The 29th Australian Freight Industry Awards celebrates a year’s achievements
Close to 700 members of the Australian freight and logistics industry gathered in Melbourne Saturday evening to celebrate the achievements of winners and finalists of the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) Australian Freight Industry Awards (AFIA).
Seven award winners were recognised at the AFIA’s this year, sponsored by TWUSuper and Viva Energy Australia and held in the Palladium Ballroom at Crown Melbourne.
A new award category recognising Female Leadership in Transport was introduced this year.
The winners were:
- Paul Retter AM, National Transport Commission, Personality of the Year Award – sponsored Transport for Victoria
- Jacquelene Brotherton, Oxford Cold Storage and Transport Women Australia, Female Leadership in Transport – sponsored by Viva Energy Australia
- Katrina Burns, SCT Logistics, Young Achiever of the Year Award – sponsored by Daimler Truck & Bus
- Alex Fraser Group, Waste & Recycling Award – sponsored by National Transport Insurance
- L. Fraumano Transport, Application of Technology Award – sponsored by Transport Certification Australia
- Transking Innovations, Best Practice Safety Award – sponsored by CMV Truck & Bus
- Barker Trailers, Investment in People Award – sponsored by Logical Staffing Solutions
VTA CEO Peter Anderson announced the winners, who were presented with their award by VTA president Cameron Dunn and the state roads and ports minister Luke Donnellan.
“The Australian Freight Industry Awards showcase the very best our industry has to offer and with dozens of high-quality applications received across the various categories it’s clear the transport industry is committed to innovation, improvement and best practice,” Anderson says.
“Congratulations to all the winners and finalists on their outstanding achievements, and for striving for excellence in everything they do to make the transport industry more productive, efficient and safe at every stage in the supply chain.”
Addressing members and guests at his second AFIA presentation as VTA president, Dunn reflects on some of the key achievements of the VTA over the past 12 months.
“As president, my focus has been to ensure everything the Association pursues has, at its core, a Members First focus, because we exist first and foremost to ensure conditions are positive for operators,” Dunn says.
“Reducing congestion and associated costs for operators through the delivery of new infrastructure remains a priority, so it’s encouraging that VTA advocacy has contributed to both political parties committing to building the North East Link.
“The establishment of Freight Victoria as an interface between government and industry was a specific recommendation of the VTA, in a further example of our Association’s ability to influence for positive outcomes.
“Heavy vehicle licensing and training is another area where we have had significant traction, with our intensive Driver Delivery program recently graduating its 60th candidate and putting them in gainful employment.”
Dunn adds that the award winners and nominees provided a small snapshot of the many great efforts the industry goes to every year in striving for excellence in servicing customers and the community.
“On behalf of the VTA executive council, may I add our congratulations to each of the winners, and extend our thanks to every organisation that submitted a nomination,” he says.