Retail excellence for good community health
We’re bringing our retail leaders back together for the Retail Excellence Conference (REC) 2026. This event brings the high energy of the Retail Excellence Conference 2025, featuring more fast-paced, retail-driven programs designed to upskill and ignite the teams that shape the customer experience, deliver community connection and drive retail performance across Independent Pharmacies Australia members.
Whether your pharmacy is proudly branded as IPA: Here for Good, leading value with Chemist Discount Centre: Expert Advice with Low Prices, or continuing your pharmacy’s strong presence under your existing local brand, this is the event built to strengthen how your pharmacy serves, leads, and supports your community.
The future of better retailing for better community health starts at REC2026!
What to Expect
Retail Managers
Why you should attend
Designed for Retail Managers, Pharmacy Managers and Pharmacy Assistants, REC2026 will give you the tools and knowledge to improve the performance of your pharmacy. Walk away with:
- Real skills you can use immediately: Experience practical, hands-on sessions with tools, frameworks designed to help you lift performance when you get back to your pharmacy
- An understanding of the new standard of retail excellence: build a new standard of excellence in your pharmacy through new levels of service, merchandising, marketing, operations and community engagement and leadership
- Supplier relationships: Connect with supplier executives from 50+sponsors through high-energy speed networking sessions to discuss products, deals and opportunities to shape 2026
- Confidence and recognition: Feel empowered and feel confident leading your team. This event champions the impact you make in your store, your brand and your community.
Pharmacy Owners
Why you should invest
Whether your retail focus is ‘Here for Good’ with the IPA brand or ‘Expert Advice with Low Prices’ with Chemist Discount Centre, or strengthening your current brand, this conference delivers real commercial impact through more capable and confident retail leaders.
Your team will return with:
- Clear standards and a roadmap for retail execution
- Better skills across service, operations, merchandising and local marketing
- Stronger capability with IPA and CDC tools and programs
- Higher confidence and leadership capability
- Stronger connection to community and brand alignment
- New retail ideas, renewed energy and a sense of pride
Retail Excellence Awards 2026
Get ready to celebrate the shining stars across IPA’s member pharmacies.
The Retail Excellence Awards recognise the retail leaders who bring energy, innovation and impact to their pharmacy every day and who turn great retail into powerful community connection.
Across five award categories, we’re shining a light on individuals who elevate the customer experience, build loyalty, inspire their teams and deliver real results.
View Award Categories
1. Rising Star Award
Celebrating emerging talent showing rapid growth, strong initiative and big future potential.
2. Loyalty Champion Award
Recognising those who turn loyalty programs into powerful, customer-driving engines through strategy, creativity and results.
3. Service Excellence Award
Honouring exceptional customer service and the people who consistently create outstanding experiences.
4. Consumer Engagement Award
Rewarding individuals who connect with customers in meaningful ways and drive measurable engagement.
5. Community Impact Award
Highlighting those who go above and beyond — creating positive change for the pharmacy, the team and the community.
View Award Finalists
1. Rising Star Award
Kyanna Villano, Mountview Pharmacy
Annika Dukes, Life Pharmacy Forbes
Aimee Turnbull, Bonny Hills Pharmacy
Tahlia Rossitto, Emerald Village Pharmacy
Biance Wilson, Ningi Pharmacy
2. Loyalty Champion Award
Will Wilson, Chemist Discount Centre Doolandella
Karlie Harvey, Piggotts Pharmacy Huntlee
Carmen Kelly, Williams Advantage Pharmacy
Lauren Kleinitz, Chemist Discount Centre Bendigo
Kelly Pountney, Berwick Pharmacy
3. Service Excellence Award
Tanya Benson, Hamilton Island Pharmacy
Julie Singh, Chris O’Brien Pharmacy
Sue Hagan, Warners Bay Pharmacy
Jessica Brown, Emerald Village Pharmacy
Natasha Sharpe, Flannery’s Pharmacy
4. Customer Engagement Award
Kellie Bourke, Emerald Village Pharmacy
Sue Hagan, Warners Bay Pharmacy
Carmen Kelly, Williams Advantage Pharmacy
Kasey McGrath, Chemist Discount Centre Thornton
Sandra Murphy, Southcity Pharmacy
5. Community Impact Award
Leisa Stone, Orana Mall Pharmacy
Julie Singh, Chris O’Brien Pharmacy
Caitlin Haase, Flannery’s Pharmacy
Tanya Caruos, Equal Health Pharmacy
Kerry Walker, Wonthaggi Miners Dispensary
Evening Functions
Welcome Cocktail Party | Greenfields Albert Park
Sunday 8 February
Enjoy a relaxed first evening with sponsor and member delegates, accompanied by drinks and canapés.
