HVIA AGM details successful year

The HVIA Annual General Meeting was held at the Australian headquarters of new HVIA Principal Partner Wurth last Thursday.

The election of Directors and officebearers returned the same Board to continue through 2022-23.

Attendees were welcomed by Wurth Australia Managing Director Serge Oppedisano, and were offered a tour of the impressive Wurth headquarters and high-tech distribution centre.

Reflecting on the past year, HVIA President John Drake told attendees that the skills deficit, and the difficulty HVIA members are having in sourcing skilled labour, is an ongoing area impacting the profitability of all HVIA members.

“HVIA has presented a series of practical common-sense reforms to make accessing skilled migration quicker, cheaper and less bureaucratic and has increased its engagement with schools and training stakeholders to ensure that we develop a pipeline of future workers,” Mr Drake said.

“HVIA has swung into this issue at the industry-wide level, seeking to promote the industry as the amazing, rewarding career it is.”

Mr Drake said HVIA has assembled a team of experts to work through the training requirements to prepare the industry for the EV revolution.

He also highlighted HVIA’s increased political engagement evidenced by the organisation’s election manifesto during the 2022 Federal Election.

“Whilst the document is the outcome, the key to this work was the level of engagement with HVIA members on what is important to them.

“HVIA believes it is so important to be a thought leader and to present solutions rather than problems to government.

“The manifesto has given HVIA a list of issues to champion with the new Government.”

Director Ken Cowell (KD Cowell & Assoc) stood down at this AGM after selling his own engineering consultancy.

“I would like to again acknowledge and thank Ken for his tireless service and contributions to the HVIA board over many years,” Mr Drake said.

“The Board’s succession plan was enacted as we appointed Robert Smedley (Smedleys Engineers) and Craig Lee (Penske Australia).”

Both were confirmed during the AGM.

Office Bearers are eligible for re-election and both the President, and VicePresident were re-elected:

• PRESIDENT Mr John Drake (Drake Trailers)
• VICE-PRESIDENT Mr Miles Crawford (CMV Group)

The 2022/23 HVIA Board of Directors is:

• John Drake (Drake Group) PRESIDENT
• Miles Crawford (CMV Group) VICE-PRESIDENT
• Tony Clark (National Transport Insurance)
• Ken Cowell (KD Cowell & Associates)
• Rod Cunningham (Morris Finance Ltd)
• Craig Lee (Penske Australia)
• Roy Lombardi (Howard Porter & Steelbro Trailers)
• Rob Smedley (Smedley’s Engineers)
• Daniel Whitehead (Daimler Truck & Bus Australia Pacific Pty Ltd)