Moderators & Facilitators

Erika Andreetta

Partner & Leader of the Consumer Markets Consulting Practice

PwC, Italy

Erika Andreetta is member of the EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) Consumer Markets Leadership Team and leads the EMEA Fashion and Luxury Community of PwC. With a background in Engineering, more than 20 years of experience in the Fashion Luxury Retail market, she has provided consultancy on important business major projects, including the Italian Fashion Industry Repurpose Production to fight the Pandemic (supporting the Italian Government and Health System), the «Alti Potenziali» initiative (Internationalization support to 30 mid-caps) , fashion reshoring, and the «Invest in Italy» roadshow. She has been actively involved in internationalization projects of main players in the Chinese market, and she was a recognized member of the PwC's CINDIA (China -India) desk from 2000 to 2006. She is now a Member of IICCI Advisory Council of IICCI - The Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She was a contributor in the FashionTech Milano- Bootcamp, one of the World’s leading start-up accelerators, with a special focus on sustainability and a member of Get it fair, the first international certification system of textile-clothing supply chains in emerging countries for responsible labeling. She is contributing to the Monitor for Circular Fashion with SDA BOCCONI and to the Circular Fashion Report – Year Zero (Vogue Business) providing unique insights on the new circular fashion industry.

Ann Berry

CEO

Threadneedle, USA

Ann Berry is a business commentator on global TV networks including the BBC, Bloomberg & CNBC. She also hosts market shows and CEO interviews for Public.com, broadcasting to 3 million retail subscribers. Ann is the founder of advisory firm Threadneedle and General Partner of its technology-focused Opportunity Fund, backed by Alexis Ohanian. She was Chief Investment Officer of Wheelhouse multimedia and from 2017 to 2021, and Partner & Investment Committee member at global private equity firm Cornell Capital. Ann spent 11 years at Goldman Sachs in London & New York and across her career has deployed $10+ billion acquiring companies in the consumer and other sectors. In 2019 through 2020, Ann was CEO of hospitality services company PureStar. Ann is a director of Allure Beauty Concepts and has served on the boards of multiple public and private corporations including SLAM Corp.

Louise Nichol

Journalist

UAE

Louise Nichol has over 20 years’ experience in the fashion and lifestyle industry. She was the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia for over a decade before leaving to develop her own fitness and fashion brand. Over the course of her professional life Louise has interviewed many of the world’s most influential women, from Queen Rania of Jordan to Kim Kardashian. She holds a bachelor’s degree in politics, philosophy and English from Durham University in the UK and is a passionate advocate for women’s health, working as a fitness instructor at a boutique UAE gym in her spare time. Louise began her career in retail journalism at Drapers in London in 2000 and has remained passionate about the industry, contributing to Business of Fashion from the UAE, where she has lived since 2005.

Gary Thatcher

CEO & Co-Founder

The Retail Summit, UK

With over 13 years' experience in the B2B conference industry and having produced market-leading events across the globe, Gary Thatcher identified an opportunity to create a world class global retail event in Dubai alongside a vast digital retail community. Gary strives to do things differently by creating value, listening to his customers, and producing global events and content that puts experience and satisfaction first. He facilitates discussion amongst the industries brightest minds and is renowned for bringing the retail world together to discuss the convergence of retail with technology, experience, and hospitality.

Matthew Shay

President & CEO

National Retail Federation, USA

Matthew Shay serves as chief advocate and spokesman for the nation’s largest private-sector industry employer, responsible for supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 52 million working Americans – and generating $3.9 trillion in annual GDP. NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association and foremost industry group focused on the people, policies, ideas and technologies shaping the consumer retail economy. Since his arrival in 2010, Matthew has transformed the organization into Washington’s most powerful voice supporting the retail industry. Under his tenure, membership and revenue have more than doubled and NRF’s influence has grown significantly inside Washington, across the United States and globally. He has led the organization to new levels of effectiveness on policy issues, increasing awareness of the industry’s economic impact and expanding political engagement. Matthew has held leadership positions in the retail, consumer and services sector for more than 20 years. Before NRF, he served as President and CEO of the International Franchise Association, which represents more than 1,400 franchise companies in retail and other industries around the world. He is a graduate of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and The Ohio State University College of Law, and holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business.

Simon Susman

Honorary President

Woolworths, South Africa

Simon Susman is a highly accomplished business executive with a remarkable career in the retail industry. He played a pivotal role in the success of Woolworths, where his tenure at Woolworths spanned several decades, during which he held various executive positions, including Chief Executive and later Non-Executive Chairman. Simon's Under his leadership, the company experienced significant growth. His commitment to sustainability and social responsibility is evident through his initiation of the "Good business journey" program at Woolworths, which emphasized sustainable practices. Beyond Woolworths, he has extended his expertise to other esteemed organizations. He currently serves as the Chairman of the London-based Virgin Active fitness business and chairs the Dubai-based Al Tayer Retail Board. Simon's academic background includes a matriculation from St. Andrews College in Grahamstown and in 1969 the University of Cape Town.

Wael Al Fatayri

Buying Manager

Ounass.com, UAE

Wael Al Fatayri is currently a Buying Manager at Ounass.com. As well as having an extensive career in fashion buying, he has held various roles across the fashion industry, including writer, lecturer at the FAD institute, and media personality. He pursued his degree in business administration from the American University of Beirut. Wael then embarked on his fashion buying journey in 2008 with Al Tayer Insignia, overseeing the Armani Group. Over the years, he has led the buying across a large number of luxury businesses incorporating mono-brand, concept, and department stores, as well as E-commerce platforms for brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdales, Level, Namshi, and Ounass.com. Additionally, Wael has been featured as a style advisor and fashion commentator on various regional radio and television channels.