Future of Retail Platforms ANZ Summit '25
- Agenda -
8.30
Registration and Networking - Sovereign Foyer
9.00
Chair welcome
- Dan Ferguson, NORA Advisory Board
9.05
Welcome from Mirakl
Reflecting on the evolution of platforms across ANZ and setting the stage for the day
- Tzipi Avioiz, General Manager APAC & Global Delivery, Mirakl
9.15
Beyond Retail: THE ICONIC’s Evolution to Platform Leadership in Fashion & Lifestyle
Delivered by THE ICONIC’s CEO, Jere Calmes, the keynote will explore THE ICONIC’s transformation from a pioneering online retailer to the #1 platform business for fashion, sport, and kids in Australia and New Zealand. The presentation unpacks the difference between marketplace and platform models, highlighting how THE ICONIC’s ecosystem connects brands, partners, and millions of customers through advanced technology, flexible fulfilment, and data-driven services.
- Jere Calmes, CEO, The Iconic
9.45
Interactive Panel Discussion: The Year in Review
Dissecting a Defining Year in Marketplace and Platform Innovation
This insight-rich panel takes a hard look at the breakthroughs, challenges, and shifts that defined the past 12 months in marketplace strategy across Australia and New Zealand. From platform pivots to seller success stories, it’s a high-energy review of what marketplace mastery looked like in 2024, and what it signals for the year ahead.
Moderator: Salena Knight, Retail Strategist
Panelists:
- Paula Mitchell, Digital General Manager, Freedom Australia
-
Mark Mansour, Chief Development & Strategy Officer, Woolworths MarketPlus
-
Jere Calmes, CEO, The Iconic
- Hitesh Mehta, Head of Marketplace, Baby Bunting
10.25
Morning Tea - Refreshments & Networking
10.50
Fireside Chat – Best Buy Canada’s Omnichannel & Marketplace Mastery
Join Thierry Hay-Sabourin, SVP eCommerce, Marketplace & Technology at Best Buy Canada, as he shares valuable insights from Best Buy Canada’s 10 year journey in building a successful omnichannel marketplace. Thierry will discuss:
- Strategic decisions behind early marketplace adoption
- How marketplace integration transformed omnichannel operations
- Competitive advantages gained from marketplace implementation
- Actionable takeaways for Australian & NZ retailers looking to scale or launch their own marketplace operations
- Thierry Hay-Sabourin, SVP eCommerce, Marketplace & Technology, Best Buy Canada
- Laurence Greenway, Strategy Manager, Mirakl
11.15
Platform Power Plays: What’s Driving the Next Phase of Marketplace Growth
Join leaders from eBay and AliExpress as they explore how global marketplaces are evolving to stay competitive. This session will highlight the innovations and strategies driving platform growth in the ANZ region, with a focus on empowering local sellers.
Key takeaways:
- How eBay’s trust-building programs and local seller support are boosting credibility and growth in ANZ.
- How AI is transforming marketplace success, optimising pricing, personalising experiences, and driving efficiencies.
- How AliExpress is simplifying cross-border selling and enhancing visibility for ANZ sellers with AI-powered tools and localised operations
Panelists:
- Sarah Sternau, Managing Director, eBay
- Kit Wan Maggie Yau, Government Relations & Account Director, AliExpress/Alibaba
- Gavin Watson, Senior Industry Lead, APJ, Monday.com
11.40
Navigating the Global Reset: Cross-Border Growth Strategies for ANZ Marketplace Sellers
Global trade changes are reshaping how Australian retailers sell internationally. This session offers key insights on expanding beyond domestic markets, with practical strategies around logistics, compliance, and digital growth to help ANZ sellers thrive in a shifting eCommerce landscape.
Moderator: Lou Milicevic, Managing Director Asendia AU & NZ, Board Member APAC
Panelists:
- Peter Thomas, Founder and CEO, PhotobookShop
-
Sherry Wu, CEO and Co-Founder, Belle & Bloom
- Michael Jankelowitz, General Manager, Belle & Bloom
12.00
Mastering Platform-Based Commerce: Leveraging Innovation for Superior CX and Scalable Growth
In an increasingly complex digital landscape, this panel explores how leading ANZ brands are streamlining operations and scaling growth through platform-first strategies. From data automation to customer experience innovation, discover how retailers are navigating platform fragmentation, enhancing CX, and driving performance across marketplaces, owned channels, and strategic partnerships.
Key takeaways:
- How to simplify multi-platform operations through smart data integration
- Real-world CX strategies from furniture, lifestyle, and loyalty-driven brands
- Where to invest for scalable growth without compromising customer trust
Moderator: Mark Gray, Managing Director, Cresco Data
Panelists:
- Rebecca Illing, National DSV Manager, Myer
- Quentin Williams, Head of Dropship, Freedom Australia
- Luke Goldsworthy, Divisional Manager - Marketplace, digiDirect
12:20
Networking Lunch
13.00
Breaking New Ground: What TEMU’s Arrival Signals for the Future of Retail
TEMU’s rapid entry into the Australian market is reshaping consumer expectations around price, speed and platform performance. In this headline session, we explore what its arrival means for local e-commerce players, from heightened competition to emerging partnership models and how retail leaders can adapt, compete, and thrive.
