Agenda - iMedia Retail Summit New Zealand 2022

Day 2

Day 3

Day 1

Day 2

22 May 2025

7:00AM - 8:25AM

Breakfast

8:25AM - 8:30AM

MC Opening Remarks

Yvonne Adele

Event Host and Official MC
iMedia

8:30AM - 9:05AM

The Shift Towards Profitability in Online Retail – Economy Wide Challenges and Retailer Opportunities

The New Zealand retail sector has experienced weak demand over the past 12 months. Garth will step through the outlook for consumer demand and online retailing over the next three years and also unpack the shift in focus by many online retailers towards a more viable balance between sales and profitability.

Garth Francis

Consumer Sector Analyst
MST Marquee

9:05AM - 9:30AM

Scaling Cross Border Without the Squeeze: Smarter Strategies to maximise profit margins

Expanding into new markets should strengthen your business, not strain it. But many retailers lose more to currency exposure and payment friction than they realise — even when revenue grows. This keynote breaks down where profits are lost, what successful businesses do differently and why your payments strategy is essential for protecting growth.

Jim Vrondas

GM & Country Manager
WorldFirst

9:30AM - 9:40AM

Unleashing Fast Delivery - How customers (4-legged and 2) are evolving their expectations on delivery

In today’s competitive retail landscape, delivery is no longer just a logistics function; it’s an extension of a brand’s customer experience. As customer expectations evolve, retailers must rethink what fast, flexible, and transparent delivery means. This talk explores how meeting customer needs on their term through Choice, Certainty, Speed, and Transparency is essential to staying relevant. We’ll dive into how Petbarn’s partnership with Uber is transforming the pet retailer's customer experience, and demonstrating how the right customer proposition can drive meaningful business transformation whilst elevating brand loyalty.

Will Glover

Head of Commercial, Australia & New Zealand
Uber Direct

9:40AM - 9:50AM

Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage

An in-depth look at how sustainable practices can drive brand loyalty, reduce costs, and create meaningful differentiation in a crowded marketplace. This session will explore innovative approaches to sustainability in retail, including circular economy models, eco-friendly packaging solutions, and transparent supply chain practices. Our speaker will share real-world examples of how sustainability initiatives have positively impacted both brand perception and bottom-line results.

9:50AM - 10:20AM

Coffee Break

Take a break and refuel with morning tea.

10:20AM - 10:55AM

Retail Innovation Roundtables

Join us for a series of dynamic roundtable discussions where collaboration leads to innovation. In these 30-minute sessions, you’ll connect with industry peers to tackle common challenges, exchange success stories and explore cutting-edge strategies shaping the future of retail. Forge meaningful connections, explore best practices, and become an integral part of the retail community’s evolution.

Round Tables

Future-Proofing Retail Strategies with Data-Led Insights & Personalisation

Moderated By: Renan Maluenda , Manager Solutions Engineering, Mastercard

With today’s channel-agnostic consumers, it’s more important than ever for retailers and brands to evolve. As shopping habits continue to shift across multiple channels, new opportunities are emerging in e-commerce and online spaces, offering brands a chance to tap into untapped potential.

In this roundtable, we invite retailers to join the conversation and share their experiences on how data-led insights and personalisation are shaping their strategies. Together, we’ll discuss the evolving role of technology in transforming retail and explore how brands can stay ahead of the curve. Bring your challenges, successes, and ideas as we collaborate to uncover actionable strategies for future-proofing retail in this rapidly changing landscape.

Reimagining Loyalty: How Innovation Will Drive Customer Connection in 2025

Moderated By: Stephen Horner, Chief Strategy Officer, RUSH Digital

Join seasoned technology strategist Steve Horner in this roundtable session exploring New Zealand's evolving loyalty market. In an open, collaborative setting, you'll have the chance to share your own challenges and hear how others are tackling shifting consumer expectations, fragmented coalitions, and the move toward more direct brand relationships. Together, we’ll explore how mobile and digital innovation is unlocking new ways to build customer connection—and what it means for your strategy in 2025.

