MY JOURNEY
After completing my studies, I began my career in fast-moving consumer goods as a special project manager for Spar Western Cape in South Africa. As I was always interested in fashion and clothing, I then applied to join the Truworths graduate program. My first position was merchandise planner for intimate apparel, and one year later I was offered the chance to launch two new brands for the business - Inwear and LTD - which are still successful today.
Four years later I moved to the UK where I joined British Home Store, then went on to work for Debenhams and New Look.
I loved my 11 years at New Look. During this time, I progressed from head of planning to group merchandise director, and was eventually promoted to run the womenswear department as buying, merchandise and design director.
My key achievements at New Look were winning the Lorraine Kelly Award for Britain’s Best Footwear, and the Drapers Fashion Retailer Business of the Year Award.
After New Look was sold to private equity I was offered the opportunity to join Forever New as global brand director, and decided to experience life in Australia.
HOW I'D DESCRIBE MY CAREER WITH FOREVER NEW
Exciting, creative and fast-paced.
WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH FOREVER NEW
The people, the product and the opportunities.
MY WARDROBE ESSENTIALS
A black blazer and trainers.
HOW I LIKE TO KICK START MY DAY
Sometimes a workout at the gym, then packing school lunches and getting the kids ready for school.
SOMETHING YOU WON'T FIND ON MY CV
I speak Afrikaans. But I wish I could speak more languages!
MY JOURNEY
My career journey has been a series of connections, twists and turns, but ultimately a result of perseverance, and a drive to create and transform. I started my career in New York City, working as a marketing assistant during the day and attending business school at night. I graduated with an MBA and went on to pursue my passion in digital and marketing.
Through a random connection at a friend's wedding in France, I landed a job at L'Oréal managing one of the brand's first ecommerce websites. After a couple of years, a former boss referred me to a role at American Express. With their keen focus on the customer and employee development, it was there that I found my passion, and further developed my skills in strategy, innovation, business transformation, people leadership and influence management.
My love for luxury and all things French eventually led me to Louis Vuitton. I spent several years working in luxury retail prior to moving to Australia with my husband and two daughters in 2014. After taking some time off to settle into my new surroundings, I joined the Country Road Group overseeing marketing for the Country Road brand.
HOW I'D DESCRIBE MY CAREER WITH FOREVER NEW
Big and still growing. Every day there's a new challenge or opportunity, which leads to new ideas and a culture of continuous innovation.
WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH FOREVER NEW
The people. In my first week here I couldn't get over how friendly everyone was. All I could think was, ‘What's the catch here?', but it still rings true today.
MY WARDROBE ESSENTIALS
Anything black. You can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl. However, since joining Forever New, I confidently break out a bit of blush every now and again.
HOW I LIKE TO KICK START MY DAY
I would love to say that I get up every day at 5am and do yoga, but that would be a lie. My priority of the day is to feed Mr. Rubin, our cat. After getting myself ready, I get the girls ready for school, pack their lunch bags and try to remember all the extras they're supposed to bring to school that day. Once the frenzy is over I head to the office, where my day begins again with a nice cup of tea...and another...and another...!
SOMETHING YOU WON'T FIND ON MY CV
My family basically represents the United Nations. My mother is from Scotland, my father is from South Africa, my husband's family is from Croatia, we were born in Canada and our children are American, now speaking with Australian accents!
MY JOURNEY
I used to love 'playing shops' when I was little. At one stage, my dad owned a milk bar and I still remember playing with all the gadgets, especially the cash register. I had no idea that I would, in a way, be playing shops for the rest of my foreseeable future!
I left my hometown of Shepparton to enrol in a Bachelor of Science degree at university, but soon gravitated back to the world of retail like a moth to a flame.
I was employed by Myer as a Christmas casual, and for 22 years I enjoyed a great career with them in a variety of roles, across three states, working both in-store and in head office. I've only recently joined Forever New, but I'm already loving the passion and commitment that everyone has for the brand and for the customers.
HOW I'D DESCRIBE MY CAREER WITH FOREVER NEW
It's just the beginning, but I can see lots of opportunity to continue to build the Forever New brand and contribute to its global success.
WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH FOREVER NEW
The people here have all been incredibly welcoming, and so helpful in getting me up to speed as quickly as possible. My team have also been very receptive and open to me joining with my experience, and fresh eyes.
MY WARDROBE ESSENTIALS
A great blazer, high heels, a spritz of my favourite perfume and mascara get me through most days.
HOW I LIKE TO KICK START MY DAY
I'm generally on the road early, either heading into the office or travelling to stores. I travel to where I'm going, have my breakfast and look through my day's requirements. I'm lucky to have a very supportive husband who takes my daughter to school, but I make sure to get her lunchbox ready, have her breakfast on the table and give her a kiss on the forehead to say goodbye each morning.
SOMETHING YOU WON'T FIND ON MY CV
My little family of three loves to travel; and when possible we love to travel with our friends. We love enjoying new cultures and experiences. Our favourite so far was sailing in Croatia.
MY JOURNEY
My career started on the shop floor with Woolworths in South Africa, as a graduate recruit in their store management program. After a two-year break, during which I completed compulsory military conscription, I returned to the business as a trainee merchandiser/planner. Over the next four years I worked my way up through the ranks to merchandiser, senior merchandiser and eventually became a merchandise/planning manager.
I then joined the Foschini Group as a planning manager, and left after four very successful years to move to Australia with my young family to join a large department store in Sydney. My time there was brief as I felt much more suited to specialty and fashion retail, so I joined the Strandbags Group, where I spent 10 years and achieved promotion to board level as the merchandise planning director.
I spent the next four years with brands including Oroton, Ralph Lauren, Saba and Sportscraft before relocating to Melbourne as the group general manager of global planning with Forever New. During the past six years I've had additional responsibilities with international markets, franchise, concessions, supply chain and critical path, and most recently store development.
HOW I'D DESCRIBE MY CAREER WITH FOREVER NEW
Forever New is the most fast-paced and exciting retailer I've worked for. No two days are the same, due to the number of countries we trade in, and the challenges this presents. It's an ever-changing and constantly evolving role.
WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH FOREVER NEW
The entrepreneurial culture of the owners and leadership team, who ensure we strive for excellence in everything we do. Forever New is very well resourced with market-leading investment in technology and best practice systems and processes.
HOW I LIKE TO KICK START MY DAY
I'm not a morning person, so my day starts quietly with a good breakfast whilst absorbing the previous day's trading results, overnight challenges and opportunities from the countries in different time zones. I have a short commute to the office, so once I arrive I get straight into the detail with a good coffee and a packed diary.
SOMETHING YOU WON'T FIND ON MY CV
Family comes first. My wife, two adult daughters and I are a close family unit. We spend a lot of time together enjoying food, wine, sports and holidays. I have a huge interest and hobby in my collection and enjoyment of wines. I love all sports, but my favorites are cricket, rugby union, and thanks to the Melbourne life, AFL. I always support Australia first, and South Africa against everyone, except when playing against Australia!
