Roger
Corbett AO

Speaker Profile

Roger Corbett has been involved in the retail industry for over 40 years. Over some 20 years he rose through the various ranks of Grace Bros' management to subsequently hold the positions of Merchandise Director and Stores Director.

In late 1984 Roger joined the Board of David Jones Australia as Director of Operations. In 1990 he was appointed to the Board of Woolworths Limited and to the position of Managing Director of BIG W Australia. Over the next 10 years Roger subsequently, in addition to his new role as Deputy Group Managing Director, held the positions of Managing Director - Retail, Chief Operating Officer and CEO-elect. On 1 January 1999, Roger was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Woolworths Limited. Mr Corbett retired as CEO and a Director of Woolworths Limited on 30 September 2006 but will continue to work with Woolworths in a consulting capacity until 2011.

In June 2003 Roger was awarded a Member in the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for 'service to the retail industry, particularly as a contributor to the development of industry policy and standards, and to the community'. In June 2008, he was elevated to an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for 'service to business, particularly through leadership and executive roles in the retail sector and a range of allied organisations, and to the community.'

Roger's current Executive and Board responsibilities are:
- Chairman, Fairfax Media Limited;
- Member of the Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of Australia;
- Member of the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.;
- Chairman, PrimeAg Australia Limited;
- Chairman, Mayne Pharma Group Limited;
- Chairman, Salvation Army Advisory Board, Australian Eastern Territory;
- President, Sydney Medical School Foundation, University of Sydney;
- Member of the Dean’s Advisory Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney;
- Chairman, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Governing Council;
- Member of the Advisory Committee of the Australian Graduation School of Management, University of New South Wales;
- Former Chairman of the Council and Member of the Executive of Shore School; and
- Former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CIES World Food Business Forum, France.

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