Judges
Vicki Cantrell
Co-Founder of VIP Awards
Vicki Cantrell is a retail strategist, community builder, former COO and CIO in the retail industry, and is recognized for relationship building and accelerated growth.
She most recently served as Retail Transformation Officer for Aptos, Inc., developing customer experience and relationship based go-to-market strategies.
Before Aptos, Cantrell was NRF’s SVP, Communities and Executive Director, Shop.org, providing strategic direction and management of Shop.org, CIO Council, Digital Council, CMO Council, ARTS and Loss Prevention Council.
Prior to NRF, Cantrell served as the Chief Operating Officer of Tory Burch, and has also worked as CIO of Giorgio Armani Corporation and held senior level positions with Gucci Group, Party City and JCPenney.
Cantrell is an active member of the Retail Orphan Initiative, is on the Advisory Board of sparks & honey, and a board member of Tandy Leather Company.
Olivia Carr
Founder, Shhh Silk
Olivia Carr is a force to be reckoned with in the world of entrepreneurship and personal development. A best-selling author of "Self-Made," Olivia's storytelling centres on overcoming adversity, fostering a self-made mindset, and embracing mental health and vulnerability.
As the Founder of the multi-million dollar brand Shhh Silk, beloved by celebrities worldwide, her journey from a single teenage mother to a global business magnate is a testament to her unwavering determination and self-belief.
Olivia's energising talks inspire audiences to conquer setbacks, build resilience, and seize their dreams with unwavering confidence. Get ready to be empowered and motivated by Olivia's transformative message.
Julie Mathers
Founder, Snuggle Hunny
Julie Mathers is the Founder of Flora and Fauna, the world’s largest 100% vegan store. Flora & Fauna is focused on driving change and empowering customers. Julie is passionate about using her skills and platform for purpose.
Julie founded Flora & Fauna 5 years ago with a clear vision to be the most responsible retailer possible with the best customer service. Flora & Fauna was named Best Small Online Retailer at the 2018 ORIAs and won Telstra Small Business of the Year for NSW 2018. Flora & Fauna is also a proud BCorp. Flora & Fauna is 100% carbon offset, has saved over 30 tonnes of plastic from hitting landfill by shipping orders plastic-free, offers a recycling scheme and supports charity partners such as Where Pigs Fly.
Prior to founding Flora & Fauna, Julie has worked in the UK, Europe, Asia and now Australia for the last ten years. She has worked in consulting, private equity and with many retailers, including senior leadership roles in Woolworths, Coles and APG & Co.
Marcus Murphy
Founder, Five Group
Marcus Murphy, a seasoned business expert and investor, played a pivotal role in Yelp's growth from a startup to a multi-billion dollar company. He's an advisory board member at LinkedIn and a renowned speaker for LinkedIn Learning.
Marcus has extensive partnerships with industry leaders like Tony Robbins, Daymond John, and Google. He's a globally recognized speaker, appearing at major conferences and media outlets including Forbes and Good Morning America. Currently, he's the CEO of 5ive, focusing on education and sports platforms for elite athletes worldwide. Personally, Marcus is a devoted husband and father to two daughters.
Rob Godwin
CEO, National Retail Association
Rob is an experienced award winning eCommerce Director with a history of creating and establishing market leading companies. With 15 years experience in B2C and B2C companies, Rob has a highly successful achievements in running international business’.
Leadership and delivering significance growth and profitability are his main strengths.
Strong business development professional skilled in implementing major marketing plans expanding sales channels, operations and systems management, with extensive experience in providing advice and guidance to leading brands.
Trevor Stitt
General Manager at Mattel and Group Marketing at Retail Prodigy Group (RPG)
Trevor Stitt, General Manager at Mattel and Group Marketing at Retail Prodigy Group (RPG), brings over 35 years of leadership experience across various business sizes and ownership structures. With a strong focus on delivering the Ultimate Customer Experience, he has worked with global brands like Nike, Samsung, and Mattel, as well as Australian retailer Myer.
Trevor is deeply passionate about marketing, technology, and continuous learning. He also serves on advisory boards for companies like Brauz and Prosper Digital, alongside the ARA Tech and Innovation advisory committee within the retail industry.
Anastasia Lloyd-Wallis
Head of Insights, Retail Doctor Group
A qualified project manager, Anastasia has significant experience managing projects of all sizes, from modest to multi-million dollar programmes.
At Retail Doctor Group she has worked on research projects for a wide range of clients including: Office Max, Glory Global, Sheike, Yamaha Star & Insights, Chatime, True Alliance, Shopping
Centres, Qantas Loyalty, Ramsay Pharmacy, Sheppard Cycles, Oxfam, Carbatec, Amex, Forever New and Vinnies
Anastasia has also conducted research on the impact of Amazon on the Australian Retail Landscape and has been asked to present this research at the MRMW.
Ashlee Aldridge
CEO of Reach Partners LLC
Ashlee Aldridge is the CEO of Reach Partners LLC, a fast-growing, woman-owned management consulting firm that provides global companies with business and technology strategy, transformations, digital enablement, and C-suite leadership.
Ashlee is a visionary CEO and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience as a C-suite executive with Fortune 50 and 100 retailers. A proven leader with a demonstrated history of transforming organizations and delivering results, she has won numerous accolades and industry awards and was listed as the Top Ten Women in Retail Technology. Ashlee regularly provides strategic guidance to CEOs and Boards seeking to rapidly transform their businesses, accelerate growth, and adapt to the evolving needs of the market, industry, and modern consumer.
She is a trusted board member on public and private company boards and a highly sought-after speaker on retail technology, trends, and transformation.
Nathan Bush
Director, eSuite
My primary focus is as the Co-Founder and Director of the eCommerce talent agency, eSuite. We connect fast-growing retailers with the best Australian eCommerce talent. Servicing all of Australia with recruitment, consulting and training, we want to help retailers develop their eCommerce capabilities and develop high growth teams.
I also host the Add To Cart eCommerce podcast where I am lucky enough to chat weekly with the best eCommerce minds and leaders in eCommerce. We have a brilliant Add To Cart community which keeps me really excited.
Ashley Hudson
CEO, Retail Global
Ashley Hudson is a dynamic business leader and the current CEO of Retail Global. His decade-long career spans multiple industries, from hospitality and education to online retail, with each role adding a unique facet to his professional expertise. Ashley's academic background is as diverse and impressive as his career. With an MBA in Marketing and Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Australian Catholic University, a Diploma in Advertising from Martin College, and several esteemed scholarships, he has a strong foundation that has guided his professional journey.
At Retail Global, Ashley leads a team dedicated to empowering businesses through knowledge sharing and community connection. They organise conferences that offer businesses of all sizes the tools to boost their online presence and sales. His global experience brings a valuable cross-cultural perspective to these events, ensuring they cater to the varied challenges of the retail industry.