ATA elects Mark Parry as new Chair

ATA members elected Mr Parry as the association’s new Chair following the retirement of David Smith, who was elected as Chair in 2020 and re-elected in 2022.

Mr Parry is a successful and experienced senior executive with experience across manufacturing, mining, mining services, contracting, and transport and logistics. He is also the Deputy Chair of Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds.

Mr Parry said it was an honour to follow David Smith as Chair of the ATA.

“Trucking plays a very important role in supplying our daily needs. The ATA has a broad membership base and seeks to represent the industry to a wide range of stakeholders,” Mr Parry said.

“I look forward to seeking to help improve the safety, sustainability and the ongoing viability of our industry for those involved in it,” he said.

ATA members also elected Australia Post executive James Dixon to the board.

Mr Dixon said he was committed to working with industry and government to create opportunities to attract and retain professional drivers.

“In particular, we need to press on with the outstanding work of the ATA and industry on improving safety and compliance. A safer industry will assist in attracting future talent and the professional drivers the industry needs,” Mr Dixon said.

The ATA’s retiring Chair, David Smith, said his time in office had been marked by crises including bushfires, the pandemic, floods and the AdBlue shortage.

“Despite these crises, we achieved an increase to the width of new trucks and trailers, mandatory advanced braking, and important protections in the new law that enables the Fair Work Commission to issue road transport orders,” Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith will remain on the board as the ATA’s Immediate Past Chair.

Three directors have retired from the board: Noelene Watson, Geoff Crouch and Austin Vella.

Noelene Watson became a member of the board in 2004 and was its Chair from 2014 to 2017.

Geoff Crouch became a member of the board in 2013 and was the ATA’s Chair from 2017 to 2020. He is also a former president of ATA member association NatRoad.

Austin Vella became a member of the board in 2014 and was elected as its Vice Chair in 2017.