Key takeaways:
- A closer look at how global marketplaces scale quickly and challenge local norms
- Insights into TEMU’s approach to logistics, pricing, and customer engagement
- Strategic guidance for staying competitive in a fast-evolving digital retail landscape
Moderator: Dan Ferguson, NORA Advisory Board
- Yichuan Jin, Senior Business Development Manager, TEMU
- Richard Chen, Senior Business Development Manager, TEMU
- Simon, Zhang, Senior Business Development Manager, TEMU
13.35
From Innovation to Impact: AI Strategies for Modern Retail
This session brings together tech leaders from Mirakl and Best Buy Canada to explore how AI is reshaping modern retail, from product innovation to real-world implementation. Discover how AI is driving measurable impact across marketplaces, personalisation, supply chain, and customer experience, and gain practical insights on how to build, adopt, and scale AI strategically in your own retail organisation.
Moderator: Salena Knight, Retail Strategist
- Nagi Letaifa, Chief Technology Officer, Mirakl
-
David Evans, VP and Chief Technology Officer, Best Buy Canada
13.55
Beyond Borders: The Retail Playbook for Seamless Global Growth
As retail continues to globalise, cross-border payments have become a critical lever for growth but also a source of complexity. In this session, Airwallex explores how modern payment solutions are redefining international commerce, enabling retailers to scale more efficiently, reduce costs, and deliver frictionless customer experiences across borders.
Top 3 takeaways for retail leaders:
- Smart Scaling: Learn how to effectively manage multi-currency transactions to reduce foreign exchange fees and optimise cash flow.
- Payment Innovation: Discover how payment platforms can streamline operations, from real-time tracking to seamless platform integrations, enabling faster market entry.
- Customer Experience as Currency: Understand how frictionless payment experiences can drive customer loyalty and build trust across international markets.
Hosted by: Huw Griffiths, Head of Enterprise ANZ, Airwallex
14.15
Optimising Platform Growth: Leveraging Data, Logistics and Technology for Scalable Success
In this session, we’ll explore how leading marketplaces are using distributed fulfillment, data-driven logistics, and advanced technology to scale efficiently. With a focus on building agility without owning infrastructure, we’ll dive into strategies for meeting customer expectations and operational excellence through innovative logistics solutions and platform integration.
Key takeaways:
- Scaling platforms with data-led logistics and efficient fulfilment models
- Aligning marketplace agility with corporate infrastructure and customer needs
- Strategies for empowering sellers while maintaining operational control and trust
Moderator: Salena Knight, Retail Strategist
- Nish Ramchandani Advani, Associate Director, LOCAD
-
Kieran Boyce: General Manager, Operations, Woolworths MarketPlus
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Alisha Athreya, Founder, Kurvwear / Don't eat my candle
14:35
Afternoon Tea & Refreshments
15:00
Breakout Sessions Commence
Breakout Session 1
Harnessing Retail Media - Driving Revenue on Platform-Based Marketplaces
Retail media is rapidly transforming how brands connect with shoppers, leveraging new ad formats, first-party data, and marketplace dynamics to drive measurable results. This session will explore the foundations of retail media, current market trends, platform strategies, and key approaches for building a successful retail media business.
Key discussion points:
- Defining retail media and its impact on today’s retail landscape.
- Platform integration: leveraging platforms to drive incremental sales and attract advertisers.
- Emerging formats: onsite, offsite, and in-store media opportunities using first-party data.
- Building trust: protecting shopper privacy while measuring campaign effectiveness.
- Scaling for growth: Prioritising tech stack, talent, and self-service tools to expand retail media capabilities
Speakers:
- JJ Eastwood: Founder of Willow & Jo Consulting and former General Manager of Carousell Media Group, will share insights from building a leading retail media network across Asia, including best practices in ad-tech selection, organisational design, and operational execution.
- Edward Sackett,
Marketplace & Retail Media Solution Lead, Mirakl
- Mark Mansour, Chief Development & Strategy Officer, Woolworths MarketPlus
Breakout Session 2
Leveraging Data and AI for Growth:
Fuel smarter retail strategies and rapid platform growth through data-driven insights and AI-powered innovation
Key discussion points:
- Utilise consumer and platform data to refine business strategies, identify growth opportunities, and optimize decision-making.
- Implement AI to forecast demand, personalize customer experiences, and anticipate market trends.
- Accelerate innovation with AI-powered tools that automate operations, streamline customer interactions, and enhance marketing effectiveness.
- Leverage advanced data integration techniques to consolidate insights across multiple platforms and channels.
Moderated by: Alan Devereux, Product Manager, Airwallex
Breakout Session 3
Building an Ecosystem - Driving Marketplace Growth through Native Solutions and Partnerships
In a marketplace-driven landscape, how do brands and sellers choose and manage channels efficiently? How do native solutions and partnerships drive marketplace growth? This session explores how marketplaces, sellers, and platform operators can collaborate to drive efficient, profitable partnerships and mutually beneficial outcomes.
Key discussion points:
- Ecosystem Strategies: Aligning seller success with platform profitability through integrated solutions.
- Optimising Operations: Streamlining processes to boost performance across sellers and platforms.
- Strategic Partnerships: Identifying and managing partners to drive marketplace growth.
- Channel Management: Best practices for maximizing channel performance and profitability.
- Measuring Success: Key metrics to track and optimize across platforms and sales channels.
Moderator: Christian McKelvie, General Manager - Marketplace, JB Hi-Fi Group
- Paula Mitchell, Digital General Manager, Freedom Australia - Panelist
- Val Brusylovsky, Managing Director, Boutique Retailer - Panelist
- Doron Kushlin, Co-Founder at KG Group - Panelist
- Ronnie Karam, General Manger, SourceCo
16:00
Networking Drinks
17.00
Close