GS1’s growing role in trusted data supported with new leadership 

The way members of GS1 New Zealand use and share product information is changing rapidly. As commerce becomes more digital, members need accurate, trusted information that can move easily between trading partners, supply chains and digital systems.

For GS1 New Zealand, that means building on the role we have played for decades in providing the standards behind the barcode, and helping our members meet a much broader range of data needs.

To support this evolving role, GS1 New Zealand has welcomed two experienced leaders to the Senior Leadership Team: Alison Crosbie as General Manager, Growth and Leanne Milligan as General Manager, Business Services.

More than two million organisations worldwide use GS1 standards, including over 8,000 New Zealand businesses who are members of GS1 New Zealand. Increasingly, those organisations are being asked to provide richer and more accurate product information across retail, healthcare, eCommerce, government and supply chain processes. High-quality, structured data is also becoming increasingly important as businesses explore how artificial intelligence can be used effectively.

Chief Executive Dr Peter Stevens says the appointments reflect both changing member needs and GS1 New Zealand’s evolving role. “For decades we’ve been known as the organisation behind the barcode. That remains fundamental, but today our members need much more than product identification. Success depends on trusted, structured data that can be shared seamlessly between organisations and digital systems.”

Alison joins GS1 New Zealand from eStar where, as Chief Growth Officer, she led customer success, sales, account management, marketing, pre‑sales solution consulting and client support. She helped drive growth while supporting leading Australasian retailers to strengthen digital commerce capabilities, including Briscoe Group, Country Road Group, David Jones, Air NZ Airpoints Store and Bed Bath & Beyond.

As General Manager, Growth, Alison leads GS1 New Zealand’s member strategy across growth, member engagement, strategic partnerships and commercial development. “Businesses are increasingly competing on the quality of the information that accompanies their products, not simply the products themselves. Trusted, standardised data is becoming essential for digital commerce, supply chain visibility, regulatory compliance and AI,” she said.

Leanne has over 25 years of experience as a Chief Financial Officer leading high performing finance and business services functions at Hāpaitia Limited, Te Pūkenga and Waitomo Group. She is a champion for continuous improvement, leading transformational change to strengthen customer outcomes and organisational resilience.

Leanne’s role as General Manager, Business Services will see her leading the finance and business services team and providing critical support for the replacement of GS1 NZ's finance software. “I am particularly looking forward to working on the finance system upgrade as part of the organisation-wide programme to improve systems for better customer outcomes. I really like the continuous improvement approach embraced by GS1 and this fits with the way I like to work,” says Leanne.