Bernie Brookes

Bernie Brookes's Biography

Bernie Brookes is a retail veteran with over 40-years experience leading a multi-divisional organisation during significant periods of change and re-engineering. Having worked in three states across all major divisions, he has an excellent grasp of a variety of areas of senior management. He has significant international experience, having undertaken roles in India and China and has also been a Management Director for the Woolworth's Group.

His strengths include expertise in business management displaying energetic and self-confidence with the ability to find solutions to complex situations through analytical, conceptual and entrepreneurial skills. Ultimately he is motivated by results. With 36 years of experience he brings substantial skills in managing change, organising people and leading teams with a passion for entrepreneurial-ship and empowerment.

Bernie’s passion for retail has seen him endeavour to improve the industry with involvement in a variety of young executive mentoring, corporate charitable involvement and recognition of Australian retailing excellence on the international stage.

He was CEO of Myer Limited from June 2006 to March 2015, and managed the carving out of Myer from Coles Group and the rebuilding of the Myer business under new owners.

Before that he was a chief engineer of Woolworth's Project Refresh, reducing costs by more than $5 billion over five years, and became Director of Marketing for the Group amongst other roles he held there.

Bernie’s commitment to retail in Australia has been recognised with awards including the Sir Charles McGrath award for marketing excellence and his induction into the Australian Retailers Association Hall of Fame in 2013.

Bernie has also been the recipient of the William Booth Medal by The Salvation Army and the Paul Harris Fellow for Service to the Community for the Rotary Club, SydneyBernie’s strengths include expertise in business management and the ability to find solutions to complex situations through analytical, conceptual and entrepreneurial skills, all undertaken with energy and self-confidence.

Ultimately motivated by results, Bernie brings over 40 years of experience and substantial skill in transformational leadership, managing change, organizing people and leading teams with a passion for entrepreneurship and empowerment. When he speaks, he draws on a rich tapestry of stories and successes from some of Australia’s significant retail giants.

In 2019 Bernie became Chair of Funtastic, which owns brands such as Pillow Pets, Chill Factor and Floaties.

Speaking Topics Include

Transformational Leadership

Entrepreneurship and Empowerment

Managing Change

Retail - Future trends and the effect of technology

Multi divisional businesses