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That's a wrap!
Thank you for joining us at the NZICC
The retail sector is being tested like never before by economic uncertainty, shifting consumer behaviour and the evolving shape of our cities and centres. Yet from this pressure comes progress.
On 29 October 2026, the industry came together at the New Zealand International Convention Centre for RECON | Retail Conference to navigate what’s next.
This year’s theme, Progress under pressure, explored how retailers, investors and city-makers are adapting and innovating in the face of change. Speakers and delegates rethought formats, redefined customer experience, and shared ideas for creating places people genuinely want to spend time in.
The message was clear: the future of retail isn’t just about weathering pressure. It’s about using it to build something stronger, smarter and more resilient.
We look forward to seeing you at RECON27!
Connect, learn, and grow
at RECON!
Curated for property professionals in the retail sector, RECON gathers international and local thought-leaders, experts and trend-setters to explore what’s new in retail property.
In 2026, attendees enjoyed two unmissable days:
👷♀️ 28 October: Exclusive site tours showcasing innovation in action
🎤 29 October: A full day of sharp insights, big ideas, and industry-leading voices
Thank you for joining us!
From immersive experiences to backstage tech, this is where innovation meets insight.
Suggestions?
Do you have a topic, speaker or project you’d like to see grace the Retail Conference stage in future – contact the events team today!
Featured Speakers
A huge mihi to our fabulous speakers!
Juanita Neville-Te Rito is one of the world’s most energising voices on retail, customer experience and the future of how people shop, connect and stay loyal to brands.
Named by the U.S. National Retail Federation as a Retail Voice for 2026 – one of just 50 global luminaries recognised as catalysts for progress and innovation – Juanita brings over 30 years of real-world experience to every stage she steps onto. She has advised and worked with brands including Woolworths, Noel Leeming, The Warehouse, Spark, Google, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Honda, Estée Lauder, Freedom Furniture and many more, across retail, hospitality and services.
As Founder and Managing Director of RX Group and RXCOLAB.AI, Juanita translates customer insight into strategy and execution across ANZ and internationally, including how AI is reshaping the way businesses understand, reach and retain customers.
9:35 am | Opening Keynote
The Future of Retail - What It Means for Your Assets
Juanita Neville-Te Rito explores how rapidly evolving customer behaviour, shaped by six generations and distinct behavioural clusters, is redefining what people expect from retail environments. The session examines what this means for tenant mix, dwell time and precinct design, and how assets must adapt to remain relevant in 2026 and beyond. The central question for this audience isn’t “what’s happening in retail?” but “what does that mean for the value, viability and vitality of the spaces we own and operate?”
Expanding from customer behaviour to asset performance, this keynote unpacks how global best practice retail and place-making is responding to these shifts, and what it demands from the design, curation and long-term positioning of retail environments.
Tim Bateman is the founder of O-Studio, a fast growing wellness and recovery franchise redefining how health and wellbeing experiences integrate into modern property and retail environments. Originating in Christchurch, O-Studio is now expanding across New Zealand and Australia, partnering with landlords and developers to deliver premium, experience led spaces that drive foot traffic, dwell time, and long term tenant value.
With a background as a professional rugby player for the Crusaders and at international level, Tim brings a unique perspective on performance, recovery, and human behaviour. His journey into wellness was shaped not only by elite sport, but also by personal experiences that highlighted the importance of accessible, everyday wellbeing.
Tim now works at the intersection of wellness, business, and property, helping shape precincts that better serve how people live, work, and connect. Through O-Studio, he is focused on building scalable, commercially strong wellness assets that enhance both customer experience and asset performance. He is passionate about creating spaces that are not just financially successful but genuinely improve the communities they serve.
4:10 pm | Closing Keynote
Winning Habits: Lessons from Elite Sport
Tim Bateman draws on 17 years in elite high-performance environments to explore what truly drives sustained success under pressure. Reflecting on his career in professional sport, he unpacks the habits, mindsets and standards consistently found in high-performing individuals and teams, and how these principles extend beyond sport into business and organisational life. This closing keynote connects the disciplines of preparation, accountability, culture and resilience, translating them into practical lessons for leaders and teams operating in fast-moving, competitive environments. It offers a clear lens on how high performance is built, maintained, and scaled—turning sporting experience into actionable insight for business and leadership.
