The Hon Catherine King MP

The Hon Catherine King MP is Australia's Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Representing Ballarat since 2001, she is the first woman to hold the seat. Before entering parliament, she was a social worker and later held senior roles in the Department of Health and Aged Care and at KPMG. Minister King olds degrees in social work, public policy, and law. She is a strong advocate for regional communities, infrastructure reform and sustainable transport.

Neil Stephens

Neil Stephens, CEO of the Port of Brisbane, has led the organisation over the last 4 years. In that time of significant growth, Neil has also had to contend with significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and severe weather events such as Queensland's 2022 floods and TC Alfred in 2025.

With a background in financial and strategic leadership, property and business development, Neil focuses on enhancing the port's role as a critical logistics hub between Australia and global markets. His leadership is marked by commitments to health and safety and long-term sustainable growth, whilst occasionally overcoming industry obstacles.

Marika Calfas

Marika Calfas is the Chief Executive Officer of NSW Ports, the private sector organisation responsible for managing Port Botany and Port Kembla and the rail intermodal terminals at Cooks River and Enfield in New South Wales, Australia.

Marika has over 20 years' experience in the port sector. She is passionate about driving efficiency across port supply chains, informing the wider community and decision makers of the importance and value of ports to our lives and economy, and identifying opportunities to build supply chain system productivity and resilience.

Marika has represented the sector advising state and federal governments on industry reform agendas. She has been appointed by the NSW Government to the board of Infrastructure NSW and is a Director of TT Club, an international insurer for the transport and logistics industry.

Marika is Deputy Chair of Ports Australia and Infrastructure Partnerships Australia and a Council member of the Australian Logistics Council. She is also a Board member of Regional Development Australia Illawarra-Shoalhaven.

Marika holds an Engineering Degree (Environmental), Masters of Engineering Management and Masters of Environmental Law. She is also a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jade Hooper

Jade Hooper is the Group Executive Development at ARTC, with responsibility for customer partnerships and leading our policy, regulartory planning, corporate development and infrastructure strategy to drive business growth and commercial sustainability.

Jade has more than 20 years of experience in supply chain, logistics and operations within service-driven markets.

She previously worked at Pacific National as Head of Commercial - Strategic Network, Access & Regulation, and prior to that as Global Head of Sales Operations at Toll Group following other senior roles at Aurizon.

"Rail has so many advantages compared to other modes of transport - including cost, safety and environmental benefits - so we need to everything we can to grow rail's market share in Australia and help realise all of the benefits on offer."

Adam Copp

Adam Copp was appointed Chief Executive of Intrastructure Australia in 2023.

He held a number of senior roles at IA prior to his appointment as Chief Executive, including as Chief Operating Officer.

Previously, he has held a range of policy, strategy, and engagement roles across infrastructure, workplace relations, and the Council of Australian Governments.

He is a Director of the Board of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council and a member of the Advisory Board to Planet Ark's Australian Circular Economy Hub.

He has a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Global Law, and a Master of Business Adminstration. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

James Baulderstone

With over 30 years experience of international infrastructure experience across energy, utilities, resources and transport, James is currently CEO of National Intermodal, developing modern intermodal precincts along Australia's east coast to support Inland Rail. James also spent over a decade at Santos in senior executive roles where he oversaw operations across the eastern seaboard.

Saul Cannon

Saul joined Port of Melbourne in November 2021 and brings to the role over 25 years of commerical, strategy, finance, legal and corporate governance experience. Most recently, Saul was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at global logistics provider, Toll Group.

Prior to Toll, Saul spent nearly a decade at ASX-listed Asciano Limited, which then owned the Patrick Terminals ports and Pacific National rail businesses. Saul holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Law (with honours) and is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Harvard Business School in Boston.

The Hon Bridget McKenzie

Dr Merriden Varrall

Dr Merriden Varrall is the Lead for Geopolitics at KPMG Australia. In this role she helps business understand and navigate the complex global geopolitical environment. Merriden provides business-relevant insights into global, regional and local geopolitical trends and works with clients to develop strategies and solutions to identify and mitigate risk, and maximise opportunities.