Fighting E-commerce Fraud Together: Collaboration Over Competition

Moderated By: Ralph Kooi , GTM Country Lead ANZ, Kount

Ralph Kooi

GTM Country Lead ANZ
Kount

Fraudsters rarely strike just one retailer — they tend to hit multiple targets across the industry. Therefore, a unified approach becomes far more effective than tackling threats alone. This roundtable is a chance to compare notes, share best practices, and explore how collaboration across the e-commerce industry can help outsmart evolving threats.

AI-Driven Fraud Detection: Picking up from the earlier conversation — what real-world AI applications are helping you stay a step ahead of fraudsters?
Industry Information Sharing: How can we share fraud trends, prevention wins, and early warnings with each other — without risking competitive advantages? What platforms or forums have you seen work?
Online vs In-Store Fraud: Are the fraud patterns and prevention strategies really that different between online and brick-and-mortar — or are there more similarities than we think?
Equifax’s FraudCheck and Retail Fraud Focus Groups: Would tools like FraudCheck or retailer-specific focus groups make a difference? Let’s gauge interest and ideas for collective initiatives.
From Data Breach to Fraud: Why it is important to understand the correlation and impact from Data Breaches to your Online Business as these are NOT separate conversations.

Brought to you by Better Packaging - Stay tuned for session details!

Moderated By: Sam Butterworth, Head of Global Sales, Better Packaging Co.

How can a retailer define and maintain their brand's position in a crowded market?

Moderated By: Joe Sharplin, Head of Ecommerce, AS Colour

How can retailers retain and reactivate lapsed customers - What strategies, tools & processes work?

Moderated By: Josh Cragg, Digital Manager, MAX

How can a retailer seamlessly integrate online and in-store shopping experiences?

Moderated By: Cameron Keats, Head of Omni Channel & Ecommerce, The Warehouse Group

How can a retailer balance the use of AI with personalised customer service?

Moderated By: Philippa Ward, Head of Ecommerce NZ, Harvey Norman

How can a retailer use AI to improve customer service without losing the human touch?

Moderated By: Jason Wong, eCommerce Manager, Restaurant Brands

How can a retailer adjust their strategies to meet the demands of 2025 consumers?

Moderated By: Casey Radley, Senior eCommerce Trading Manager & Head of Vineonline, VineOnline

How can a retailer personalise their offerings to meet the unique needs of each shopper?

Moderated By: Nathalie Moolenschot, GM Marketing, Animates Vetcare NZ

10:55AM - 11:00AM

Quick Transition

11:00AM - 11:20AM

Breakout

Built for Disruption: How AS Colour is Shaping the Future of Retail

In this fireside chat, Joe Sharplin from AS Colour shares how the brand has successfully expanded beyond New Zealand to become a global retail player, while maintaining its signature focus on quality, consistency, and customer experience. As a leader in both B2C and B2B ecommerce, AS Colour has created a seamless digital experience across channels—serving creatives, businesses, and individual shoppers alike. Joe will unpack the lessons learned along the way, from scaling internationally to staying agile through disruption, and offer practical insights for fellow Kiwi brands looking to lead the future of retail.

Ben Chambers

Senior Enterprise Account Director
BigCommerce

Joe Sharplin

Head of Ecommerce
AS Colour

Loyalty & Customer Engagement | Beyond Points: Redefining Loyalty for Modern Consumers

In a world where customers expect more than just discounts, how do brands build genuine loyalty? In this session, Steve Ramsy, Chief of Sales and Marketing at Jamie Kay and Tony Hou, Founder and CEO of Moustache Republic dive into how loyalty is evolving beyond traditional points-based systems. They’ll explore how brands can foster deeper connections through personalisation, community, and emotional engagement - especially in the face of changing data privacy, rising acquisition costs, and shifting customer expectations. Expect real-world insights, actionable strategies, and a candid look at what it really takes to turn customers into lifelong brand advocates.

