Martin Stirling Joins Retail Show Australia 2026 as Featured Speaker

Retail Show Australia is pleased to announce that Martin Stirling, Chief Executive Officer of Master Grocers Australia (MGA), 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 an extensive background in Industrial Relations and Employment Law, Martin is a highly respected advocate for independent, family-owned and privately operated retail businesses across Australia. His career spans private enterprise, not-for-profit organisations, and government, where he has served as a trusted legal and business advisor across multiple industries.

A Leading Voice for Independent Retailers

As CEO of Master Grocers Australia, Martin leads a dedicated team of professionals committed to ensuring MGA members have the skills, knowledge, confidence and strategic guidance required to navigate today’s increasingly complex retail environment.

He is widely recognised for his passion for supporting retailers to comply with legal obligations, strengthen their operations, grow sustainably, and create employment opportunities within their communities. Martin’s work sits at the intersection of retail operations, workforce strategy, policy advocacy and government engagement — giving him a unique and influential perspective on the challenges facing the sector.

Session Highlight:  From the Shopfloor to Parliament — MGA Taking on Retail Crime

Session title: From the Shopfloor to Parliament: MGA Taking on Retail Crime

Retail crime is escalating in frequency, severity and cost, placing growing pressure on independent retailers and their frontline teams. In this session, Martin will provide a preview of MGA’s current crime prevention agenda and advocacy program, drawing directly from insights gathered from independent retailers across Australia.

Attendees will hear:

• What MGA is hearing from retailers on the frontline
• How real-world shopfloor experiences are shaping advocacy priorities
• The practical reforms MGA is pushing for with governments and enforcement agencies
• Why collaboration between industry, policymakers and law enforcement is critical to addressing retail crime

This session offers a timely and practical examination of one of the most urgent issues impacting the retail industry today.

Part of a World-Class Speaker Line-Up

Martin Stirling joins a distinguished line-up of industry leaders, innovators and decision-makers at Retail Show Australia 2026, where the sector 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 high-level networking, covering topics including retail technology, AI, workforce strategy, leadership, customer experience and industry advocacy.

Join us this September at MCEC to hear from Martin Stirling and other industry experts tackling the most pressing challenges — and opportunities — facing modern retail.