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New board members announced and industry leaders honoured at Transporting NZ AGM

Transporting NZ AGM

Transporting NZ introduced two new board members at its AGM and recognised industry excellence with several awards

Transporting New Zealand introduced two new board members at its annual general meeting in Napier, where a range of awards were also presented to recognise excellence and innovation in the industry.

Interim CEO Dom Kalasih welcomed Scott Johnstone, general manager of Brenics in Christchurch, and Murray Young, general manager from NZ Express Transport, also based in Christchurch.

“Both Scott and Murray bring a huge amount of experience to our board, and both have a real passion for the transport industry and its people so we’re lucky to have them,” says Dom.

“They’re both leaders with proven track records of making the industry more efficient, safer, and productive.

“I’d also like to thank our outgoing board members, Peter Heagney of Blenheim, and Lower Hutt’s Deborah O’Brien, who have worked tirelessly for Transporting New Zealand during a major period of change.”

The Napier seminar also saw several awards presented to the sector’s top performers and innovators.

Industry award winners

Transporting NZ AGM
Greg Cochrane from K&S Freighters (centre) with Guy Hocquard from EROAD and Napier MP Katie Nimon, receiving the award for the EROAD Outstanding Contribution to Health and Safety

Josh Adamson, 22, from Matamata, was awarded EROAD Young Drive of the Year.

Starting his career at J Swap Contractors Matamata in 2019 as a wash boy, Josh quickly advanced through the ranks to become a Kenworth specialist and has demonstrated exceptional skills in towing a range of trailers all over the country.

At the other end of the experience spectrum is Warwick Wilshier, who won the VTNZ Supreme Contribution to Road Transport.

Warwick has had a lifetime in trucking, mainly in the logging sector. His work with the Log Transport Safety Council has been vital in improving the safety of the sector and his leadership has been a model for industry cooperation at all levels. He’s had many key positions within the industry and is currently the chair of Transporting New Zealand.

Cambridge-based K & S Freighters received the EROAD Outstanding Contribution to Health and Safety Award for their work with ACC in the Recovery at Work Freight Trial.

Recovery at Work aims to get people back at work in whatever capacity they can perform while making sure they are fully supported.

Transporting NZ AGM
Left: Josh Adamson, the EROAD Young Driver of the Year with Napier MP Katie Nimon and EROAD’s Guy Hocguard
Right: Anthony Jowsey (right) from Coda Group

“K & S Freighters showed true leadership in working with ACC and staff to get help at each step on the way to full recovery,” says Dom.

The Fruehauf Outstanding Contribution to Innovation winner was Auckland logistics company Coda Group.

By putting together a suite of safety products to manage fatigue and driver behaviour, Coda Group is ensuring its drivers, and the public, are safer than ever.

Dom says the integration of these advanced safety technologies is setting a benchmark in safety for the whole transport sector.

TrackIT Logistics Outstanding Contribution by a Woman in the Road Transport Industry Award went to Shona Robertson, the CEO of Road Transport Logistics based in Tapanui.

Shona oversaw the amalgamation of several South Island companies to create an innovative, progressive organisation with a focus on customer service and sustainability.

“She’s been very busy at a local level looking after the sector as president of her regional road sector group. Shona has also been a brilliant spokeswoman for the industry at a national level where her experience has been called on by ministers and government departments.”

Talking about the sector’s innovation and leadership, Dom says, “Transport operators in New Zealand are really early adopters of smart technologies and work practices, and it’s great to see these keep coming through, and the industry’s quality of leadership is second to none.”

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