Steve Ramsay

Chief of Sales & Marketing
Jamie Kay

Tony Hou

Founder & Managing Director
Moustache Republic

11:25AM - 11:45AM

Breakout

A Journey to Product Page Optimisation

This presentation explores key strategies for optimising product pages to drive more traffic, increase conversion rates, and boost customer satisfaction. As the product page is often the make-or-break moment for converting browsers into buyers, we draw on examples from live sites and outline a practical process for uncovering opportunities, validating ideas, and implementing changes. Whether you're launching a new site or refining an existing one, this session delivers actionable insights and real-world examples to help you transform your product pages.

Ross Cockton

Owner and Director
Limesharp

Brought to you by Ogg

11:50AM - 12:10PM

Breakout

Succeeding on the Digital Shelf: How Global Leaders are Winning the Race for Revenue

To excel in the hybrid shopping era, leading brands, retailers and marketplaces are putting huge focus on product data and image quality, recognising its crucial role in powering new and emerging technology, firing up the digital shelf, and driving winning revenue strategies. Efficiently managing and connecting quality product content is now a key foundation for success in a fast-moving, multi channel landscape.

Gillian Smythe

Managing Director ANZ
Salsify

The Power of Precision: Achieving Cross-Channel Harmony in the Age of 1st-Party Data

In an increasingly fragmented online landscape, ecommerce, and digital leaders are under more pressure than ever to create seamless, personalised customer experiences – without sacrificing privacy or performance. In this breakout session, we’ll be exploring how brands can create true cross-channel harmony by integrating email, SMS, and app messaging into a unified strategy that meets customers where they are, in real time.

The session will unpack how to drive scalable, privacy-compliant marketing list growth, and why first-party data is the key to unlocking stronger customer identification and lifetime value. Attendees will gain insights into how to shift from siloed tactics to connected journeys, ensuring every owned channel works harder – and smarter – for the business. Takeaways will include:

Integrating channels for enhanced engagement: Learn how to unify email, SMS, and app messaging to create cohesive customer experiences that drive higher engagement and conversion rates.
Building privacy-compliant marketing lists: Discover effective strategies for growing your marketing lists while adhering to Australia's privacy regulations and maintaining customer trust.
Leveraging identification & first-party data: Understand the importance of first-party data and identity resolution in today's marketing landscape and how to utilise it to personalise customer interactions and improve campaign performance.
Optimising owned channels: Gain insights into enhancing the efficiency of your owned marketing channels to maximise ROI and build stronger customer relationships.

Jamie Hoey

Country Manager Australia
Wunderkind

12:10PM - 12:20PM

Quick Transition

12:20PM - 12:45PM

Beyond the Hype: AI Advantages for Retail

Join technology veteran Danu Abeysuriya as he cuts through the AI hype to deliver practical, actionable insights on implementing artificial intelligence in your retail business. From quick wins with existing tools to building a strategic roadmap, you'll leave with a clear understanding of how to turn AI experimentation into measurable business results. Featuring real-world case studies and lessons from the frontlines of retail innovation.

Danu Abeysuriya

CTO & Founder
RUSH Digital

12:45PM - 1:30PM

Lunch

Join us for lunch before you head out on your afternoon activities. Please also use this time to go back to your room and get changed for your activity if required.

1:30PM - 5:00PM

Activity

New Zealand Gin Journey

Hop on the New Zealand Gin Journey at the Gin Gin Venue, where you’ll sip your way through three local gins—each paired with the perfect tonic and garnishes to make those botanicals sing. A Gin Gin expert will walk you through the mystical art of gin-making, revealing secrets behind the distillation process and what makes New Zealand gins truly world-class,
So come for the botanicals, stay for the laughs, and leave with new connections (and maybe a bit of gin-induced wisdom).

Go Karting

Get ready for the ride of your life at Christchurch’s top go-karting track! With the latest and greatest electric karts packing insane torque and power, you’ll feel your adrenaline hit the red zone as you race around the 260m track. Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned speedster, this track will challenge even the most skilled drivers. After 14 heart-pounding laps, it’s time to kick back and enjoy some pizza and drinks in the lounge—because you earned it (or at least survived it).

