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HVIA welcomes new directors onto board

The two new HVIA directors will commence immediately on the board

The Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) has appointed two new directors onto its board of management.

Penske’s Craig Lee and leading engineering consultant Robert Smedley will fill the vacancies on the board.

HVIA president John Drake says the addition of Lee and Smedley will continue to strengthen the HVIA and perfectly suits previous executive level appointments.

“Craig and Robert are two very impressive leaders from different parts of our industry,” Drake says.

“Both bring enormous experience to our board that will further enhance our strategic management and governance capabilities.”

Drake says the appointments show the board wants to remain representative of its diverse membership while also making exciting plans for a national approach to heavy vehicle regulation.

But he says they will have to adjust quickly to cope with the unique issues that the transport industry presents.

“The industry is faced with a complex range of challenges, from the supply chain to skills shortages, from our journey towards zero emissions to rising energy costs and ranging to inflation that impacts every business and household,” Drake says.

“Bringing leaders of this calibre to the table further enhances our ability to put the right strategies in place to help our members across their business operation.”


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Drake also says the appointments ensure that the HVIA’s engagement with members stays in line with current issues the industry faces.

Smedley is managing director of Smedley’s Engineers and has been prominent in contributing to the industry’s policy forums on safety and productivity problems.

“HVIA is an important industry stakeholder and I have been impressed by the organisation’s representation of its members in recent years,” Smedley says.

“As a director, I see my role as ensuring that the organisation is using its resources most effectively to take on those challenge and to provide strategic advice to ensure its efforts achieve the necessary outcomes.”

Penske’s Lee says truck importers and manufacturers are about to implement the most fundamental shifts in heavy vehicle automotive technology ever seen.

Lee says: “The next 10 to 15 years are going to change the trucking landscape in a way that has never happened before.”

“There are major changes occurring across the fleet in how technology is applied to improve fleet performance for greatly improved safety outcomes and to improve our environmental impact.”

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