Bernie Brookes AM Joins Retail Show Australia 2026 as Featured Speaker

Retail Show Australia is proud to announce that Bernie Brookes AM, Chairman of the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), will join the speaker line-up for Retail Show Australia 2026, taking place 22–24 September 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

With more than 40 years of experience across retail and wholesale operations, Bernie brings unparalleled expertise in leadership, strategy, and organisational transformation. Throughout his career, he has guided major retail businesses across Australia, China, India, and South Africa, helping organisations navigate complex markets, shifting consumer behaviour, and technological disruption.

A Leader Shaping the Future of Retail

As Chairman of the Australian Food and Grocery Council, Bernie provides insights into how businesses can adapt to evolving industry dynamics, balancing growth, innovation, and sustainability. His perspective combines practical leadership experience with a global outlook, making him a trusted voice on the forces shaping the retail sector today.

Bernie has consistently championed resilient, future-ready retail strategies, supporting organisations in building agile teams, fostering customer trust, and driving performance in an era of rapid change.

Session Highlight: The Changing Nature of Retail

Session title: The Changing Nature of Retail

In this keynote, Bernie will examine how AI, emerging technologies, evolving consumer expectations, and global market forces are transforming the retail landscape. Attendees will gain insights into what it takes for retailers to remain competitive, resilient, and adaptable in an era of continuous disruption.

Key themes will include:

• Retail Transformation: How AI, emerging technologies, and global forces are reshaping the retail environment.
• Leadership in Change: CEO- and board-level strategies for leading organisations through uncertainty and disruption.
• Resilience & Agility: Practical approaches to building adaptable, future-ready businesses.
• Global Perspective: Lessons and insights drawn from experience across Australia, China, India, and South Africa.

Attendees can expect actionable strategies connecting leadership, organisational culture, and operational resilience — offering a clear roadmap to navigate the evolving retail landscape.

Part of a World-Class Speaker Line-Up

Bernie Brookes AM joins a distinguished line-up of speakers at Retail Show Australia 2026, where industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers will come together to explore the forces shaping the future of retail across Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Retail Show Australia 2026 will deliver three days of thought leadership, innovation showcases, and networking opportunities — covering topics from retail technology and AI to leadership, customer experience, and commercial strategy.

Join us at MCEC this September to hear from Bernie Brookes AM and other industry experts redefining what’s next for retail.