Geoff Smith, the Managing Director of SCT Logistics has been appointed the incoming Chair of the Freight on Rail Group (FORG).
FORG is Australia’s peak body representing the rail freight industry, with its members responsible for more than 95% of Australia’s rail freight activity. This appointment comes at a critical time for the sector, with the share of rail freight being challenged by other modes.
“While the industry faces significant challenges, as a peak body we believe there are also substantial opportunities for rail freight”, Geoff highlighted. “We offer a freight alternative that is safer, with significantly lower carbon emissions. As a group, FORG members are uniquely positioned to advocate for the advantages of rail freight to politicians, Government Departments and the public more broadly.”
There are several key policy issues which FORG will seek to address over the medium term, including:
• Improving the share of general rail freight and underlying cost competitiveness issues
• Supporting the ongoing work to improve the quality of the rail network, including level-crossing safety issues
• Advocating for the contribution that rail freight can make to the decarbonisation of transport sector
• Reforming the coastal trading system to ensure Australia’s supply chain sovereignty is not being compromised by the dumping of freight services by foreign-flagged ships.
Geoff brings 25 years of experience at the helm of Australia’s largest private rail operator to the role. SCT is a family business which just celebrated 50 years of operation.
“SCT was the first privately-owned competitor to government rail businesses in Australia, and our history has given me a unique insight into the key issues facing both rail operators and our customers in metropolitan and regional areas”.
“I look forward to continuing the work of Andrew Harding, my predecessor from Aurizon, and the ongoing dialogue with Federal and state governments and other industry groups on behalf of the FORG membership” Geoff concluded.
Cejay is a Content Producer for Supply Chain Channel, Australia's learning ecosystem created to fill the need for information, networking, case studies and empowerment for everyone in the supply chain sector.
