Retail Leaders Forum will return in 2016 with an unprecedented line-up of some of the world’s most influential and innovative retailers.

Recognised as the largest and most significant retail event in the region, this exclusive event will be an in-depth discussion of what it will take to lead retail in 2016, gathering 450 retail executives from across the industry spectrum and across the region.

Opening this year’s event will be Richard Goyder AO, who has recently celebrated ten years as the CEO of Australian retail giant Wesfarmers.

Also headlining will be Justin King CBE, the former CEO of Sainsbury’s (UK), who during his ten years as CEO, oversaw twelve consecutive quarters of sales growth and effectively repositioned the supermarket to fight off the arrival of Aldi and Lidl.

Other headline keynotes include Sharon Price John, CEO of the iconic toy retailer Build-a-Bear Workshop (USA): Ken Murphy, President of Global Brands for the trans-Atlantic pharmacy giant Walgreens Boots Alliance (USA) and Tom Lamb, Chief Marketing Officer for world’s second largest hardware chain, Lowe’s Companies (USA).

Other speakers include:

Deborah Nicodemus, Chief Executive Officer, Moda Operandi (USA)

Peter Ruis, Chief Executive Officer, Jigsaw (UK)

Ron Young, Senior Vice-President, Global, Williams-Sonoma (USA)

Bob Neville, Global Retail Creative Director & Head of Retail, New Balance (HK)

Gwen Morrison, Chief Executive Officer, The Store (USA)

Richard Umbers, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Myer

Stuart Machin, Managing Director, Target

Mark Powell, Immediate Former Group Chief Executive Officer, The Warehouse Group (NZ)

James Goth, Chief Strategy Officer, Woolworths Limited

John Slack-Smith, Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer, Harvey Norman

Sacha Laing, Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer, Country Road

Launa Inman, Non-Executive Director, Commonwealth Bank

Michael O’Keeffe, Chief Executive Officer, Aesop

Michael Hardwick, Chief Financial Officer, Cotton On Group

David Matheson, Chief Operating Officer, Kmart

Aliza Knox, Director, Scentre Group & Managing Director, Twitter (APAC)

Scott Charters, Chief Operating Officer, Petbarn

For more information, including a full list of speakers and online registration, is available at www.retailleaders.com.au or contact Connect Events at 02 8004 8590.