Tributes have flown in for Anna McPhee, former CEO of the Retail Council, who has passed away.

McPhee, who launched The Retail Council in June 2015, when it rebranded from the Australian National Retailers’ Association (ANRA), went on extended leave in March last year for undisclosed health reasons.

“Anna’s passing will leave a prominent advocate missing in the business and political community,” said Russell Zimmerman, Australian Retailers Association (ARA).

Super Retail Group CEO Peter Birtles’ joined the ARA in passing on his condolences. “I would like to recognise the relationships Anna built with the government, regulators and other stakeholders, and for influencing positive outcomes for the industry through her work in the retail sector, in particular in the areas of trading hours and GST threshold,” he said.

NRA chief executive officer Dominique Lamb said McPhee had been a mighty advocate on behalf of businesses.

“Anna’s passing will leave a large gap in the Australian business and political community,” she said.

“It was always our pleasure at the NRA to work alongside Anna and her team in advocating policies and decisions that allowed business owners to do what they do best – generate prosperity and create jobs. Her no-nonsense approach to engaging with retailers, policy makers and more recently the political pre-selection process was an inspiration to us all. Australia already suffers a shortage of inspirational and capable female business leaders.

“We are worse off for having lost one of the best today.”

Inside Retail, the NRA and ARA, retailers and all those who worked with Anna would like to pass on our deepest condolences to Anna’s family and friends.