Early in September I participated in the Future Warehouse & Logistics 2023 Conference in Sydney.
On day one I took part in a panel discussion entitled “Building a Business Model that Executes Same Day Delivery to Keep up with Growing Consumer Demands” with Karanjit Chandhoke of Australia Post and Craig Dunlop of PharmaCare Lab- oratories for a very interesting discussion about online sales, same day delivery and the impact of the ongoing and growing demand on workers among other issues.
On day two I chaired the conference for the day. It was a great opportunity for Transport Women Australia Limited (TWAL) to network and introduce the organisation to a new audience and as always, a great learning experience.
As TWAL is a member of the National Rural Women’s Coalition, I sit on their board and as such I joined a round table in Canberra on How to Achieve Gender Equality for Rural Regional and Remote Women.
The day had some wonderful speakers, and it was a very informative day with some good outcomes for TWAL with great networking opportunities.
The roundtable was followed by the 2023 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Awards and Gala Dinner at Parliament House, which gave me more time to spend with my fellow NRWC board members and colleagues.
The awards showcased the amazing women we have in rural, regional and remote Australia who are doing wonderful things and creating great opportunities for themselves and their families.
During the month we also had the graduation of seven drivers from the Women Driving Transport Careers initiative, which was wonderful to have seven new young women joining our industry as drivers.
I was so excited to meet them last month and in being able to provide them with their welcome packs and membership this month.
I was back in Canberra again for the TWAL breakfast on September 27. We had a wonderful speaker in Angela Byron, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, who spoke about decarbonisation and her passion for rural women and trucks.
We invited Rachel Smith, the new executive director of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association, to give an impromptu update on what their national organisation is doing; and as a life member of the Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association, it is always wonderful to have my livestock colleagues in the room.
Our wonderful supporters, Southern Truck Centre, sponsored the breakfast and brought a large team as well as representatives from our foundation business partner, Volvo.
To kick off October I will be presenting a keynote speech at the Vic Major Projects Conference in Melbourne and then in November, presenting at the 23rd World Congress Safety and Health at Work in Sydney.
Do not forget to get your applications in for the Driving the Difference Scholarships as applications close on October 31. Late applications will not be accepted and there will be no extensions. You must be a TWAL member or the employee of a corporate member to apply. For application forms and criteria, please contact chair@transportwomen. com.au.
Book your tickets now for the EOY functions for Wollongong, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth Melbourne, and Dubbo. See what’s coming up here.