State of the Nation 34 | Transforming Retail in 2027
About this Event
Where retail leaders meet. Where the industry’s next moves are debated.
Retail Doctor Group continues to bring together some of Australia’s most influential retail leaders for State of the Nation 34, RDG’s exclusive CEO Community breakfast conference, at Meers Hall, Art Gallery of New South Wales, on 29 October 2026.
Now in its 16th year and 34th edition, State of the Nation has become one of Australian retail’s most established executive forums - the room where leaders come together to challenge conventional thinking, share what's really happening inside their businesses, and debate what comes next.
It is the voice of contemporary Australian retail.
Not another conference about retail. A conversation between the people actually leading it.
“Retail doesn’t wait for your strategy to catch up,” said Brian Walker, Chair & Founder, Retail Doctor Group. “The advantage increasingly belongs to leaders who can see the change early, make the call, and move. State of the Nation is where we get beyond the headlines and hear directly from the people making those calls: what they’re seeing, what they’re changing, and where they believe retail goes next.”
The leaders. The issues. The best and next moves in retail.
From changing consumer behaviour, global best practice, and AI, to productivity, profitability, transformation, and the future of retail, State of the Nation 34 goes beyond commentary to the decisions that matter.
Where leaders meet. Where retail moves forward.
For generations, the Art Gallery of New South Wales has celebrated the creators, thinkers, and visionaries who challenged convention and helped shape the way we see the world.
On 29 October, State of the Nation 34 brings together a different group of shapers and creators - the retail leaders influencing how Australians will shop, live, and experience retail next.
Erica Berchtold
CEO, David Jones
Erica became CEO of David Jones in 2026, the first woman to lead the store in its 188-year history, and is steering its five-year rebuild, INSPIRE30.
Daniel Agostinelli
Group CEO, Accent Group
Daniel leads the ASX-listed business behind Platypus, Skechers, HOKA and Vans. In 2026, he oversaw a significant portfolio reset, exiting brands the customer had already moved past.
Brett Spinks
MD: ANZ, Swarovski
Brett took direct control of Swarovski's retail experience after the brand's global move away from franchise partnerships.
Craig Woolford
Senior Analyst, Consumer Segment, MST Marquee
Craig has covered Australian retail for more than two decades, first as Citi's Head of Research, now leading consumer research at MST Marquee. He opens the morning with the market update.
Brian Walker
Chair & Founder, Retail Doctor Group
Brian is "The Retail Doctor," Australia's leading retail futurist and Top 50 Global Retail Influencer. As host, he connects the morning's thinking, from market data to boardroom decision, to what leaders must do next.
Josh Strutt
GM: Insights & Operations, Retail Doctor Group
Josh leads RDG's insights and research practice, translating consumer behaviour into commercial strategy for Australia's leading retail brands.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
AUD 0.00