Dress code alert: Closed flat shoes only—leave your flowing capes, dresses, and scarves at home

Paint & Sip

Ready to unleash your inner Picasso? Join us for a 3-hour paint and sip session at the Chateau on the Park, where you'll get to sip wine, snack on nibbles, and (attempt to) create a masterpiece. Our team of expert artists will walk you through everything from beginner brushstrokes to advanced techniques, but don’t worry—we’ll leave plenty of room for you to go rogue. By the end of the day, even if your “abstract” art looks like a toddler’s masterpiece, you’ll still leave with something you can proudly hang on your fridge.

5:00PM - 6:30PM

Free time

6:30PM - 9:30PM

Celebratory Dinner

Day 3

23 May 2025

7:00AM - 8:45AM

Breakfast

Day 3 begins with breakfast and barista coffee!

8:45AM - 9:00AM

MC Opening Remarks

Yvonne Adele

Event Host and Official MC
iMedia

9:00AM - 9:35AM

Stay tuned for more details!

Nicola Clement

CXO
Gingerlilly

9:35AM - 10:00AM

Brought to you by OMD

Nigel Douglas

CEO
OMD

10:00AM - 10:20AM

Redefining Brand Partnerships in the Age of Digital Creators

In a world where social media and influencer culture are ever-changing, how do brands ensure their creator partnerships stay relevant? This session explores effective strategies for evaluating creator partnerships, identifying the right talent to represent your brand, and navigating the evolving landscape of digital influence. Key takeaways will include actionable insights on building authentic collaborations, measuring impact, and adapting to new trends.

10:20AM - 10:50AM

Coffee Break

Take a break and refuel with morning tea.

10:50AM - 11:25AM

Retail Innovation Roundtables

Round Tables

Future-Proofing Retail Strategies with Data-Led Insights & Personalisation

Moderated By: Renan Maluenda , Manager Solutions Engineering, Mastercard

Reimagining Loyalty: How Innovation Will Drive Customer Connection in 2025

Moderated By: Stephen Horner, Chief Strategy Officer, RUSH Digital

Fighting E-commerce Fraud Together: Collaboration Over Competition

Moderated By: Ralph Kooi , GTM Country Lead ANZ, Kount

Ralph Kooi

GTM Country Lead ANZ
Kount

AI-Driven Fraud Detection: Picking up from the earlier conversation — what real-world AI applications are helping you stay a step ahead of fraudsters?
Industry Information Sharing: How can we share fraud trends, prevention wins, and early warnings with each other — without risking competitive advantages? What platforms or forums have you seen work?
Online vs In-Store Fraud: Are the fraud patterns and prevention strategies really that different between online and brick-and-mortar — or are there more similarities than we think?
Equifax’s FraudCheck and Retail Fraud Focus Groups: Would tools like FraudCheck or retailer-specific focus groups make a difference? Let’s gauge interest and ideas for collective initiatives.
From Data Breach to Fraud: Why it is important to understand the correlation and impact from Data Breaches to your Online Business as these are NOT separate conversations.

Brought to you by Better Packaging - Stay tuned for session details!

Moderated By: Sam Butterworth, Head of Global Sales, Better Packaging Co.

How can a retailer stay competitive with the rise of international market players?

Moderated By: Jacob Coulton, General Manager of Sales & Marketing, Mighty Ape

How can a retailer define and maintain their brand's position in a crowded market?

Moderated By: Joe Sharplin, Head of Ecommerce, AS Colour

How can a retailer make sustainability initiatives feel authentic to consumers?

Moderated By: Josef Arnet, Ecommerce Manager, The Jones Family Business

How can a retailer evolve loyalty programs to better reward customers in 2025?

Moderated By: Cameron Keats, Head of Omni Channel & Ecommerce, The Warehouse Group

How can a retailer seamlessly integrate online and in-store shopping experiences?

