Industry veteran to lead the South Australian Freight Council and vows to focus on climate change and the economy
October 7, 2009
A veteran of the aviation and transport industry will lead one of the country’s top freight industry bodies, and plans to put a strong focus on the environment and the economy.
John McArdle, who is the general manager of Adelaide and Parafield airports, was elected Chairman of the South Australian Freight Council last week, replacing Vincent Tremaine who stood down after seven years at the helm.
As the Rudd Government prepares to re-introduce its carbon trading Bill into parliament, McArdle has listed global warming and carbon emissions management as two of the key challenges facing the industry.
McArdle, who has more than 40 years industry experience, says it will be important to also focus on the fallout from the global financial downturn.
“South Australia is a significant contributor to the national industry which accounts for 14.5 per cent of Australia’s GDP – or about $148 billion a year, and industry employment of about 1.25 million people,” McArdle says.
As well as his appointment to the Freight Council, McArdle is currently the National Chairman of the Australasian Airports Association, State Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia and the air freight representative on the Freight Council’s executive committee.
As well as charting a course for the industry body, McArdle used his appointment to thank outgoing chairman Tremaine, who ovesaw the integration of three separate councils into one multi-modal body.
“He was also a driving force that has developed close relationships with the South Australian Government on a variety of matters, which has extended the Council’s influence in a variety of areas,” he says.
Tremaine says his decision to resign as chairman and as a member of the executive committee is about giving the Council a “fresh approach”.
There were also a number of other new appointments, including the executive manager of group operations at ABB Grain, John Warda, replacing Tremaine on the committee.
James Buder from SA Food Centre replaced his father as the convenor of the Freight Council’s working group on cold chain and quality.
The State’s peak trucking body, the South Australian Road Transport Association, is also a member of the executive committee.
The Council is a multi-modal group that lobbies government on behalf of the road, rail, sea and air industries.