PROGRAMME
Speaker Announcements
We’re excited to kick off our speaker announcements for the NZFGC Annual Conference 2025 with a name that’s sure to inspire: Zion Armstrong.Zion is a proud New Zealander whose global leadership journey has taken him to the top of the international business world. Now, he’s home - and joining us in Ōtautahi Christchurch to share why he’s returned, what he’s learned, and what’s next.
With change a constant in our industry, we’re featuring a range of perspectives and have sent invitations to relevant government speakers. We can confirm Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden will provide an update on behalf of the Commerce Commission.
From the retailer sector, we're pleased to announce that we will welcome Mary Devine, Chief Executive of Foodstuffs South Island, who’ll appear alongside a panel of Foodstuffs South Island store owners with local insights central to the conversation.
This session offers a unique opportunity for members to hear directly from Mary and the wider FSSI store network - we're looking forward to an engaging and insightful discussion.
Chris Quin, Chief Executive of Foodstuffs North Island, will also be joining us, bringing valuable insights and contributing to the broader discussion on industry opportunities.
Woolworths New Zealand’s newly appointed Managing Director, Sally Copland will make her first appearance at an NZFGC event offering a valuable opportunity to hear from her early in her tenure on her impressions, priorities, challenges and opportunities ahead.
We’ll be announcing more speakers over the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
KEYNOTES
Zion Armstrong
From West Auckland to Adidas
Zion Armstrong’s incredible journey began with a sprint away from the police in West Auckland, igniting an athletics career that led him to the Commonwealth Games.
But that was just the beginning of his remarkable ascent.In his early 20s, Zion became the head of footwear at Adidas NZ, demonstrating his extraordinary talent in the world of sports retail.
Climbing the corporate ladder, he travelled to HQ in Germany, before honing his leadership skills in Asia before he reached the pinnacle as the president of Adidas North America. Under his leadership, the team achieved a record $US6 billion in annual profit, marking a significant milestone in the company's history.
In 2022, Zion made a life-altering decision to leave his high-profile lifestyle and return to New Zealand for his kids.
As a speaker, Zion Armstrong offers an extraordinary narrative of success, transformation, and the courage to embrace what truly matters. His story is an inspiration, showcasing what's possible with determination and a clear sense of purpose.
Zion's story is a profound reminder of what's truly important in life. His journey is a testament to the power of the right mindset and work ethic, balanced with a deep understanding of personal values and priorities.
Sally Copland
Managing Director, Woolworths NZ
Sally Copland is the Managing Director of Woolworths New Zealand, a role she commenced on 1 July 2025. This appointment follows a highly successful career within the Woolworths Group, where she most recently served as Managing Director of Group eComX, leading the eCommerce portfolio for both Australia and New Zealand.
Born and raised in Masterton, Sally’s connection to retail began with her first jobs in stores in her local town. This foundational experience grounds her professional and academic achievements, which include a Master of Management from Macquarie Graduate School of Management, as well as a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Otago. Sally is married to James and is a mother to two boys. She loves being outdoors walking, running, ocean swimming, travelling and cooking for her family.
With a career at Woolworths Group that began in New Zealand in 2006, Sally has been in Australia for the last three and a half years. Now returning home and focusing entirely on the New Zealand business, Sally brings a profound understanding of the local and international retail landscape. Her expertise spans customer engagement, marketing, digital innovation, loyalty, eCommerce and operations, building high-performing teams to merge physical and digital retail into seamless customer experiences.
Sally is excited about the opportunity to lead the 21,000 strong Woolworths team who are serving the millions of kiwis who shop both in-store and online. The Woolworths NZ strategy and direction is clear - with a focus on delivering kiwi customers the best of fresh, market leading convenience and a more rewarding experience through Everyday Rewards. The absolute focus continues to be giving our customers good prices, a great range of products, convenience and a fantastic shopping experience and supporting local communities right across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Mary Devine
CEO Foodstuffs South Island
An experienced leader with executive, governance and consulting experience across multiple national businesses, Mary is highly regarded as one of the most influential leaders in New Zealand’s retail sector.
Mary first joined the Foodstuffs South Island Board in 2018 and transitioned to her current role as Chief Executive in January 2022. Prior to this Mary held a broad range of retail leadership roles including at Hallenstein Glassons, Ballantynes, EziBuy, and the Briscoes Group.
In 2013 Mary received the Honorary Queen’s Award of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to business. Mary was also instrumental in the early formation of Global Women, which pioneered focus on advancing women in leadership in New Zealand. In 2025 Mary received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Retail NZ, recognising the significant and lasting impact her career has had on New Zealand’s retail sector.
Mary holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Otago and an MBA from the University of Canterbury.
Chris Quin
CEO Foodstuffs, North Island
Chris Quin has spent more than three decades leading some of New Zealand’s most recognisable businesses through change and transformation.
As CEO of Foodstuffs North Island, he leads a co-operative of more than 320 locally owned grocery stores – New World, PAK’nSAVE, and Four Square – that serve millions of shoppers across the North Island every week. He also serves as Managing Director of Foodstuffs NZ, a Director of The New Zealand Initiative, and Chair of the Giltrap Group.
Before joining Foodstuffs in 2015, Chris spent 24 years at Spark (formerly Telecom), where he played a pivotal role in one of New Zealand’s largest corporate transformations. As CEO of Spark’s retail and digital divisions, he helped reinvent the business from a traditional telco into a modern, customer-led digital services company.
Since moving into grocery, Chris has focused on building a customer-driven and productive co-op that creates real value for suppliers. He’s passionate about the role grocery plays in New Zealand’s economy and communities, and is committed to working with suppliers to keep pushing the boundaries of innovation, growing New Zealand businesses and delivering the best choice and value for households.
Pierre van Heerden
Grocery Commissioner
Pierre van Heerden was appointed Grocery Commissioner in July 2023. Most recently, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Mojo Coffee, General Manager Commercial Development of Zealandia, and Executive General Manager of Farrah’s Breads. Before this, van Heerden was Managing Director of Southern Sky Associates, a business consultancy. He has also been the Chief Executive Officer of Brancourts Dairy Group, Australia and Executive General Manager of Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing New Zealand for 10 years, Managing Director of Dick Smith Foods in Australia, as well as having held various executive roles with Sanitarium in Australia.