Gala and Awards Dinner | Pullman Ballroom
Monday 9 February
Our Gala & Awards Dinner brings everyone together for a night of incredible food, live music and celebration as we honour the winners of the Retail Excellence Awards. It’s the perfect finale to recognise achievement, applaud innovation, and celebrate the people who make retail excellence possible.
Retail Inspiration
HERE FOR GOOD
STEVEN KASTRINAKIS
Founder, Managing Director, IPA
Steven Katrinakis, Managing Director of IPA, is a passionate advocate for independent pharmacy. He drives innovation to enhance patient care and empower pharmacy owners. Known for his professionalism and care, Steven also mentors emerging pharmacists and supports community health initiatives, making a lasting impact on the profession.
DEFINING RETAIL EXCELLENCE
BRIANNE SHEPHARD
State Manager NSW/ACT
COMMUNITY FIRST: SHAPING CARE AROUND LOCAL NEEDS
KEELY PAUL
National Professional Services Manager
LEADING LOCAL
KIM ALGIE
Head of Marketing Operations
HARNESSING REPORTAL
MATT MARSH
Head of Merchandise Operations
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR RANGE
NATASHA BECK
Head of Buying
Program
*Subject to change
Day 1 Sunday 8 February
11.00 Arrivals, Registration & Lunch
12.00 WELCOME: Here for Good – Steven Kastrinakis
12.45 Defining Retail Excellence: What Good Looks Like – Brianne Shephard
1.15 DBG Sponsor Spotlight
1.45 Sponsor Spotlight
2.05 Sponsor Spotlight
2.25 Wrap up & Speed Networking Overview
2.45 Afternoon tea
3.00 Sponsor Speed Networking
5.30 Day End & Room Check-in
6.30-9.30 Welcome Cocktail Party
Day 2 Monday 9 February
8.30 Day 2 Welcome
8.45 Community First: Shaping Care Around Local Needs – Keely Paul
9.05 Leading Local: Driving Engagement Through Hyper-Local Marketing – Kim Algie
9.25 PANEL DISCUSSION: Making it work in your community– Brianne Shephard
9.45 Sponsor Spotlight
10.05 Sponsor Spotlight
10.25 Keynote: TBA
11.05 Morning Tea
11.20 Sponsor Speed Networking
12.30 Lunch
1.30 Sponsor Speed Networking
4.00 Day End
6.30-11.30 Gala and Awards Evening
Day 3 Tuesday 10 February
8.30 Day 3 Welcome
8.45 Harnessing Reportal: Big, Better, Best in Action – Matt Marsh
9.15 Making the Most of Your Range – Natasha Beck
9.45 WORKSHOP: From Insight to Action – TBA
10.55 Morning Tea
11.15 Sponsor Spotlight
11.35 Sponsor Spotlight
12.00 Lunch
1.00 Sponsor Spotlight
1.20 Sponsor Spotlight
2.00 Wrap up, key takeaways & commitment session
2.30 Day End and Departures
Location: Pullman & Mercure Albert Park, Melbourne
Conference Venue
The Retail Excellence Conference will be held at the Pullman Albert Park Ballroom.
Accommodation
Mercure Albert Park is centrally located on Queens Road, overlooking the picturesque Albert Park Lake, the renowned F1 Australian Grand Prix track, and situated adjacent to parks, sporting facilities, and a golf course. The accommodation rooms are located at the city end of the Pullman and Mercure building, providing convenient access to conference sessions in the Pullman Ballroom.
Registration Fees
| Package Fees | Early Bird Ends 11 January | Standard From 12 January |
| Full Delegate Welcome Function, Conference Sessions, Gala and Awards Evening | $360 | $580 |
| Sun 8 Feb Half Day + Welcome Function | $160 | $280 |
| Mon 9 Feb Full Day + Gala and Awards Evening | $200 | $320 |
Tue 10 Feb Half Day | $100 | $150 |
Acccommodation
| Rates | 1 Night Available for the night of 8 or 9 Feb | 2 Nights Check-in 8 Feb, Check-out 10 Feb |
| Mercure Standard Room – King size bed or 2 single beds Includes Breakfast for one guest | $230 | $460 |
All delegates are required to provide a credit card upon check-in to the hotel, which will be used to cover any outstanding payments and hotel incidentals.
Payment Options – Registration and Accommodation
- Credit Card
- Direct Debit Full Payment – Payment must be made by 31 January 2026.
Terms and Conditions
- Accommodation at the Mercure Albert Park is limited and subject to availability.
- Additional nights can be requested and are subject to availability and may incur a higher per-night rate
- Transfers are not included
- Please read the full Terms and Conditions for Refunds and Cancellation Policies
View Full Terms and Conditions
More information
Email: events@ipagroup.com | Phone: 1300 001 724