The biggest names in the industry gathered at the 2013 Australian Supply Chain and Logistics Awards at the Sydney Opera House.

The prestigious event was on late last week to honour the nation’s best in a number of categories. The national awards night acknowledge various companies’ efforts in logistics leadership, education, development and environmental awareness.

Sydney-based firm ITW Proline took out the Supply Chain Management Award, a great effort from the hardware supplier whose warehouse was gutted by a fire just over three years ago. Like a phoenix from the ashes, the company has used the blaze to re-assess and re-build its whole distribution network.

The Training, Education and Development award went to Transpacific Industries, which has undertaken a year-long campaign to boost workforce engagement by increasing diversity.

Human Resources Executive General Manager Belinda Mello says the company has been reaping the benefits of a diverse cultural make-up. It has created new opportunities for leadership, cultural, age and gender diversity.

“Transpacific Industries has been working quite actively over the last two years to improve development opportunities at our organisation,” Mello says.

Energex took out the Environmental Excellence categoriy for the broad range of mititgaiton strategies in its carbon management plans.

Supply Manager Andrew Murphy says cutting energy and waste is good for the company, the customers and the environment.

“We are also developing a network adaptation plan to understand the impacts of future climate change scenarios on the network,” Murphy says.

“We have the support of environmental experts within our organisation at a corporate level and a dedicated team which has undertaken many successful initiatives over the years,” he said.

Kmart took the prize for the Storage & Materials Handling category, awarded for its new distribution centre in Brisbane.

The Queensland centre is the home of one of Australia’s first cross-belt sorting systems. The new distribution centre features a huge cross-belt conveyor with the capacity to automatically sort and distribute over 6,000 items per hour, sending individual orders for up to 88 stores at the same time.

The web-based international freight and information management system FreightSupplyChain bagged the 2013 Information Management Award for IFC Global Logistics.

The system is used to make sure all parts of the supply chain are able to talk to one another, connecting importers, suppliers, freight forwarders, trading partners, warehouses and distribution centres.

National Operations Manager Monika Sharp said; “We have a business which constantly strives to be innovative and we invest heavily in information systems.”


“A big thank you must be given to the ICT team in Sydney and in Melbourne for dedicating their time and effort to making this all happen.”

The Industry Excellence trophy as awarded to the General Manager of All Purpose Transport, Paul Kahlert. He was acknowledged for spear-heading a massive training and accreditation overhaul.

“Two years ago we could see our workforce ageing. We had 47-year-old truck drivers who were progressively getting older and we had to do something about it, otherwise we’d have no one to look after our business,” Mr Kahlert said.

“So we generated the idea to qualify the entire workforce at APT and our big thing is to be the first company in Australia to do it. I guess now I’m challenging everyone in the room to be the second, third and fourth.”

Finally, one of the most anticipated awards went to Project Procure Consultant Kinglsey Cherry, who received the Future Leaders Award.

Cherry has been operating in partnership with Charles Kendall Partners as the International Procurement Agent for the Republic of Nauru. He says it is a great source of pride that he can assist in the development of nearby Pacific nations.

“I wouldn’t be here without the support of the SCLAA. The organisation has provided me with lots of opportunities throughout my career,” Cherry says.

“All of us up here tonight represent hundreds of guys and girls who haven’t had these opportunities so I guess it’s up to us all and our managers to make sure these opportunities are given to a lot more people.”