Newly-formed association boosts staff numbers and office locations.
The fledgling Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) group has added new staff and offices to its ranks as it seeks to bolster its national advocacy efforts.
HVIA, formerly known as the Commercial Vehicle Industry Association Queensland (CVIAQ), has added four roles across multiple areas of the association and will open offices in Melbourne and Perth.
Greg Forbes has joined as national manager of policy and government relations, while Paul Caus takes on the role of chief technical officer.
Mark Tucek has been tasked with developing the HVIA’s membership in Western Australia and the Northern Territory in his role as manager of the north-western region, with Savio D’sa looking after communications and membership.
HVIA CEO Brett Wright says the Melbourne office will open late this month, with Perth to follow in April. This adds to the HVIA’s main base in Brisbane.
“We are committed to being a truly national voice,” he says.
“As part of our distributed national structure, each office will lead a national function for the organisation.”
The Perth office will house Tucek and the national career promotion and training function, while Melbourne will handle communications and membership. Forbes and D’sa will be based there.
Wright says the latest additions will help the HVIA deliver its role of providing a national voice for the manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of heavy vehicles and their components, equipment and technology.
Forbes has previously held senior roles within the WA Department of Transport and was involved with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator during its development.
The HVIA says Forbes will be responsible for developing policy and representing the industry to government, while also recruiting new member companies from the HVIA’s new Melbourne office.
Meanwhile, Caus has previously worked for Toyota, Hino and UD Trucks and held roles within state and federal government departments.
The HVIA says Caus will be responsible for ensuring regulations affecting the industry are practical and workable, along with providing advice to industry on how to comply with them.
“We are delighted with the calibre of professionals who have chosen to join HVIA,” Wright says
“It is an exciting time to be in the heavy vehicle industry and we look forward to building a strong national voice to represent our members.”