Baton passed at ATA

The role of Australian Trucking Association CEO has officially been passed from Stuart St Clair to Chris Melham

A new leadership era has begun at the Australian Trucking Association, with newly appointed CEO Chris Melham (pictured, right) officially taking the reins from Stuart St Clair (pictured, left) at the representative body’s 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner on Saturday, March 21.

The dinner represented the culmination of the ATA’s Trucking Australia 2015 conference, which was held at a selection of venues in Hobart’s historic maritime precinct, Constitution Dock.

The handover marks the end of a nine-year term for Mr St Clair, who is retiring from the role and is moving from the nation’s capital to Bunbury, Western Australia, with his partner. Click here to read the trucksales interview with Mr St Clair, for his reflections on his long and varied career.

Mr Melham joins the ATA after serving as the CEO of NatRoad, the peak representative body for Australia’s road freight operators, and says his sights are firmly fixed on achieving greater recognition for the vital role played by the Australian truck industry.

“In dealing with government and industry, my credo is pride, passion and principle – having pride in our industry, passion for what we do, and the integrity to constantly work to improve both,” he said.

“I will strive to not only protect, but build the awareness and effectiveness of the ATA brand to key stakeholders in government, industry and community circles.

“The Australian trucking industry plays a vital part in the lives of every person in our country.

“With road freight accounting for more than 70 per cent of Australia’s 2930 million tonnes of domestic freight, and employing more than 180,000 people, heavy vehicles keep Australia moving.

Mr Melham said the fundamentals of the ATA’s approach would remain unchanged.

“The ATA advocacy program will continue to address three key pillars – safety, productivity and viability,” he said.

“I will strongly encourage common-sense discussions and real heavy-vehicle national law reform, and look forward to working with government at the Federal level to assist in this area.”

Mr Melham thanked Mr St Clair for his enormous contributions over the past nine years.

“The legacy and footprint you have left on the ATA and the industry will not be forgotten, and I will strive to build upon it,” he said.

Mr Melham brings considerable expertise to the role, having had a successful career of industry advocacy that spans more than 25 years.

Baton passed at ATA

Tags