A note from the CEO

As we enter the first quarter of a new calendar year, I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to all members and provide an overview the exciting time ahead.

I extend a warm welcome to new and existing members and look forward to meeting you all through the number of networking opportunities that are provided throughout the LFRA calendar.

Our industry closed out a successful 2023 with the LFRA Annual Awards Gala in Sydney, which celebrated the many achievements of the industry, and acknowledged its stand-out leaders, promising young talent, and innovation.

There have been changes on the LFRA Board and I would like to acknowledge newcomers, as well as those that have or will be leaving us.

We would like to thank the following Directors who resigned in 2023 year:

Bruce Sinclair, JB Hi-Fi/The Good Guys  retired and  his position was filled by Phil Waterworth;

Andrew Marks,  Bunnings retired in July and Garry James moved from Alternate Director to Director upon Andrew’s retirement. Brett Moody has stepped into the Alternate Director; and

Patrick Noone, Country Manager, Costco retired mid-December and his position on the Board.

A big congratulations to Rob Foley from PETstock, who was recently elected to the Board. Rob has been the General Manager of Property at PETstock for 9 years now and with PETstock since 2005, and we look forward to having his input.

Garry James from Bunnings has moved from Alternate Director to Director, after taking over from Andrew Marks who retired from Bunnings late last year, we thank Andrew for his ongoing service to the LFRA.

The current LFRA Board is:

Zac Fried (President) | Deputy Executive Chairman, Spotlight Group

James Scott (Vice President) | General Manager, Property, Harvey Norman

Philippa Kelly | Chief Executive Officer, LFRA

Ian Robinson, OAM (Immediate Past President) | Executive Chairman, Beacon Lighting Group

Garry James | Director of Property, Bunnings Group Limited

Michael Petricevic | Managing Director, Oz Design Furniture

Richard Champion | General Manager, Property, Amart Furniture

Sam Pinchbeck | General Manager, Property & Store Development, Super Retail Group

Michael Cherubino | Executive Director, Adairs Retail Group

Philip Waterworth | Group General Manager – Property, JB Hi-Fi/The Good Guys

Rob Foley | General Manager, Property, PETstock Group

Alternate Directors

Richard O’Brien | General Manager Property, Spotlight Retail Group

Glen Robinson | Chief Executive Officer, Beacon Lighting

Brett Moody |General Manager Property, Bunnings Group Limited

We look forward to harnessing the strength of the new Board through the collaboration of old and new Members.

The past year has brought challenges, but also showcased the resilience and adaptability of our industry.

Sustainability has been a central theme in the sector’s initiatives the past year and will continue to be as we see the introduction of the International Sustainability Standards and further implementation of sustainability conscious initiatives by members to significantly reduce their carbon footprint.

As consumers become increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their purchases, the industry recognises the critical responsibility to contribute to a more sustainable future.

From initiatives to reducing waste and footprint in the early development stages to energy-efficient store operations, we look forward to seeing members implementing practices that align with a commitment to corporate social responsibility, as we saw recognised at the Annual Awards Gala.

Collaboration is another key factor in the continuing success of the Large Format Retail sector. The challenges we face can be complex, and by working together with our industry partners, we can find innovative solutions that benefit us all.

The LFRA provides a unique platform to its members to facilitate collaboration between its Retail and Associate members. Further to this, our Unwrap publication provides insight into our diverse range of members and how they can work together within the industry.

I am confident that the year ahead holds immense promise for the Large Format Retail sector. By embracing innovation, focusing on customer experience, championing sustainability, fostering collaboration and prioritising our people, we are laying the foundation for a transformative year ahead.

I look forward to making this a landmark year for the industry and seeing you all in Melbourne next month for the first Forum and Emerging Leaders event of 2024.