A former Wesfarmers executive has been appointed to head up the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA).
Anna McPhee has been appointed as the new CEO of the industry group, commencing October 7.
Long-serving CEO Margy Osmond is set to leave the association next month.
McPhee has more 20 years’ experience in retail businesses, representative groups and politics and policy advocacy.
Her most recent position was chief of staff to the former NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell.
McPhee has also held a sernior executive role at Wesfarmers, as well as heading up government practice at Korn/Ferry Futurestep and the Enhance Group.
McPhee has held senior corporate affairs roles at Ernst & Young and the NSW Business Chamber.
McPhee is chair of the Diversity Council Australia and was CEO of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency between 2004 and 2008.
ANRA chairman Grant O’Brien said McPhee is only the second ANRA CEO since it was formed in 2004.
"ANRA members include Australia’s most trusted household names in supermarket chains, department stores and specialty retailers and employ around 500,000 people and account for more than $110 billion in annual retail turnover," O’Brien said.
"ANRA advocates a forward-looking policy agenda to help retailers meet customers’ needs including a consumer focused competition policy, a fair tax regime and policies that help promote investment and job creation."
McPhee said she would look to promote Australian retail and ensure that barriers to growth, investment, job creation and lower prices are removed.
"Australian retail is a very important part of the national economy, including its critical role in giving many young Australians, like myself, their first job and helping Australian families to combat rising living costs by keeping retail prices as low as possible," McPhee said.