A record 270 people attended the 2024 HVIA National Awards Gala Dinner held on Thursday, December 5 to celebrate the heavy vehicle industry’s great achievers and achievements over the past 12 months.
The gala event, held at the home of the Brisbane Truck Show, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, attracted a cross-section of industry figures, from key decision makers to an impressive number of up-and-coming young apprentices and future industry leaders.
HVIA Chief Executive Officer Todd Hacking said the event was a fitting celebration of the heavy vehicle industry’s leading innovators and innovations in 2024.
“Every year we’re honoured to witness more of our members’ extraordinary innovation and ingenuity being revealed,” he said.
“That is along with the joy it brings us to recognise some amazing young industry people at the start of what we expect to be a long and fulfilling career in the heavy industry.”
During the night awards were presented in eight categories, with the winners drawn from an impressive line-up of finalists, which Chairman of Judges Bob Martin says all deserve recognition.
“Being a finalist in HVIA’s prestigious national awards is a great accomplishment and to be in that position you must be really doing something right,” he told attendees.
“The judges enjoyed reviewing the impressive innovation and leadership showcased by HVIA members in their nominations for the product, safety and community awards.”
Bob paid special tribute to the finalists of the apprentice awards, which this year were expanded beyond the traditional mechanical apprenticeship to four categories.
“It was the actual AOTY awards that caused the most amount of discussion and head scratching. This was due to the very high skill level of all of the apprentices and the outstanding nominations and interviews that were received,” he said.
“The new three-step process (including interview and exam) for the three new apprentice award categories really highlighted the depth of talent coming through, all of whom will make great ambassadors for careers in the heavy vehicle industry.”
2024 HVIA National Awards winners
Community Leadership Award: Eurocold Refrigerated Vehicles’ FareShare food charity partnership
Product Innovation Award: SAF-HOLLAND Group’s TRAKr E-axle
Safety Innovation Award: NTI’s ‘Spilt Milk’ dairy tanker rollover project
Apprentice Technician of the Year Award: Angus McDonald – Penske Australia & New Zealand (WA)
Apprentice Trailer & Body Builder of the Year: Samantha Hall – The Drake Group (Qld)
Outstanding Apprentice Achievement Award: Ronen Statham – Penske Australia & New Zealand (Qld)
Apprentice of the Year Award: Angus McDonald – Penske Australia & New Zealand (WA)
Industry Recognition Award: National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Chief Engineer Les Bruza.