Reinvention takes courage. So does staying ahead.

Mark will share the transformation journey behind one of Australasia’s most established retail brands, offering an honest look at the decisions, challenges and leadership required to reimagine a 45-year-old business.His keynote explores why change became necessary, how Baby Bunting has evolved its store format to better serve customers, and the role leadership and culture have played in delivering meaningful transformation. Along the way, he’ll share practical lessons on balancing customer expectations, commercial performance and long-term growth.

For Property Council members, these insights extend well beyond a single retailer.

Every retail destination evolves over time. Customer demographics shift, brands grow, new retail categories emerge and expectations of physical spaces continue to change. Creating successful retail environments requires ongoing collaboration between landlords, retailers and investors to ensure assets continue delivering value for businesses and communities alike.

The decisions retailers make about their physical footprint often influence the decisions property owners make about theirs. Understanding how leading brands evaluate store formats, customer experience and investment priorities provides valuable context for anyone responsible for the future of retail assets.

This year’s RECON theme, Progress under Pressure, reflects the reality facing the sector today. While economic conditions remain challenging, they are also encouraging businesses to rethink established models, invest with greater purpose and identify new opportunities for growth. RECON provides a forum for these conversations, bringing together owners, developers, shopping centre operators, leasing professionals, investors and retailers to share ideas, challenge perspectives and learn from those leading transformation across the industry.

In a year where every decision carries greater weight, RECON offers the opportunity to step away from the day-to-day, gain fresh perspective and return with practical ideas to approach transformation with greater confidence.