Melbourne Fashion Festival will be appointing Launa Inman as the new Festival chair, effective 19 May 2021.
The Melbourne Fashion Festival’s Board of Directors and the Festival team acknowledge outgoing chairman David Briskin, who will step down following this year’s Festival after a successful four-year tenure.
Hewill remain on the Board, a position he has held since 2012.
Briskin welcomed Inman to the new role.
“I am delighted to welcome Ms. Inman as the next Chair of the Melbourne Fashion Festival – she is one of Australia’s most accomplished corporate leaders and her determination and drive has seen her lead a number of iconic Australian companies.
"I also want to thank the Board and Festival team, the Victorian Government, our sponsors and all of our amazing stakeholders, industry participants and consumers - past and present - who have made the Festival what it is today.
"I look forward to remaining on the Board and continuing to contribute to the Festival’s future success.”
Inman has served on the board of the Melbourne Fashion Festival for the past 11 years.
She has held several leadership roles in her prolific retail career, including MD for seven years of Target Australia, MD of Officeworks and CEO and MD of Billabong International.
In 2003, Inman was awarded the Telstra Australian Businesswoman of the Year in recognition of her business achievements and in 2012/ 2013 she was one of only six female CEOs in the ASX 200.
She was also awarded the Sir Charles McGrath Award for her significant contribution to the field of marketing in 2015.
Inman said she is looking forward to the new role.
"It is an extraordinary honour to have been offered this opportunity and I would like to especially thank Mr. Briskin for his dedication and stewardship of what is undoubtedly Australia’s largest fashion event.
The Festival has achieved outstanding results and its industry relevance, stakeholder stability and financial performance make it a compelling business benchmark. I’m excited by the opportunity, as Chair, to steer the Festival into its next evolution of success, alongside its dedicated Board of Directors and Festival team.”