer fulfilment and in grocery more specifically – known for its huge complexities. His customer first approach focusses on creating future-proof businesses, which balance automation with humans, and efficiency with safety and sustainability, and puts the customer experience ahead of everything. Oliver played a leading role in Tesco’s Covid response, in which Tesco were able to double the size of their online business in just six weeks, responding to the crisis at pace, ensuring Tesco’s customers, especially their most vulnerable had access to groceries.
Oliver has previously held several leadership roles in Amazon in Fulfilment, Operations and Supply Chain. He studied Economics and Business in Germany, his home country, and holds a PhD in Statistics.
Rebecca Honeysett
Head of Sustainability ANZ
Daniel “Pancho” Gutstein
Chief Executive Officer
Daniel “Pancho” Gutstein is a revered retail business professional with over 20 years’ industry experience.
Since the turn of the century, Pancho has led strategy, marketing and merchandising teams for brands across Australia and the United States.
Growing up in New York with his older brother and twin sister, Pancho studied at Princeton and Columbia Universities and explored an interest in acting before finding an enduring passion and knack for digital marketing. His career started at Doublespace, a digital brand agency based in New York City, before joining Graco Children’s Products (A Newell Rubbermaid Company) where he went on to become Director of Global Brand Marketing.
In 2009, Pancho made the move into sportswear by joining PUMA North America as Senior Director of Strategic Planning based in Boston, Massachusetts. Within two years, he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Merchandising, reporting into the President of the region. Following almost a decade of building impressive brand momentum and sales, Pancho was appointed General Manager of PUMA Oceania and relocated to Australia with his family in 2017. Over the past six years, Pancho has tripled the market’s turnover, led local teams through a global pandemic, and had the brand’s APAC region twice recognised by the Top Employers Institute.
Pancho commenced as CEO, Forty Winks Franchising Pty Ltd. from mid-January 2024. Outside of work, Pancho is a keen basketballer and enjoys Yoga and lazy Sundays with his wife and two young daughters.
Anna Baird
Founder & Director
Kyle Faulconer
Chief Executive Officer ANZ
Kyle is the CEO of the PepsiCo ANZ BU leading the strategic agenda across both the food & beverage businesses, & the CEO of the PepsiCo Indochina Foods BU. He is passionate about developing teams, driving transformation for positive purpose & winning in the market.
Kyle has a wealth of experience in the FMCG industry. He joined PepsiCo in 2007 & has a variety of end to end experiences of increasing responsibility across field operations, strategic account leadership, field GM, go to market design, sales strategy & enterprise customer leadership.
With a keen focus on the customer and the consumer, Kyle’s previous position as VP & GM for Frito Lay–Walmart (a $4 billion annual business), led to his appointment as PepsiCo ANZ CEO in January 2022. In this role he established an Omni-Channel team, creating breakthrough innovative solutions for the retailer & their consumers to strengthen PepsiCo’s position as Walmart’s leading supplier, which led to the team being awarded Walmart’s prestigious Supplier of The Year award in 2021.
Kyle is passionate about driving sustainable growth & steering PepsiCo toward its vision to: ‘Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods & Beverages by Winning with PepsiCo Positive’. He believes a strong customer & human-centric strategy that executes innovative solutions will position the ANZ & Indochina businesses as indispensable in the marketplace.
Kyle is a purposeful leader who intrinsically fosters a people-first culture to inspire both joy & professional fulfillment in the workplace. He sees diversity as a competitive advantage & is inspired by his ANZ executive leadership team who come from a range of backgrounds, nationalities & are 60% female.
Originally from Missouri, USA, Kyle & his husband currently live in Sydney. Fans of travel, being outdoors & on water, they enjoy spending time traveling & experiencing the amazing sights of Australia & New Zealand.
Chris Wilesmith
Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director Electus Jaycar RTM ANZ
Briony Kennedy
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Richard Pearson
Director of Retail
With more than 20 years of retail and consumer goods executive experience, Richard is recognised for leading complex transformations driven by a new consumer purpose. Richard joined Wesfarmers Health in 2023 and oversees the Retail division, including Priceline Pharmacy, Priceline corporate stores, eCommerce and Sister Club. Prior to this, Richard was the Managing Director of Target Australia and has worked at other Australian retailers including Coles, Caltex and Mecca.
Dan Hamilton
Managing Director Australia
Vibhu Tandon
Global Head – Data, Analytics & Insights
Andrew Stein
Chief Customer Officer
Kerri Wane
Chief Executive Officer
Matthew Horn
General Manager – Customer & Digital
Rob Rand
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Francine Ereira
Non-Executive Director
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
Building Momentum: Setting a New Tone for Growth in Retail
- How are current social, cultural and economic environments shaping retail’s growth trajectory?
- How are retail leaders leveraging innovation to redefine opportunity in the midst of ongoing operational uncertainty?
- What does it look like to empower your people as core drivers of transformation?
Daniel “Pancho” Gutstein
Chief Executive Officer
Paul Tinkler
Vice President ANZ
SUPPLY + FULFILLMENT
DATA + INSIGHTS
Vibhu Tandon
Global Head – Data, Analytics & Insights
PEOPLE + CULTURE
CX + ENGAGEMENT
Accelerating our Momentum Towards a Sustainable Future
- How are internal leaders furthering conversations and driving core competencies around sustainability across the board?
- Are we dealing with retail’s waste problem fast enough? Is a more circular economy within reach?
- How are retailers strengthening their ESG frameworks in line with evolving regulations?
Briony Kennedy
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Rebecca Honeysett
Head of Sustainability ANZ
Exploring the Shifting Dimensions of Loyalty in an Uncertain World
- What are the core mechanisms driving loyalty across both brick & mortar and e-commerce ecosystems?
- How are retailers anticipating customer need without compromising digital and data-based trust?
- How do you navigate the potential for tainted industry perception brought on by a competitor?
Anna Baird
Founder & Director
Matthew Horn
General Manager – Customer & Digital
Andrew Stein
Chief Customer Officer
John Batistich
Non-Executive Director
Unravelling Complexity: Shifting Obstacle into Opportunity with Confidence
- How has AI matured through retail operations and processes? Where do leaders currently stand with the technology?
- How are leaders balancing the need for internal change management alongside keeping pace with evolving consumer behaviour?
- What is the most impactful approach to the challenges that accompany leaning into new opportunities growth?
Rob Rand
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Kerri Wane
Chief Executive Officer
Dan Hamilton
Managing Director Australia
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 jessicaef@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.
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Our Partners
Become A Partner
Celebrating its 14th year, the Retail Leaders Forum is unparalleled in the level of delegates and speakers it attracts. The Forum is driven by an ambitious business agenda, and our audience is screened for seniority to ensure you are networking with the minds shaping business.
Our limited keynote and moderated panel speaking opportunities will effectively embed you in this top-end business community. Digital and physical brand activations, as well as consultations in dedicated activation spaces further enable you to engage with this decision-making audience. As a marketing platform to demonstrate expertise, credibility and grow your business with the Retail industry, the Retail Leaders Forum offers unrivalled cut-through.
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
GENERAL ENQUIRIES
Tel: +61 2 8004 8590
Email: team@connectmedia.com
Venue & Accomodation
SOFITEL ON COLLINS
25 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000.
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/.