A former UN diplomat based in China, Merriden is a sought-after commentator on geopolitics, East Asia, China's foreign policy, and Australia's bilateral relationship with China.

From 2014-2018, Merriden was the Director of the Lowy Institute's East Asia Program. She is currently a Non-Resident at Lowy. Before joining the Institute, Merriden was the Assistant Country Director and Senior Policy Advisor at United Nations Development Programme, China, where she worked on China's role in the world, focussing on its international development cooperation policy. Prior to that she worked for the Australian Government Treasury and the Department of Family and Community Services.

Merriden spent almost eight years living and working in China, including lecturing in foreign policy at the China Foreign Affairs University and conducting fieldwork for her doctoral research.

Merriden has a PhD examining Chinese foreign policy from Macquarie University, Sydney, and the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. She has a Master's Degree in International Affairs from the Australian National University, Canberra, and completed her undergraduate studies in international studies at the Univeristy of Technology Sydney. Her analyses have appeared in academic journals, as well as publications such as The Quarterly, The New York Times, Nikkei Asian Review, Foregin Policy, The East Asia Forum, and the Lowy Interpreter, among others.

Phillip Parsons

Phillip Parsons is a logistician and General Manager with 30 years' experience working for a variety of ASX 100 companies within the FMCG, media, retail, construction and 3PL sectors. Currently Director of Supply Chain for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (Australia & Pacific) responsible for one of the largest Supply Chains in Australia manufacturing, delivering to every postcode every week.

Phillip holds a Board seat on the Australian Logistic Council and in his spare time he has a passion for Rugby and the Warringah Rugby Club.

Christine Holgate

Christine has extensive diverse international leadership experience in highly regulated industries, at both Board and Executive level. Christine is currently the Group Chief Executive Officer at Team Global Express - a $4bn leading logistics organisation in Australia & New Zealand.

In 2017-2020 Christine was the Group Chief Executive Officer at Australia Post, with $8bn in revenue employing 75,000 people, leading the company through a period of growth and transformation. 2007-17 Christine was the Chief Eecutive Officer, Blackmores Ltd; Australia's leading Natural Health Company, expanding the company through Asia, and increasing the market capitalization more than 15-fold to over $3bn. Christine has also held several Non-Executive positions including, 2018-2020 Vice Chair Aramex, a Dubai publicly listed Freight business, Deputy Chair Sai Cheng, a joint venture with China Post. 2010-2016 Non-Executive Director Ten Network Holdings; 2005-2008 Non-Executive Director for Key Corp Ltd.

Mike Edmonds

Mike Edmonds is the Executive General Manager – Commercial at NTI, Australia’s leading specialist insurer. He is responsible for the national distribution of NTI’s commercial products through brokers and agents, and for managing key relationships across major accounts and industry associations.

With over 20 years of Executive-level experience, Mike brings a unique perspective shaped by a diverse career spanning transport, industry advocacy, sports management, and policing. Prior to joining NTI, he held roles with Suncorp Stadium, Finemore Holdings, and the Australian Trucking Association. He has been part of NTI’s Executive team for more than two decades, contributing to its growth into a market leader in heavy motor, plant and machinery, and marine insurance.

Mike holds a Master of Business Administration and is a Fellow of both the Institute of Managers and Leaders and the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance & Finance. He is also a Certified Insurance Professional, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a former Adjunct Associate Professor at Bond Business School.

He currently serves as a Councillor for both the Australian Trucking Association and the Australian Logistics Council, and is Chair of the Underwriting Agencies Council. NTI also actively supports a broad range of industry bodies including HVIA, Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds, the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association, NatRoad, Transport Women Australia, and all State Transport Associations.

Mike is a strong advocate for people and culture, often attributing NTI’s success to its dedicated team and their shared commitment to service, expertise, and innovation.

Lisa Archbold

Lisa Archbold was appointed Vice President, Customer, Australia and New Zealand in May 2025. In this role, she leads the integration of the retail convenience, fleet and dealer businesses to create a truly customer-focused operation. She is responsible for shaping and executing bp’s customer strategies and operations across ANZ.

