Held at the Crystalbrook Riley in Cairns, this luxurious urban resort combines contemporary elegance with a relaxed tropical vibe. Overlooking the Coral Sea, this stylish haven provided the 62 delegates with an unforgettable stay, offering exceptional service and a vibrant atmosphere.
The conference kicked off with a Welcome Cocktail Party at the on-site Calypso Club Alfresco.
Day one focused on business, starting with a video from Mario Aragon, SVP for Revlon Professional Brands, who welcomed the delegates with an inspiring message to “Create and Live Boldly.”
Brook Eadie, National Sales and Education Manager opened the conference by highlighting the five pillars of Revlon Professional:
- Inspiration
- Self-Belief
- Partnership
- Expression
- Growth
Brad Raper, General Manager, delivered his opening address, reflecting on the diverse clientele present and noting the impressive longevity within the group, with many members boasting over ten years of loyalty. He discussed the company’s history, exceptional distribution process, and the importance of community. Brad emphasized the significance of “Empowered” not only as the name of the new group supporting this initiative but also as a concept embodying the knowledge, confidence, means, and ability to work on oneself or one’s business.
The Revlon Professional Team was introduced, including:
- Monica Costello, Senior Brand Manager
- Ronen Frankel, BDM QLD
- Carla Bond, National Account Manager
- Rebecca Main, BDM QLD
- Denise McManus, BDM NSW
Delegates then settled in for a day of inspiration, new product development, networking, and fun!
The first speaker of the day was Alexandra Smart, a highly respected business leader, strategist, entrepreneur, and consultant with over 30 years of experience in fashion, media, and retail. Alexandra’s ability to merge creative thinking with commercial imperatives has established her reputation for business acumen, leadership, and high performance. She founded the GINGER & SMART brand nearly 20 years ago, driven by a desire to combine family talent to build a strong fashion-lifestyle brand. Alexandra’s background as an editor and publisher for high-quality lifestyle magazines, coupled with her sister Genevieve’s design experience, provided a solid foundation for their successful fashion venture.
Alexandra spoke about the magic that occurs at the intersection of creativity and enterprise, sharing insights on what makes a creative idea stick, how to germinate an entrepreneurial idea, and how to navigate the balance between creativity and commerciality. She highlighted the importance of building a heart-led business with a focus on sustainability, resilience, and well-being. Alexandra also discussed creative leadership strategies, including utilizing both left and right-brain thinking for decision-making, managing ups and downs, and practising heart-led management.
After a brief refreshment break, Brook Eadie took the stage to excite the delegates about recent and upcoming launches, including new offerings for curly hair, Color Excel, and Color Excel Gloss, along with additions to existing brands and colours.
Miquel Garcia, Global Creative VP, joined via video to discuss new innovations and trends.
Monica Costello, Senior Brand Manager, expressed gratitude for the inaugural Empowered Salons Group and recapped the past year’s events, including Revlon Professional and American Crew educational events, as well as Australian Fashion Week featuring Uros Mikic, National Artistic Ambassador, alongside Geoffrey Herberg. Looking ahead to 2025, she hinted at exciting developments for all.
Following lunch, a panel discussion led by Linda Woodhead, CEO and Founder of Mocha Group, featured:
- Kristy Midgley, Giggles Hair Studio
- Nicola & Tessa Pollock, Ahead Hair and The Conscious Salon
- Rose, Tangled Hair & Beauty
- Kylie, Haze Hair
The session was rich with valuable insights and advice. The panel discussed staffing, business hours, culture, and their unique approaches, including paid KPIs on social media, holistic health and mindfulness, overcoming challenges, incorporating additional services like beauty and barbering, and effective marketing strategies. It was an insightful session and a highlight of the day!
After another delicious break, the final speaker of the day, Steven Bradbury – Olympian, took the stage. He began with humour that had the audience laughing heartily. Steven shared both positive and negative experiences from his life, emphasizing the importance of setting goals and focusing on incremental improvements. His talk centred on teamwork, trust in the system, and achieving goals through passion, persistence, and teamwork. Steven’s warm, down-to-earth manner and inspiring story of overcoming adversity to achieve Olympic gold left a lasting impression.
The day concluded with a dinner on the 12th floor, featuring an exclusive feast, cocktails, and drinks at Rosso Restaurant, overlooking the Coral Sea.
Day two took the delegates to Green Island for a relaxing day of beach time, swimming, snorkelling, and visiting the crocodile exhibit. Located just an hour from Cairns by boat, Green Island is a 6,000-year-old rainforest-covered coral cay within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Delegates enjoyed snorkelling in the vibrant marine ecosystems, walking around the island to explore its colourful birdlife and unique rainforest, and visiting Marineland Melanesia to see Cassius, the world’s largest captive crocodile.
After a beautiful day, dinner was held off-site at the stunning Salt House at Marina Point, a short walk from the resort.
The trip concluded with breakfast, and it was time to bid farewell as delegates headed back to their hometowns.
Mocha Group, the official media partner, covered all the activities, and we look forward to many more years of mixing and mingling with the Revlon Professional Empowered Salons Group.
