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Programme
Progress under pressure
The 2026 conference programme has been curated by the Retail Committee brainstrust for property professionals just like you.
All timings remain subject to change without notice.
1:00pm – 5:30pm Retail Site Tour
This year’s pre-conference walking tour will explore the transformation of Auckland CBD — showcasing the projects, precincts and public spaces redefining the future of the city centre. From major transport infrastructure to landmark mixed-use developments, the tour will highlight how investment, connectivity, living and placemaking are reshaping the way Aucklanders work, study, shop and connect.
Featured developments including:
📍 City Rail Link Aotea Station
📍 Retail developments Midtown – to be announced
📍 Queens Arcade
📍 Downtown Auckland
📍 Wynyard Quarter
➡️ Book your site tour here!
Sponsored by
Please note: Site tours are exclusively for RECON26 attendees, but are not included in the general admission ticket and will need to be purchased in addition to your registration. Limited spaces are available.
7:45 am Registration desk open
8:40 am Conference Opening
Nadine Higgins
Master of Ceremonies
8:50 am Welcome
Leonie Freeman
Chief Executive, Property Council New Zealand
8:55 am Premier Sponsor Address
9:00 am Economic Forecast
Shamubeel Eaqub
Economist
9:35 am Opening Keynote | The Future of Retail – What It Means for Your Assets
Juanita Neville-Te Rito
Customer Experience Strategist & Founder, RX Group
10:15 am Paramanawa
Morning Tea
10:50 am Retail Committee Update
Michael Sweetman
Chair, Retail Committee
10:55 am Panel | Reviving the Heart of Our Cities
Facilitated by Jennifer Andrews, Head of Office and Retail, Oyster Property
Wayne Silver
Director, Willis Bond
James Gough
Executive Director, The Terrace
Scott Pritchard
Chief Executive Officer, Precinct Properties
11:35 am Retailer Keynote | Stepping Forward with Kathryn Wilson
Kathryn Wilson
Chief Executive Officer, Kathryn Wilson Footwear
12:10 pm Tina
Lunchtime
1:15 pm Property Council Advocacy Update
Denise Lee
Head of Advocacy, Property Council New Zealand
1:25 pm Why Retail, Why Now?
Nick Willis
Executive Director – Retail Investments Australia & New Zealand, JLL
Todd Lauchlan
Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets New Zealand, JLL
2:00 pm Retailer Keynote | From Rebrand to Reinvention
Mark Teperson
Chief Executive Officer, Baby Bunting
2:40 pm Paramanawa
Afternoon Tea
3:10 pm Renewable Retail: Solar Leading the Way
Yariv Edery
Solar Energy Consultant, YEH Renewable Energy Consultants
3:25 pm Elevating Experiences: The Rise of Rooftop Hospitality
Justin Northrop
Owner & Director, Technē Melbourne
4:00 pm Closing Keynote | Winning Habits: Lessons from Elite Sport
Tim Bateman
Founder, O-Studio
4:40 pm Conference Closing
Leonie Freeman
Chief Executive, Property Council New Zealand
4:50-7:05 pm Martelli McKegg Networking Function
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.
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.
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.
A well-respected industry leader, Leonie has extensive experience in the New Zealand property industry, having held top positions in both the public and private sector. From creating the concept of what is now realestate.co.nz, to buying and transforming her own residential property management business, helping establish the new Auckland Council, and managing asset development for Housing New Zealand, there’s not many areas of property that Leonie has not touched.
In 2011, Leonie was appointed to the board of NZX listed company Goodman Property Trust, and up until her 2018 appointment as Property Council’s Chief Executive, she dedicated her time to leading an independent philanthropic initiative to solve Auckland’s housing crisis.
Leonie holds a Master of Commerce, majoring in valuation and property management and is a life member of the Property Institute of New Zealand, a chartered member of the Institute of Directors, and a member of Global Women. In 2017 she was awarded the Property Institute’s Supreme Property Award, and the Property Council Auckland Property People Judges Choice Award, and in 2020 she received the prestigious Bledisloe Medal from Lincoln University.
Nadine Higgins (nee Chalmers-Ross) is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster with extensive experience across television, radio, newspapers and magazines. Nadine is renowned as a fiercely intelligent, articulate and engaging MC.
Nadine’s background in broadcasting and business journalism means she can quickly get to grips with complex topics, moderate multi-person panels and think on her feet when the best laid plans go awry.
Michael Sweetman is an experienced property professional with a deep understanding of the retail property sector.
Working as a Project Director at Precinct Properties, Michael is currently leading the Bowen Campus and Willis Lane retail redevelopment project in Wellington.