A qualified Chartered Accountant, Ms Archbold began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she earned her accounting qualification before joining bp Australia in 2001. She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms Archbold’s early career at bp included various finance and strategy roles within the Castrol lubricants business in both Australia and the United Kingdom. Upon returning to Australia, she served as Chief of Staff for the Australian Fuels business, followed by her appointment as General Manager, bp Bitumen. In this role, she successfully led the business and oversaw its divestment.

She then moved to Singapore to become Castrol Finance Director for the Asia Pacific region. Returning to Australia, she held several senior leadership roles, including VP Finance Asia Pacific and VP Business Development & Low Carbon Solutions for the region.

Most recently, Ms Archbold served as Vice President, Mobility & Convenience ANZ, where she led the retail front line and operations before assuming her current role.

Mark Mazurek

Mark is responsible for leading the largest privately-owned logistics company in Asia Pacific to achieve its vision to be the most trusted logistics partner in Australia and New Zealand. Linfox has a focused and integrated business strategy that strives for industry-leading safety and compliance, outstanding customer service and smarter, sustainable supply chain solutions – all underpinned by Linfox’s ‘LIFT’ values of loyalty, integrity, fairness and trust. Mark has held senior roles at Linfox since 2006, including Chief Operating Officer and various business unit President appointments.

Prior to joining Linfox, Mark held senior executive board and management roles with major companies in the FMCG and retail sectors including a global role based in Europe. Mark has studied at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Harvard and Stanford Business Schools. He is currently a board member of the Australian Logistics Council, Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds, a member of the RMIT College of Business and Law Industry Advisory Board, and a member of Champions of Change.

Sandra McNeil

Sandra McNeil is the Country Director of Operations for Amazon Australia, where she leads end-to-end Supply Chain including Fulfillment & Logistics, Print on Demand, Transportation & Delivery, Reverse Logistics and Operational Excellence.

Prior to joining Amazon, Sandra spent 24 years in the automotive industry at General Motors, most notably as the Manufacturing Chief Engineer for the mid-engine Corvette and other programs across the US, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Asia, ASEAN, Australia, Europe, Middle East, India, Egypt and South Africa. Sandra has a passion for advancing diversity in STEM and enjoys volunteering to help cultivate a diverse talent pipeline.

Ben Newton

Ben Newton leads the Strategy, Governance and Sustainability functions in Primary Connect (part of the Woolworths Group). Ben has extensive expereince in Strategy and Supply Chain developed over his career with Woolworths. Primary Connect is the largest food and retail supply chain business in Australia and New Zealand with 10,000 team members providing services to Woolworths Group, as well as more than 1,200 external partners. Primary Connect is an essential part of Woolworth Group with a simple but important purpose of connecting communities with the products they need and love.

Ben is Deputy Chair of the Australian Logistics Council (ALC) and also on the Board of Health Heads in Trucks and Sheds Foundation.

Renee Holbrook

Renee Holbrook is responsible for leading all aspects of the CHEP business in Australia. With more than 25 years in the supply chain industry, Renee has broad General Management experience leading several businesses within the Brambles group including Global Managing Director of Kegstar, a tech-enabled keg rental business, and CHEP South East Asia expanding the reach of pooling services on CHEP's circular business model.

Renee is also a Director of Brambles Digital and is passionate about the development of technology services that solve real world sustainability and supply chain problems.

Renee holds a Masters in Business Administration from Monash University, Australia and a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Logistics.

Nicolaj Noes

Nicolaj Noes is the Executive Vice President of DP World Oceania and is responsible for overseeing DP World's business in Oceania and driving its ongoing transformation into an end-to-end supply chain solutions provider.

Prior to this, Nicolaj was the Managing Director for Svitzer, a leading global towage provider, in Australia. Before his time at Svitzer, he spent 30 years with Maersk, holding various leadership positions in Singapore, Australia, China, and Denmark.

Nicolaj holds an Executive MBA from IMD Business School.