Where
Gibson Room, Level 10, Z Block, Gardens Point campusIndustry business breakfast with Fleur Brown, Chief Industry Affairs for the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and Gary Mortimer, QUT Professor and ARA Consumer Research Chair.
The global pandemic significantly impacted consumers and disrupted the retail sector. As Australia emerges from this period, essentially learning to live with COVID, it is clear the landscape has changed. In 2022, the retail sector has continued to deliver record sales results – however challenges remain. An acceleration of online shopping has brought forward infrastructure investment, while a growing desire for frictionless transactions has encouraged retailers to adopt new technology. Environmental concerns are real, and consumers are demanding retailers demonstrate their sustainability credentials.
ARA Chief Industry Affairs Officer Fleur Brown will provide a sector update, including challenges and opportunities faced by retailers. Fleur will detail the strategies the ARA are implementing to assist members are they emerge the pandemic. Professor Mortimer will examine shifts in consumer behaviour because of the pandemic, highlighting opportunities for retail businesses.
This event has wide implications for retail, food and hospitality managers, service marketers, and consumer researchers.
About the presenters
Fleur Brown is Chief Industry Affairs Officer for Australian Retailers Association (ARA), the peak body for Australia's 2 billion retail sector. Fleur helps foster member and industry growth through high profile national advocacy campaigns. She oversees the ARA’s policy, government relations, marketing and events teams and is also responsible for the retail body's sustainability and impact initiatives. Alongside ARA CEO Paul Zahra, Fleur is an industry spokesperson, helping strengthen the voice and profile of this powerful sector within the media, government and broader public arena.
A passionate environmentalist, Fleur's recent achievements include the launch of the Race to Zero program alongside Australia's first Retail Roadmap to sustainability. Fleur has spent much of her career as entrepreneur. She is founder of Australia's first startup agency the Launch Group, Founder and producer of the Entrepreneurs TV show and part of the Founding team for Australia's leading ideas festival TEDxSydney.
Fleur is author of The Business of Being YOU - Personal Brand Secrets of Celebrities and CEO's and is currently working on a second book. Prior to forming Launch Group, Fleur was Head of Corporate Communications for the Seven Network and Director of Communications, Marketing and Tourism for the City of Sydney.
Gary Mortimer is a Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour at QUT Business School. Prior to joining QUT, Professor Mortimer spent over 25 years working with some of Australia’s largest general merchandise and food retailers.
In 2020, he was appointed as the Chair of the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Consumer Research Advisory Committee and to the Expert Advisory Group for the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Employment Zones Reform.
Professor Mortimer also sits on the editorial boards of the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services and International Journal of Bank Marketing.
Widely recognised as Australia’s leading retail expert, industry keynote speaker and media commentator. He works closely with Australian television, print, online and radio media to engage broadly with audiences, outside of academia.
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