23-24 March 2027 | Melbourne
The Future of Retail Starts Here
Australia’s Essential Event for
Retail CEOs, executives and customer leaders
Retail Leaders returns in 2027 for its 16th annual edition, one of Australia’s most established and trusted gatherings for senior retail leaders. The event brings together retail CEOs, executives, customer leaders, digital leaders and commercial decision-makers to examine the future of retail growth. In a market shaped by margin pressure, changing consumer behaviour, rising customer acquisition costs, retail media, AI and intelligent operations, Retail Leaders explores the decisions retailers are making now to strengthen customer relationships, improve performance and build more resilient businesses.
Why Attend
- 1Find where retail growth is really coming from
- 2Own the customer relationship
- 3Benchmark with senior retail leaders
Past Speakers Spotlight
Ron Johnson
Senior Vice President, Retail
Matthew Benham
Country Manager & Director
Lord Stuart Rose
Chairman
Megan Welch
Chief Executive Officer
Terry J Lundgren
Chairman & CEO
Natalie Davis
Managing Director
Mark McInnes
Chief Executive Officer
Tolgahan Cakaloglu
Distinguished Scientist of AI
Ryan Baker
Chief Operating Officer
Jonathan Waecker
Chief Executive Officer
Ian Bailey
Managing Director
Brooke Rodger
Chief Executive Officer
Attendees
Speakers
& Networking
Days
Content by leaders, for leaders
Our programme is researched and shaped with senior retail leaders and Connect Media’s network of industry specialists. It focuses on the real commercial, customer and operational decisions facing retail today, from profitable growth and customer ownership to retail media, AI, store formats and intelligent operations.
Key Themes
Profitable Growth | Finding Retail's Next Commercial Advantage
Retail leaders are being asked to grow in a market where customers are selective, costs remain high and every investment needs to work harder. This session explores where retailers are finding genuine growth, how they are protecting margin, and which investments are delivering measurable commercial return.
Retail Media and Commerce Media | The New Growth Engine
Retail media is becoming one of the most important commercial opportunities in retail. This session explores how retailers are building credible media propositions, monetising first-party data, deepening supplier partnerships and balancing commercial opportunity with customer trust.
Customer Ownership | Loyalty, Data and the Fight for Lifetime Value
Customer relationships are becoming harder to win and easier to lose. This session examines how retailers are using first-party data, personalisation, loyalty economics and customer insight to deepen relationships, improve retention and build long-term value.
Intelligent Retail Operations | Making Technology Pay
AI, automation and data are reshaping how retailers forecast, plan, serve customers and run operations. This session explores where technology is delivering practical value, how retailers are improving productivity, and how leaders are balancing innovation with operational discipline.
The Store of the Future | Reinventing Physical Retail for a More Demanding Customer
Physical retail remains one of the most important channels for customer connection, brand experience and commercial performance. This session explores how retailers are rethinking store formats, frontline experience, technology, service models and the role of physical retail across a more connected customer experience
More program details to come
What’s included in my delegate pass
Access to Full Event Program
Exclusive Networking Opportunities
Executive Insights & Event Content
Delegate passes are reserved for professionals working within retailers and consumer brands. Service providers, vendors, consultants and agencies are not permitted to register at the delegate rate. If you are a service provider and would like to be involved, please contact the Connect Media team to discuss partnership or networking pass options.
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
Retail Leaders gives partners access to a senior, curated audience of retail executives and consumer brand decision-makers. It is a premium leadership event built around quality of engagement, stronger share of voice and more meaningful conversations with the people shaping retail strategy, customer experience and commercial growth.
Partnership opportunities can include thought leadership, roundtables, premium activations, category positioning, networking, content and targeted engagement with senior retail leaders.
Why Partner
– Engage a senior retail and consumer brand audience
– Position your business inside the leadership conversation
– Build credibility through content, insight and category expertise
– Support sales conversations with higher-quality engagement
– Access decision-makers across retail, customer, digital, data, marketing, operations and technology
– Create opportunities beyond the event through roundtables, custom campaigns and follow-up activity
Retail Leaders connects partners with Australia’s senior retail leadership community through access, influence and genuine relevance.
PARTNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES
Jack Martin
Growth Director
T: +61 451 548 447
E: jackm@connectmedia.com
GENERAL
ENQUIRIES
T: +61 2 8004 8590
E: team@connectmedia.com
Connect with these companies attending
Retail Leaders attracts senior executives from Australia’s most recognised retailers and consumer brands, creating a high-quality environment for strategic discussion, commercial connection and peer benchmarking.
Your event expErience starts here
Content Council
The Retail Leaders Content Council brings together senior industry voices to help shape the themes and discussions that matter most to Australian retail. Their insight ensures the programme reflects the real issues facing retail leaders, from growth and customer ownership to retail media, loyalty, technology, store formats, operations and the future of the sector.
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
Venue & Accommodation
Coming Soon
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/.