Paul Zahra: A new era
Paul Zahra
Former CEO
Australian Retailers Association (ARA)
Christmas just won’t be the same without him.
After decades as a leading influence in retail, including 16 years at David Jones and his recent time as the CEO of the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) where his eloquent news grabs about our festive spending trends became a fixture in the media every summer holidays, Paul Zahra will finally have a Christmas off in 2024*.
After almost five years, Paul recently stepped down from the top job at ARA in the pursuit of his next career challenge.
“It has been an honour and privilege to lead the Australian retail industry and the ARA team through the most challenging five-year period in the history of the sector,” Paul said.
“As the ARA progresses to amalgamate with the National Retail Association (NRA), a professional goal I have long advocated for, I now believe I have completed what I set out to do for the sector.
“I have done my bit for the industry that has been so generous to me, and it's now time for me to reset and refresh for new challenges.
“During the past five years, I have worked hard with the team to build the ARA and the retail sector brand to a strong position of profile, power and political influence.
“For me, it’s not a goodbye to the industry, it’s a thank you.”
The ARA is the largest and oldest retail association in the country, beginning life as the Master Retailers Association of NSW in 1903, adopting its current name in 1974 and officially becoming a national body in 2006.
It represents a sector that is worth $420 billion and employs more than 1.4 million people – or roughly one in every 10 Australians.
Paul said unwavering resourcefulness is among the qualities required to successfully lead a not-for-profit industry association, reflecting that his workforce at David Jones was around 10,000 people-strong, compared to the ARA’s team of just 35.
“That’s the thing about member-based associations,” he said.
“You’ve got to be purpose driven; it really is a vocation. You’ve got to have a curious mind and you’ve got to be super resourceful. And that's where partnerships, sponsorships and collaborations become so important.
“I’m very grateful for my time at the ARA. I have loved it and I am particularly proud of a few key achievements.
“Among that crisis situation of COVID, I am most proud of the resilience of my team and leading the industry through the pandemic.
As a CEO, you can choose to keep your head below the parapet and I haven’t. Amongst the heavy policy agenda, I’ve chosen to also drive a lot of leadership platforms. I drove a strong agenda around diversity, equity and inclusion. We developed a gender equality statement, and we rallied retailers to sign up. We took it further and did the same thing for First Nations people during the referendum and for LGBTQIA+ people during World Pride and we’re now working to amplify people living with disabilities.
“The other area I focused on was sustainability. We developed a roadmap with the UN for sustainable practices that all retailers could follow.
“Those things make me feel good. It’s such a privilege to be able to use our voice for the better.”
And you get the sense that Paul is most energised when that voice is united and harmonious.
In recent years, a number of smaller associations such as the Hair and Beauty Industry Association, the National Footwear Association, the Australian Association for Floral Designers have all come under the ARA’s wing. Another joining-forces moment looms with the National Retail Association.
“The merger with the NRA will be the legacy for me, getting that one voice. It'll bolster our bench strength, there'll be extra benefits for both staff and our retail members and there will be lots of opportunities that I think will be good for all,” he said.
“In the world of associations, there can be some that are too small that would be stronger united. So, when you go to government, you've got a strong, single voice.
“All I ever wanted was to be ‘best in show’ - to be really good at whatever I was doing. I never looked sideways, and I was always laser-focused on being the best I could possibly be. But you’ve got to do it with purpose and love.”
“If you can't answer that question, ‘Are we sustainable?’ then it's time to say, well, how do we join forces? An amalgamation is a good way to go where you get two entities to come together and form a new entity and bring the best of both worlds.”
Paul was raised in Sunshine, Victoria and comes from a working-class family. He considered becoming a school teacher because of the positive impact he had seen the profession have on others, but a job as a casual shop assistant at Target when he was 15 made him see things differently.
By 17, he was supervising teams and by 22, he was managing Target Hoppers Crossing.
“When I started in retail, I realised I could have a bigger impact on a larger group of people in a leadership role,” he said.
“In retail, you’re constantly coaching, mentoring, cajoling, inspiring.
“That’s what drives me…I didn’t go to university, I learnt from others and through lived experience.
“I didn’t come from privilege. I was disadvantaged financially, and I wasn’t heterosexual, and that made me different. So, I have suffered from such exclusion and injustice, and that’s why I am so passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion today.
“Retail is the great equaliser. It’s transformational.
“You can be the person you want to be; it doesn’t matter where you come from. You are in charge of your future. It comes down to making the right choices.”
While at the exciting intersection of the closure of a momentous professional chapter and at the beginning of a new blank page, Paul reflects on his most memorable learnings.
“Leave your ego at the door, have a members-first mindset and know when it’s the right time to leave,” Paul said.
“Make sure your organisation is sustainable by applying a commercial lens to everything you do.
“Diversify your income streams and your membership profile and look for ways to reduce complexity in your membership model.
“And always maintain your values and integrity.”
As for what’s next, Paul says taking a break, enjoying Christmas with his partner and trying new things are the priorities.
“I encourage anyone if they get an opportunity in their career to spend time in associations. The learnings are great, it leveraged all of my skills and grew new skills,” he said.
“I’m excited about being open to other opportunities, doing lots more travel.
“We’re not on this planet forever. People say you only live once – but in fact you only die once, you live every day. And that’s the whole point for me.”
*Paul recently joined the Board of Sydney’s Wayside Chapel, a community services provider famous for serving Christmas lunch to people experiencing homelessness. So, he may end up ‘working’ on December 25 after all…albeit in a very different capacity.