SCN hosted a great event last Friday. Our ‘Big Guns Lunch’ was generally seen as the industry’s first major event since COVID entered our lives a year ago. People mingled, caught up, renewed acquaintances and seized the opportunity to  socially interact.

As the event was cancelled last year (due to COVID restrictions), SCN’s Managing Editor, Leanne Liu, presented the 2020 Big Guns Awards. Peter Huddle, Chief Operating Officer, Vicinity Centres, received the award for the No. 1 Big Gun in terms of MAT for Chadstone, Anthony McNulty, Fund Manager for the GPT Wholesale Shopping Centre Fund, accepted the award for Melbourne Central (No. 1 Big Gun for MAT/m2) and John Papagiannis, Director of Leasing and Retail Solutions at Scentre Group, accepted the award for Westfield Sydney (highest specialty MAT/m2).

There was a departure from the ‘norm’ this year. Instead of the usual CEO presentations, a panel discussion took place with industry leaders looking to the Big Guns of the future – interesting stuff that gave us real insights into the shopping centres of the 2030s.

Moderated by SCN‘s Publisher, Michael Lloyd, the panel consisted of David McNamara, Head of Retail, Lendlease; Michael O’Brien, Managing Director, QIC Global Real Estate; Michelle Abbey, Head of Retail, Stockland; Peter Huddle, Chief Operating Officer, Vicinity Centres; Brett Williams, Managing Director Retail, AMP Capital; and Phil McAveety, Chief Customer and Business Development Officer, Scentre Group.

Quite simply, a great afternoon, that continued for many attendees into the evening…
Many thanks to our event sponsor Mainbrace Constructions.