Scentre Group GM of Engineering Carl Woodward has been awarded the 2020 Frank Lowy Fellowship award, after rolling out a range of solutions to assist with COVID-19 shopping.
Recognising the significant impacts COVID-19 restrictions were having on trade in shopping centres, Woodward engineered the Westfield Direct and Westfield Plus solutions.
Westfield Direct, a digital platform that allowed customers to purchase from multiple shopping centre retailers and receive contactless delivery directly to their car in one trip, connected more than 500,000 customers with 590 retailers through the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Westfield Plus app helped to improve the ease and uptake of digital gift cards during lockdown and has clocked up more than 100,000 downloads.
Speaking on the award, Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA) chairman and CEO of Scentre Group Peter Allen said that the range of talented nominees demonstrate that the industry is on a positive trajectory.
"The calibre of these young professionals, their passion, expertise and insight ensures the future of our industry is in good hands.
"Every nominee for the 2020 Frank Lowy Fellowship has demonstrated a keen ambition to build on the foundations Sir Frank has laid in place.
"The calibre of candidates brought forward this year are a testament to our industry’s ability to attract the best and brightest talent from all fields," he said.
According to the SCCA, Woodward's initiatives signal a larger trend of shopping centres leveraging technology and digital solutions to evolve the experience for their shoppers and bring continued value for their retailers, customers and investors.
The Frank Lowy Fellowship is awarded to an emerging leader in the shopping centre industry who has demonstrated distinction in their professional field and a commitment to industry excellence.
This year, the award evaluated 18 nominees from Blackstone, Dexus, ISPT, JLL, Lendlease, Mirvac, QICGRE, Scentre Group, Stockland, The GPT Group and Vicinity Centres.
Woodward is the first winner of the Fellowship from Scentre Group and has been awarded a $20,000 grant to continue his education.
He will undertake a General Management Program at UNSW Business School.
Peter Allen - Scentre Group CEO and Carl Woodward - Scentre Group GM of Engineering.