BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Philip Shewell MBA FNZIM MIOD (Chairman)

Philip is a professional company director following 30 years of retail management experience in NZ, Australia and the UK.  His last executive appointment was Managing Director of Kirkcaldie & Stains Ltd in Wellington.  He is also currently Chair of Fronde Systems Group Ltd and a non-executive director of Kirkcaldie & Stains and of Save the Children New Zealand.

John Albertson

John is currently Chief Executive of the New Zealand Retailers Association. 

John has been CEO of the NZRA for over eleven years, coming from the role of Marketing Director of New Zealand's largest specialty footwear chain, R. Hannah and Co.  Prior to this John held a number of marketing and market research positions with leading New Zealand companies.

John is also on the boards of Standards New Zealand (deputy chairman), GS1 (New Zealand).

Trevor Douthett

Trevor is Chief Executive of LV Martin & Son Limited.  He is a Finance graduate from Victoria University (BCA) and has become a career retailer with a strong interest in training and the work of Retail ITO.  A number of LV Martin's staff members have taken the opportunity to "get qualified".  Trevor continues the strong tradition of Customer Service and offering personal involvement to "Put it Right".  He brings us much needed representation for the electrical appliance sector.

Melissa Hodd

Melissa is the Executive Manager of Foodstuffs (NZ) Ltd, which acts as the Federation headquarters for the Foodstuffs Group of companies.

Her current industry appointments include membership of the Boards of GS1 New Zealand Inc, the Packaging Council of New Zealand, Retail ITO, Retail Meat New Zealand Inc, Retail Meat ITO, and Grocery Retailers' Association (NARGON).  Melissa also represents Foodstuffs on the New Zealand Grocery Industry Council.

Trish McLean

Trish McLean is the founding Director of Retailworld Resourcing.  Retailworld is Australasia's fastest growing provider of recruitment services to the retail channel and is currently expanding into the UK market. She is heavily engaged in the industry and is involved in judging events, mentoring candidates and clients and providing advice on retail and recruitment trends.

Trish is a strong advocate for retail as a career of choice and has developed the Retail Positioning Programme to promote the industry to the community. The Retail ITO along with The Warehouse, Borders and McDonald's are key sponsors of the programme.

Mary Marshall

Mary is currently the Employment Relations Manager for the Warehouse Ltd.  She has over 10 years experience in the Retail Industry.  As a dedicated supporter of training, Mary has been involved with Retail ITO since its inception.

Mary is also the International President of POWERtalk International, a worldwide training organisation.

In 2001 Mary was a joint winner of the EEO Trust Work, Life and Family "Walk the Talk" award and was formally a Ministerial Appointee to the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women.

Aston Moss BA MPhil(Hons) DipBusAdmin

Aston is Human Resource Manager - Strategic Planning for Progressive Enterprises Limited (Foodtown, Woolworths, Countdown and Woolworths @ Gull).

Aston brings over 15 years experience from within the retail sector including roles in retail operations, support functions such as category management and business development as well as comprehensive experience gained from a broad range of HR roles.

Aston brings both depth and breadth of knowledge and skills critical to successful retailing gained locally as well as internationally.

John Suckling

John is the Owner/Operator of Suckling Shoe Store, Christchurch. He is a second generation retailer, taking over the family business in 1977 after a career as an economist with the Department of Trade and Industry, The Institute of Economic Research and the Social Welfare Department in Wellington. As a well respected ‘thinker', he has a high profile in the industry in Christchurch and has served on the board of the New Zealand Retailers Association and the board (and now Advisory Committee) of the NZRetail magazine. He has encouraged several of his staff to ‘get qualified' and has a hands-on experience of who we are and what we do. He gives Retail ITO South Island representation as well as a SME focus.

Maxine Gay

Maxine is Retail Sector secretary of the National Distribution Union.  She has extensive experience in the trade union movement since joining the staff of the Clerical Workers Union in 1983.  Prior to her current position, Maxine was secretary of the Clothing, Laundry and Allied Workers Union and was General Secretary and then President of the New Zealand Trade Union Federation.  Over the years Maxine has undertaken other Governance and Advisory roles including membership on the Manawatu Regional Employment and Access Committee, the Mid-Central Regional Health Authority Establishment Board and the Advisory Board for the Mental Health Commission.  Maxine is the employee representative on the Apparel and Textile ITO.  She has been appointed employee representative on the Retail ITO Board.