These projects follow on from a role at Precinct delivering the retail at Commercial Bay. Commercial Bay is a transformational development which has redefined the Auckland CBD retail landscape and has set a new standard for retail and hospitality within New Zealand.
Prior to joining Precinct, Michael worked at AMP Capital on a variety of development projects and also held a retail Asset management role. Development projects completed at AMP Capital included the Imperial building (Louis Vuitton and Gucci) and 45 Queen Street (Prada and Dior), which cemented lower Queen Street as a luxury retail precinct.
Michael’s property career includes a property research role and working on behalf of retailers to procure sites and manage their retail portfolios.
10:50 am | Retail Committee Update
Michael Sweetman, Chair of the Property Council Retail Committee will give us an update from our Retail committee and how you can get involved.
Wayne has worked with Willis Bond for nearly 30 years, originally recruited as CFO of Property for Industry.
Wayne is a director of Willis Bond and a member of the Investment Committee. As Managing Director – Funds and Finance, his responsibilities include:
- Raising capital both debt and equity;
- Transaction structuring and analysis;
- New business initiatives.
Wayne holds an accounting degree and a postgraduate diploma in Finance.
He is a keen reader and film attender, and an average tennis player.
10:55 am | Reviving the Heart of Our Cities
Retail is at the heart of every successful city centre, but changing consumer habits, hybrid working and evolving expectations are redefining what thriving CBDs look like. This panel will explore how Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are responding to these challenges, and what role retail plays in revitalising our urban centres. From creating vibrant mixed-use precincts and attracting investment to curating retail experiences that bring people back into our cities, our panellists will discuss the strategies shaping the next generation of CBDs and what property owners, developers and retailers can do to build destinations that are commercially successful, resilient and alive with activity.
James Gough is Executive Director of The Terrace Christchurch Ltd, which owns and manages one of the South Island’s pre-eminent hospitality, retail and office precincts – a $150 million central-city development created as part of Christchurch’s post-earthquake rebuild.
James served 15 years as a Christchurch City Councillor, including during the earthquake response and rebuild. During that time, he chaired the Council’s Central City Revitalisation Committee and the Christchurch Development Forum. He stepped down in 2025 to focus full-time on property, investment and governance.
James brings a strong commercial lens to city regeneration, with a practical understanding of how private investment, enabling policy and coordinated development help city centres recover and perform. He is a Chartered Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, holds several independent directorships spanning property, infrastructure, investment, iwi business and sport, and serves on Property Council New Zealand’s South Island Regional Committee.
10:55 am | Reviving the Heart of Our Cities
Retail is at the heart of every successful city centre, but changing consumer habits, hybrid working and evolving expectations are redefining what thriving CBDs look like. This panel will explore how Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are responding to these challenges, and what role retail plays in revitalising our urban centres. From creating vibrant mixed-use precincts and attracting investment to curating retail experiences that bring people back into our cities, our panellists will discuss the strategies shaping the next generation of CBDs and what property owners, developers and retailers can do to build destinations that are commercially successful, resilient and alive with activity.
Scott is CEO of Precinct Properties Limited and has led the team since 2010. Precinct is the largest owner and developer of inner-city real estate in Auckland and Wellington, including Commercial Bay. Scott has extensive experience in the property industry, including funds management, development, and asset management. Scott has overseen over $3 billion worth of development within New Zealand over the past ten years.
His previous experience includes various property roles with NZX-listed entities Goodman Property Trust, Auckland International Airport Limited and Urbus Properties Limited. Scott holds a master’s degree in management from Massey University. He is a Trustee of the Tania Dalton Foundation and is as a Director of Ryman Healthcare.
10:55 am | Reviving the Heart of Our Cities
Retail is at the heart of every successful city centre, but changing consumer habits, hybrid working and evolving expectations are redefining what thriving CBDs look like. This panel will explore how Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are responding to these challenges, and what role retail plays in revitalising our urban centres. From creating vibrant mixed-use precincts and attracting investment to curating retail experiences that bring people back into our cities, our panellists will discuss the strategies shaping the next generation of CBDs and what property owners, developers and retailers can do to build destinations that are commercially successful, resilient and alive with activity.
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.
Bringing a fresh perspective and strong political nous in both central and local government, Denise is well-known as the former New Zealand Member of Parliament (MP) for the Maungakiekie electorate and a former Auckland Councillor for Maungakiekie-Tāmaki.
Denise holds a BA in Political Studies and History and a MA in Public Policy, with specific skills in engagement and a natural ability to build rapport with an extensive network of stakeholders. Personable and warm, Denise’s exceptional strategic planning, communication and management skills are highly valued by both the Property Council team and its members.
1:15 pm | Property Council Advocacy Update
In this quickfire 10-minute session, Denise will provide members with a snapshot of Property Council’s current workstreams, what’s on the horizon and how you can get involved to help champion the property industry.
