AACS WOMEN IN CONVENIENCE INITIATIVE AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE

In line with its commitment to securing a strong future for the convenience industry in Australia, the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has launched a new program focused on attracting, retaining and supporting women by emphasising the career path opportunities the convenience channel presents.
The first in the series of Women in Convenience networking events took place in Melbourne on Tuesday 6th May and was attended by over 50 women in senior roles, including a diverse mix of suppliers to the industry as well as convenience retailers.
Parmalat and Frucor, both AACS Members, were the proud sponsors of this first event and Kerry Appathurai from Parmalat and Caroline Waite from Frucor, were the driving force behind the AACS’s Women in Convenience program.
The AACS Women in Convenience program has been established to:
• provide support and inspiration to women within the convenience industry through a specifically tailored but not exclusive women’s speaker and networking series; and
• attract and retain the best female talent into the convenience industry and make us famous for it.
AACS CEO Jeff Rogut said the Women in Convenience program is vital to the industry’s future and an opportunity to set convenience apart in terms of the broad range of career opportunities it presents.
“The key to attracting the most talented people, both women and men, into our industry is to demonstrate the varied and exciting career paths that the convenience channel can provide,” Mr Rogut said.
“Be it on the retailer or supplier side, we need to ensure through the innovation of our industry that convenience offers women even in senior or national management roles a variety of opportunities to further their career.
“It is a key objective of AACS to not only attract but also retain the most talented professionals and programs such as Women in Convenience are a key component of this.
“The program is geared towards women in senior and junior roles and aims to support and encourage their personal and professional growth so they may become the convenience industry leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
Mr Rogut said the first event was a tremendous success and lays a strong foundation for the program’s future.
“The inaugural Women in Convenience event was a highly enjoyable and informative occasion. People interacted well in group discussions and had the opportunity to meet other industry professionals for the first time,” Mr Rogut said.
“People new to the industry joined longer serving professionals to create a really vibrant mix.”
High profile media and social commentator Mia Freedman was guest speaker on the topic of The importance of networking for success as a woman in business. It was a terrific presentation that was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
The event also featured a Q&A with the women of the AACS Board – Peri Hunter (BP), Julie Laycock (7-Eleven) and Jo Moxey (Coca-Cola Amatil).
“For the first time we have three female board members of AACS and a female chairperson, so there’s no doubt women are helping to drive and shape the future of our industry,” Mr Rogut said.
“We look forward to the Women in Convenience program becoming one of the programs that the AACS is famous for,” he added.
For those interested in learning more about future plans for AACS Women In Convenience or to attend future events, contact Kerry or Caroline at womeninconvenience@gmail.com