IAB New Zealand‘s Digital Effectiveness Council is launching an retail media event to shed some light on what is fast becoming one of the industry’s most talked about trends.
Retail media is poised to rival AI in industry buzz, says IAB New Zealand.
Globally, retail media network advertising revenues are booming, with the U.S. and UK each reporting 23% growth[1]. In Australia, retail remains the top industry category, indicating high engagement with commerce-driven media strategies.[2]
As brands compete for attention at the “digital shelf,” retail media has evolved beyond a media channel. Reflecting this, IAB New Zealand’s Digital Effectiveness Council will hold the ‘Retail Media Storefronts’ event on August 7.
Reshaping digital advertising
Industry experts Roger Dunn, Global Media Retail Lead at Diageo, and Sally Tobin, Founder at Mars United Commerce ANZ will take centre stage, exploring how AI, first-party data, omnichannel innovation, and retail media networks (RMNs) are reshaping the digital advertising landscape.
Dunn has a slew of retail media accolades to his name, including LinkedIn ‘Top Voice’, RETHINK Retail ‘Top Retail Expert 2024/2025’ and winner of ‘Retail Media Leader of the Year’ at both the REmade Awards and Path to Purchase Institute (P2PI) Retail Media Awards.
He says, “New Zealand’s agile, data-rich market is leading the way in retail media innovation – particularly in first-party data strategies. I’m looking forward to sharing global learnings and exploring how we can collectively shape smarter, more effective retail media experiences.”
Tobin is a retail media pioneer and winner of the 2024 Women of Excellence, Industry Impact Awards (P2PI). She launched the world’s first commerce measurement platform, Marilyn, into the ANZ market, along with the widely referenced Retail Media Report Card for New Zealand and has shaped global conversations on measurement and media effectiveness, presenting on the world stage at EuroShop in Germany and at REmade.
“The retail media momentum across ANZ is more than a trend – it’s a structural shift in how brands engage consumers. I can’t wait to unpack the opportunities and tensions that continue before us in 2025,” says Tobin.
Local experts
Dunn and Tobin will be joined by a host of local retail media experts at this half day conference including Ben Allman, Regional VP Sales Broadsign, Lachlan Brahe, Chair of IAB Australia Retail Media Council, Alex Lawson, Head of Strategy & Media, Market Media, Skipper Lomiwes Head of Digital Revenue Solutions & Operations TVNZ, Tina Trenkner-Meade, Head of Commerce, Omnicom Media Group NZ, John Waltmann, Industry Manager, Google NZ, Daina Wilson, Market Director L’Oreal – with more speakers to be announced.
Kate Grigg, IAB New Zealand Digital Effectiveness Council Chair and Head of Publicis Media Exchange (PMX) NZ says, “Retail media is transforming marketing in powerful new ways. In New Zealand we’re seeing local innovation pushing global boundaries. This event is an important milestone for our market, offering a platform for critical discussion, shared insights, and the opportunity to shape the future of retail media in Aotearoa and beyond.”
Event details
When: Thursday 7 August 2025 1pm – 5:30pm
Where: Maritime Room Viaduct Harbour Auckland
Tickets: IAB New Zealand Members $130 + GST + BF/Non-Members $205 + GST + BF. Get tickets here: https://www.iab.org.nz/all-events/retail-media-storefronts-01
The event is sponsored by Broadsign and Market Media and tickets are limited.
[1] IAB U.S. PwC Internet Ad Revenue Report Full Year 2024, IAB UK Digital Adspend Full Year 2024 Report
[2] IAB Australia Internet Advertising Revenue Report 2024
