David Jones, Fashion Buying, Leadership & the Future of Retail with Bridget Veals

In this episode of Fashion Business Mindset, Elizabeth Formosa sits down with Bridget Veals, General Manager of Womenswear, Footwear and Accessories at David Jones.

With more than 25 years of experience across some of the world’s leading fashion brands, Bridget has built an extraordinary career at the forefront of fashion buying, retail leadership and commercial strategy.

Together, Elizabeth and Bridget explore how the buying function has evolved, what it takes to lead high-performing teams through change, and the trends shaping the future of Australian fashion retail. Bridget also shares her leadership philosophy, the importance of balancing creativity with commercial performance, and why curiosity and continuous learning remain essential throughout every stage of a career.

In this episode, we discuss:

Bridget’s 25-year career journey in the fashion industry.

The evolution of fashion buying and the changing role of the modern buyer.

Leading high-performing teams through growth, transformation and change.

Balancing commercial outcomes with creativity in today’s retail environment.

How customer expectations continue to reshape fashion retail.

The future of Australian fashion retail and the opportunities ahead.

Leadership lessons from one of Australia’s most respected retail executives.

Why curiosity, adaptability and lifelong learning are essential for long-term success.