With a focus on major retail acquisitions and disposals, Nick brings a wealth of experience to the table, currently working with a team of highly skilled directors and market analysts across Australia & New Zealand.
Starting his career in retail leasing, Nick possesses a unique retail pedigree, providing him an in-depth understanding of the ever-changing dynamics of the retail market. Having transacted over $17 billion of shopping centres across the region, his unwavering dedication to the capital markets industry has fostered strong relationships with investors both locally and internationally, encompassing private and institutional investors alike.
1:25 pm | Why Retail, Why Now?
Retail is experiencing renewed momentum as investors, owners and operators reassess the value and opportunity within the sector. In this interview-style session, Nadine Higgins will be joined by JLL’s Todd Lauchlan and Nick Willis to explore the changing retail landscape across Australia and New Zealand. The conversation will examine the factors driving increased confidence in retail assets, including changing consumer behaviours, improving investment sentiment and the strategic repositioning of shopping centres. Nick will provide an Australian perspective on market trends, ownership changes and the opportunities emerging across the sector, while Todd will share insights into the New Zealand market and the evolving role of retail property. Together, they will discuss why retail is returning to favour, what is attracting investors back into the sector, and what this means for the future of shopping centres and retail destinations.
Todd Lauchlan joined JLL New Zealand in 1995 as a Leasing Agent for the Wellington office.
Since then, he has progressed through the ranks around the world to take on managing roles in cities like London, Mumbai, Beijing, and Jakarta. During his most recent previous role as an International Director and Country Head for JLL Indonesia, the Indonesian business grew in excess of 800% with its headcount surging from 75 to more than 600 people.
In 2018, Todd took on the role of Managing Director for JLL New Zealand to bring his family back home with the intention to further develop and grow the business.
Since Todd took the reins, JLL New Zealand has progressed in a number of key areas. The culture of the business across the three offices in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch has gone from strength to strength following the introduction of a shared purpose and behaviours, tenets by which the team operate by to be collaborative and innovative. The formation of the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) committee, and subsequent launch of a DEI strategy, sets a clear roadmap for creating a safe and welcoming working environment for all people. Todd has championed this cause since its inception and plays an active role in promoting the initiatives that come from the DEI committee.
1:25 pm | Why Retail, Why Now?
Retail is experiencing renewed momentum as investors, owners and operators reassess the value and opportunity within the sector. In this interview-style session, Nadine Higgins will be joined by JLL’s Todd Lauchlan and Nick Willis to explore the changing retail landscape across Australia and New Zealand. The conversation will examine the factors driving increased confidence in retail assets, including changing consumer behaviours, improving investment sentiment and the strategic repositioning of shopping centres. Nick will provide an Australian perspective on market trends, ownership changes and the opportunities emerging across the sector, while Todd will share insights into the New Zealand market and the evolving role of retail property. Together, they will discuss why retail is returning to favour, what is attracting investors back into the sector, and what this means for the future of shopping centres and retail destinations.
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.
Yariv Edery is the Director and Lead Renewable Energy Consultant at YEH Renewable Energy Consultants, an independent Auckland-based practice specialising in commercial and utility-scale solar, storage and power-sharing design.
With 27 years of international experience in solar, including 23 years in New Zealand, Yariv has personally overseen the design and delivery of more than 130 megawatts of solar power and 15 megawatt-hours of battery storage — enough to produce an estimated 133 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity each year, while avoiding more than 17,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Yariv works across the full range of retail and commercial property, from single stores to large shopping centres, including the recently completed rooftop and façade solar system at the Tauranga Crossing shopping mall.
He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Renewable Energy Science from Massey University, a Bachelor of Economics, and a Diploma in Robotics & Automation, and is a certified solar installation inspector. Yariv is an active member of the Solar Energy Association of New Zealand (SEANZ), NZ’s Carbon and Energy Professionals (CEP), and the APAC Smart Energy Council.
At Recon26, he unpacks how NZ retailers — from single-site operators to shopping centre landlords — can put solar to work to cut grid dependence and free up cash flow.
3:10 pm | Renewable Retail: Solar Leading the Way
As retailers and property owners look for ways to reduce emissions, improve efficiency and future-proof assets, solar energy is becoming an increasingly important solution. In this session, Yariv Edery from YEH Renewable Energy Consultants will share the Tauranga Crossing solar case study, exploring the journey from concept to delivery. Yariv will provide insights into the opportunities, challenges and commercial benefits of integrating renewable energy into large-scale retail environments. Discover how solar solutions can support sustainability goals while creating long-term value for retailers, landlords and the communities they serve.
Bio to come.
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.