Shamubeel Eaqub makes economics easy and fun. Shamubeel is the Chief Economist at Simplicity. He is also an author, media commentator and a thought leading public speaker.
He graduated with Honours in Economics from Lincoln University and is also a CFA Charterholder.
He has 25 years of experience as an economist in Wellington, Melbourne and Auckland in leading financial institutions and consultancy (ANZ Bank, Goldman Sachs JBWere, NZIER, Sense Partners and Simplicity).
He balances a portfolio of economics, consulting, public speaking, governance and family duties. He lives in Auckland with his wife and two sons.
9:00 am | Forecasting Retail
As economic pressures, shifting consumer behaviour and global uncertainty continue to reshape the market, leading economist Shamubeel Eaqub will share his outlook on the economy with a special focus on the retail sector. This session will explore the key forces influencing consumer confidence, spending patterns, investment and business resilience, while examining what lies ahead for retailers, property owners and city centres. Gain practical insights into the challenges, risks and opportunities shaping the future of retail in New Zealand.
Mark Teperson joined Baby Bunting as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director in October 2023. He brings over 20 years of experience across retail and fintech, with expertise in omni-channel customer experience, data and technology, and building high-performance cultures.
Prior to Baby Bunting, Mark was Global Chief Product & Chief Strategy Officer at Afterpay, where he led strategy and product development. He also served as Chief Digital Officer at Accent Group, Australia’s largest footwear retailer, where he built the digital business from the ground up.
2:00 pm | Retailer Keynote: From Rebrand to Reinvention
Join Mark Teperson, CEO of Baby Bunting, as he shares the story behind the courage to change and reimagine a 45-year-old business. Mark reflects on why change was necessary, the transformation journey the team has undertaken, and how evolving Baby Bunting’s store format has better met the needs of customers, investors and team members.
Kathryn Wilson has established herself as New Zealand’s premier footwear designer, an influential business woman with a brand that is in constantly high demand, having launched her eponymous footwear brand in 2003 and grown it into a leading name across Australasia, with boutiques in Auckland and Wellington and a strong national retail and online presence. Known for her creativity paired with sharp commercial instinct, she has built a brand that balances design, business and longevity in a highly competitive industry.
Her career highlights include having her designs worn internationally by Beyoncé, hosting legendary designer Jimmy Choo in New Zealand, and establishing a business that has stood the test of time in the fast paced world of fashion. Beyond the brand itself, Kathryn is widely respected for her business acumen, resilience and ability to evolve with changing markets.
11:35 am | Retailer Keynote: Stepping Forward with Kathryn Wilson
Join Kathryn Wilson, founder of Kathryn Wilson Footwear, as she shares the story behind one of New Zealand’s most recognisable fashion brands and her latest business journey. Kathryn will reflect on the challenges she has faced, the lessons learned, and how she has adapted in a changing retail landscape. From the evolving role of bricks-and-mortar stores to opportunities unlocked over the past 18 months, this candid conversation will explore what’s next for the future of retail and the Kathryn Wilson brand.
Justin Northrop believes architecture must have a sense of equilibrium – compositional and proportional, budgetary and functional balance. It is his philosophy that every space be well designed, fit for purpose, and enjoyed by the people who inhabit it.
After establishing his career in Melbourne, Justin founded the Technē studio with Nick Travers in 2002. As director, Justin guides the team to approach design challenges from all angles. Justin’s diplomatic mind and quiet determination are complemented by his collaborative approach and the shared sense of achievement that comes from a finished project.
3:25 pm | Elevating Experiences: The Rise of Rooftop Hospitality
Rooftop bars are emerging as powerful destination drivers within retail, mixed-use and hospitality developments, creating spaces that attract locals, visitors and tourists while enhancing the overall appeal of precincts. In this session, Justin Northrop from Technē Melbourne will explore the growing role of rooftop hospitality beyond traditional hotel offerings, and how these venues are being integrated into mixed-use developments to create memorable experiences and activate urban environments. Through case studies, including Queens in Auckland, Justin will share insights into the design innovation, commercial considerations and lessons learned behind successful rooftop destinations. Discover how the integration of retail, hospitality and tourism can unlock new opportunities, increase dwell time and create vibrant, high-value precincts.
Check out the highlights!
Why attend RECON?
Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier event for retail property professionals.
“Loved the range and variety – awesome agenda – thank you!”
Past Attendee
RECON24