Brian Walker

Brian Walker's Biography

As the principal and founder of Retail Doctor Group® in the Australasian and Asian market place, Brian brings considerable senior experience gained in the specialty retail, franchising and shopping centre sectors through line management, consulting, advisory and board roles.

He has successfully led change teams in multi channel retail arenas and has been instrumental in the development and implementation of many notable, integrated retail channel strategy projects including, Optus, Hutchison Telecommunication, Global Brands Group, National Australia Bank and a host of other well recognised retail, franchise retail and service organisations both nationally and internationally. Brian has also successfully advised and operated on boards and associations in retail strategy and deployment.

Brian has been awarded the International Retail Leadership Award: Asian Retail Congress, was listed in Vend’s Top 100 Global Retail Influencers 2019 and 2020, Top Retail Influencer 2018 by Fit Small Business, was LinkedIn’s Top Australian Voice for Retail 2018-2020, and was a Finalist for the NRA “Outstanding Contribution to the Industry” award for 2017.

He won the Australian Institute of Management’s National Scholarship, and was nominated for the Business Leadership Award: CPA Awards, Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Ernst & Young and Telstra Business Awards.

Brian is a featured columnist for Inside Retailing and Smart Company and the contributing author of on-going articles for publications such as BRW, Australian Business Solutions, RetailBiz, Tech Trader, AFR, Sydney Morning Herald and My Business. Brian is a noted author and has published works in the field of retailing.

Furthermore, Brian is a leading media commentator on retail issues, regularly appearing on ABC, Channel 9 News and A Current Affair and Channel 7 Today Tonight. Drawing on his 20 years of experience in retail senior management with leading retailers such as The Athletes Foot, Optus, Angus & Coote, Westfield, KFC and Woolworths, Brian has become Australia’s most sought after headline speaker on all aspects of retail.

Brian founded Retail Doctor Group in 2005. RDG specialises in the development and transformation of retail strategy into increased asset performance, increasing client sustainable differentiation models underpinned with independent systems and frameworks increasing revenue and profitability. These focus areas are delivered through Retail Doctor Group "Business Fitness" programs.

Brian’s career includes:

Retail Doctor Group Pty Ltd – CEO/Founder (current)

Director Karmic Investments

Primus Advisory Board – Director (current)

The Athletes Foot Pty Ltd – General Manager

Cable & Wireless Optus – National Retail & Franchise Manager

Hutchison Telecommunications – National Strategy Development (3G Retail)

Angus & Coote Pty Ltd – National Retail Operations Manager

Whitcoulls Ltd (New Zealand) – National Retail Operations Manager

Westfield SCM Co – Senior Centre Manager, Hurstville and Miranda

KFC Pty Ltd – National Manufacturing Manager, Retail Operations Manager, Purchasing & Supply Manager

Woolworths Pty Ltd – Merchandise Buying Manager

Consultant, editor and author on many articles and topics with the profession of retailing, as well as University teaching in topics pertaining to retail, strategy and multi-channel retailing

Boards and associations memberships

• Australasian elected member of Ebeltoft Group – International Alliance of Retail Experts
• Non-Executive Director /Board member - SBIA
• Retail & Licensing Advisory Committee member - Cancer Council Australia
• Retail Advisory Steerco member - Anglicare Retail Australia
• National Retail Committee - Cancer Council
• Okkular Advisory Board Member (AI and Machine Learning)
• Co Company Directors Graduate alumni
• Asian Retail Congress Advisory board member
• Australian Graduate School of Management alumni
• Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management
• Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Australian Retail Association (past RIA board member)
• Member of the National Retailers Association
• Professional member of the National Speakers Association of Australia

Speaking Topics Include

Global Retail Innovation Trends

The world of retail is changing forever. We are moving from shaping consumer behaviour to predicting it. In this highly motivating presentation following our latest 'Global Retail Innovation 10’ study, Brian Walker shares best practice case studies in your retail category from around the world and explains how these trends are building the future of retail.

• All channels can promote and sell
• Be where the customer is - augmented reality
• Increased demand for convenience - click and commute and new delivery services
• New technologies to watch
• The role of the physical store
• It's not omnichannel, it's just retail!
• Building the 'fittest' retail channel possible

The Steps to Business Fitness

Brian Walker will present an information rich and engaging presentation that covers the key aspects of retail business fitness and begins to engage with these retail concepts. This presentation will inspire, educate and motivate across all the various aspects that build sales in a retail business.

In this session Brian Walker will cover the following areas of business fitness.

1. Begin at the End - Business planning and goal setting
2. Brand Aid™ - Developing and communicating a point of difference in the market.
3. Customer Connection - Understanding your customers and communicating to them.
4. Effective People – Building a sales based team culture in the business.
5. Fiscal Physical™ - Understanding the numbers incl. KPI’s sales, margins etc.
6. Category Cardio - Merchandise management, stock turns and inventory performance.
7. Doing the Basics Brilliantly - Non-negotiable standards in a business, selling, signage, merchandising etc

This session will provide practical tips and advice that you can implement in your business to help grow your sales, improve your operations and increase your profitability. Our business is your retail fitness™

State of the Nation

An update on current industry and category performance including performance benchmarks.

Heighten the Retail Experience
Engage customers from the outside and motivate them to come in, browse across channels and importantly, make a purchase!