Moderated By: Jason Wong, eCommerce Manager, Restaurant Brands

How can a retailer personalise their offerings to meet the unique needs of each shopper?

Moderated By: Helen Spoelstra, Senior Digital Performance Marketing Specialist, Air New Zealand

11:25AM - 11:50AM

Stay tuned for more details!

Qassem Naim

Founder
Circle

11:50AM - 12:25PM

From Transactions to True Loyalty: How Animates Keep Customers Coming Back

Loyalty programs are everywhere, but what actually drives repeat purchases? In this session, Juanita Neville-Te Rito and Nathalie Moolenschot share how Animates cracked the code. By layering their PETPOINTS program with FREQUENT FEEDER, they moved beyond discounts to create a loyalty strategy that keeps customers engaged—and always coming back. The secret? Smart data use that delivers the right offers to the right people at the right time.

Juanita Neville-Te Rito

Founder
RX

Nathalie Moolenschot

GM Marketing
Animates Vetcare NZ

12:25PM - 12:40PM

Closing Remarks & Ultimate Networker Prize

12:40PM - 1:40PM

Close the loop lunch

Day 1

21 May 2025

9:00AM - 11:30AM

Delegate Registration

Delegates arrive at the hotel to register and check in ahead of the afternoon formalities.

Welcome Lounge

Join us for some snacks & refreshments before a big day of networking.

11:30AM - 1:30PM

Retailers Only Lunch | Fast Lane: How Rapid Delivery is Redefining Retail Success

With rapid delivery transforming shopper expectations, speed is now a key battleground for winning and keeping customers. This session dives into the latest global trends and innovations in last-mile delivery—showing how retailers are rethinking logistics to not only meet demand but create new revenue streams. Discover how smart delivery solutions can attract fresh customers, lift sales, and keep your brand ahead in a market where convenience is king.

Bradley Thomas

GM NZ
DoorDash

12:00PM - 1:30PM

Networkers Briefing light lunch

1:30PM - 1:40PM

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Helena Stylman

Managing Director ANZ
iMedia

1:40PM - 2:10PM

Online shopping data, trends and insights to fuel your business growth

Through the tough retail landscape of recent years, NZ Post’s eCommerce Market Sentiment report has become the cornerstone of our understanding of changing online shopper preferences, frustrations and expectations. The insights it offers have been invaluable in helping retailers adapt and grow in a dynamic environment. The 2025 edition of the report is coming out in late May and, along with the usual features, will include an in-depth research study into the best delivery pricing strategies to attract and grow customers. In a keynote by Chris Wong, NZ Post’s GM Business, he’ll provide an exclusive preview of the findings and insights included in the eCommerce Market Sentiments Report 2025.

Chris Wong

General Manager Business
NZ Post

2:10PM - 4:45PM

Business Connect | Brought to you by NZ Post

Hailed as one of the most rewarding parts of the summit, business connect involves 10 x 10 minute meetings designed to float topline objectives and explore synergies. Delegates are required to request and confirm these meetings prior to the summit.

4:45PM - 6:30PM

Free Time

6:45PM - 7:00PM

Pre Dinner Drinks

7:00PM - 9:30PM

Welcome Dinner

The official Welcome Dinner & networking reception held on the first night is the perfect avenue to build relationships with key conference delegates, speakers, and sponsors in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Opening Keynote - Connection Unleashed

Strong connections build better teams, drive collaboration, and create real impact. But in a fast-paced world, communication can feel rushed and transactional.

Amy Scott helps people cut through the noise and connect with confidence. A former lawyer, she lives by the mantra: “less friction, more fun”, believing that better communication leads to stronger relationships and better results.

Through Dots Communication, a Kiwi-born framework used by over 40,000 people, Amy shares practical strategies to build trust, collaborate effectively, and strengthen workplace relationships.

In this keynote, you'll gain insight into different communication styles and how to connect with them, along with simple, practical tools to instantly improve the way you communicate.

Because strong communication unleashes real connection.