What’s The Future of Retail (WTF – Retail)

Zelman Ainsworth has worked in commercial real estate his entire adult life with the last 11 years specialising in Retail Leasing in Victoria. His high levels of energy, passion and creative thinking has provided him the opportunity to be a market leader in the Melbourne retail market. Zelman has worked with a wide range of retailers and landlords, which has enhanced his depth of knowledge, experience and relationships within the wider Australian property market. Zelman has hosted interviews with Australia’s more notable retailers, landlord and politicians during the 2020 Lockdown period, successfully keeping the market connected and informed.

Melanie Green joined ISPT as a National Leasing Manager in 2017. In this role she is responsible for management and leadership of the leasing team, implementing the leasing strategies and working with the Investment team to drive the performance of the retail assets.

Melanie is a senior property executive who having undertaken a breadth of roles within her career has gained invaluable experience in Asset Management, Investment Management, Leasing and Centre Management.

Michael Schreiber is the CEO of the Funlab Group. He entered the entertainment industry in Australia with Village Nine Leisure and then EDG Entertainment, before setting up Strike Entertainment in 2002.

Michael believes that life should be fun. Since setting up Strike, it has grown into 12 venues with more in the pipeline. In 2015, Strike and Sky Zone were rolled up into Funlab, now a major entertainment giant with 36 venues across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore and 4 in Development.

Joey Tong specialises in retail leasing and store development in Asia Pacific Market and has a proven track record of identifying, assessing, structuring complex deals and agreements including developing multi-million dollar stores as well as leading the entry of brands into new markets.

Currently, she is the Associate Director at Fast Retailing APAC region where she oversees the store development of global retailer UNIQLO across 6 countries, including Australia. To date she has spearheaded the last 7 stores opening in Australia including Bondi Uniqlo, and the opening of the 1st Global Flagship Store in APAC region – Uniqlo Orchard Singapore.

Prior to her role at Fast Retailing Group, Joey has worked in-house for other notable retailers such as the Cotton On Group where she led its Asia expansion. She is additionally experience with major commercial property entities such as the world-renowned Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and was a key part of the pioneer leasing team.

Joey grew up in Hong Kong and was educated in London and Sydney. Her career has brought her from Tokyo to Singapore and she is a strong believer that passion breaks through all languages and geographic boundaries.