RISING STARS
Edwina Kent
Logistics manager Pet Circle
P et Circle logistics manager Edwina Kent has been described as a powerhouse in her role . Since joining Pet Circle in August 2021 , she has played a pivotal part in building and managing the company ’ s delivery fleet and reducing delivery times from 5-7 days to just 1-2 days across major cities .
Edwina ’ s responsibilities have included overseeing the launch of the company ’ s first privately owned and operated delivery fleet of 12 vans in Perth in August 2022 , supporting the management of Pet Circle ’ s metropolitan delivery fleet of 140 vans across Australia , and optimising Pet Circle ’ s logistics performance and delivery experience .
One particularly proud moment of her career was implementing a strategic solution , while working at HelloFresh in the US , to convert a two-day transit time for customers into one day over Thanksgiving , thus ensuring that customers received their orders on time . She also credits moving to Paris in 2011 and starting an allergen-free bakery in among her biggest achievements .
“[ The latter ] was a very challenging yet fulfilling experience that taught me about [ being ] creative , creating content to engage customers and running surveys for market research . [ Through ] this experience I learnt the value of working with a team and collaborating with others ,” Edwina said .
Key figures who have had a significant impact on Edwina ’ s career include her parents and her managers at HelloFresh in the US and UK respectively .
Her long-term goals include becoming an inspiring leader , and advancing to executive leadership or starting her own business . “ In five years , I ’ d like to continue focusing on developing my career , specifically public speaking and advancing in management ,” Edwina said .
Chris Thompson
Finance director The Iconic
R esponsible for The Iconic ’ s financial planning and analysis team , Chris Thompson has the all-important role of ensuring that the business achieves its financial targets and executes its strategy within budget constraints . Colleagues say he is essential in ensuring that the organisation is steered in the right direction and able to achieve its financial goals .
In 2020 , before The Iconic appointed a CFO , Thompson stepped up to the executive team – bridging the gap with minimal disruption to finance – and has since become someone on which every area of the business relies . He has established a reputation for going above and beyond , contributing to many project teams , squads , committees , and local and global teams .
He is also said to have the skill of making finance entertaining : mixing humour with education so people are able to understand complex problems . Outside of work , Thompson is a father of six and regularly references his family as his biggest fans and supporters . He cites helping to manage The Iconic through Covid-19 disruptions in 2020 as one of his proudest career moments .
“ I love the retail mindset of having a go , learning and then having another go – a mantra that lives within the DNA of The Iconic . There is a desire to continually improve , innovate and look for ways to make the customer experience even better ,” he said .
“ I don ’ t think in five-year plans for myself but I hope to be as fulfilled and challenged as I am in my current role .”
64 | www . insideretail . com . au May 2023