For MTA Queensland, the past year has been one of innovative initiatives and actions to enable members and the Association to be at the forefront of automotive technological transformations and digital innovations impacting the industry. In the coming year, it will be the responsibility of the new MTA Queensland Board, elected at the recent Annual General Meeting, to build on that established platform and to continue the forward momentum.

The need to maintain the impetus has been made acute by General Motors’ (GM) announcement that it will close five North American factories to counter a slump in demand for traditional sedans. Similar to Ford Motor and Fiat Chrysler, GM signalled a strategic shift towards building more electric and self-driving vehicles. Conscious of revolutionary changes underway across the automotive value chain, we need to consider initiatives to advance the understandings of future impacts to the industry and to assist members to develop business resilience.

Block2 technology
In previous From the Desk of the CEO columns, I’ve referred to Block2 technology. It is a sharing platform that enables business to create resilience, transparency, accountability and support in navigating significant changes in modern operating environments. At an earlier MTA Queensland Board meeting, we agreed to commence planning with Block2 to deliver the latest blockchain technology. The MTA Queensland Executive recently met with Block2’s personnel for a comprehensive briefing on the technology and to discuss benefits for both members and the Association’s businesses.

Carmageddon3
The second initiative is that on Thursday, 21 March 2019, Caramageddon 3 will be held. Its purpose is to inform members and stakeholders on current and future technological and digital transformations that will impact the automotive industry and the economy. Keynote speakers will discuss issues such as smart cities and the future of mobility; renewable fuel technologies; and blockchain technologies. Showcased will be new fuel (hydrogen) and electric vehicles. The expectations are that the keynote speakers will include: City of Brisbane’s Chief Digital Officer Cat Matson; Deloitte Partner, Analytics and Insights – Future of Mobility Dr Kellie Nuttall; QUT Science and Engineering Faculty, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics and Autonomous Systems Professor Michael Milford; Chief Operating Officer Australian Centre for Robotic Vision Dr Sue Keay.

An international keynote speaker will address the symposium on the global technological and innovation strategies impacting the automotive industry. Rrepresentatives from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Triple Eight Racing Team will also attend. I ask members to note the event date: Thursday, 21 March 2019, commencing at 9.00am at the Sir Jack Brabham Automotive Centre of Excellence (Training Centre) at Eight Mile Plains.

Strategic Plan Review
The Strategic Plan 2016-18 (the Plan) sets the framework for the administration, functions of and the deliverables by the Corporate Office. The core principle is: ‘we will constantly challenge what we offer with the aim of exceeding the expectations of industry in everything we do’. The five core pillars on which MTA Queensland pivots are advocacy, services, training, support, and innovation.

The MTA Queensland Board, at its February 2019 meeting, will review the Plan’s contents to ensure that it reflects the strategic direction and the new initiatives that will underpin its stewardship of the Association. At present, senior management and I are conducting an initial analysis of the Plan’s objectives and focus to ensure that it retains its currency and high member performance criteria amidst technological and digital transformations impacting the automotive value chain. It is important that the Association’s performance continues to progress in the best interests of the membership and the motor trades.

Challenges and Opportunities
Over the past year, we’ve worked on challenges and opportunities that had the potential to be of beneficial value to members and the Association. It is rewarding when these come together with an end in sight to the collaborations. In previous From the Desk of the CEO columns, I’ve referred to discussions with Telstra on its Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems and the Ipswich City Council (ICC) regarding its Cooperative and Automotive Vehicle Initiative (CAVI). Recently, with key personnel from Telstra and the ICC we met to further collaborate on all things mobility, data and connectivity. The intention is to meet again to discuss contributions by the respective stakeholders in early December with a view to having Heads of Agreement by February 2019.

The diary
I’ve attended a broad range of scheduled meetings and activities, the thrust of which I share with you. The first, was an invitation from the Bond University’s Pitch@Palace 2.0, presided over by HRH the Duke of York and attended by the Queensland Governor the Hon Paul de Jersey. It was the Queensland final of Pitch@Palace which is a competition that embraces innovation and creative thinking. Winners selected at the national final will be invited to the global final at St James’s Palace in London. There were nine finalists, two of which I had much interest in as they had relevance to the automotive value chain.

In the diary is a Department of Transport and Main Roads industry forum on the sharing economy which leads into the potential Mobility as a Service (MaaS) future. The emphasis is on the shift away from personally owned modes of transportation and towards aggregated mobility solutions that are consumed as a service.

I attended a State Government ‘Future of Work – Skills and Industry Summit’ hosted by the Queensland Premier. The emphasis was on workers’ skills keeping pace with technology, automation, innovation and the shift to a knowledge-based economy. These are skills that MTA Queensland has been working in collaboration with several stakeholders to ensure a training regimen that reflects workplace demand. In the panel discussions, I highlighted the innovative initiatives the Association has underway.

I also attended the 2018 Christmas Cabinet Reception earlier this month, representing MTA Queensland at the function held by the Queensland Government with Premier The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk in attendance.

In my role as MTA Queensland’s Group Chief Executive Officer, I’ve been invited by the Organising Committee of The Einstein Global Summit to be on the speakers’ panel with international corporate, government and technology leaders. Its focus is: “Applying AI and Deep Learning for Enterprises and Institutions 2019: The Next Chapter”. I’m able to present a topic that aligns with my expertise which definitely will relate to the Association’s innovative initiatives. It is on 8-10 May 2019, in Melbourne.

I attended the MTA New South Wales Annual Dinner to share in their celebrations on the 1st December. It was an excellent opportunity to network with interstate colleagues and stakeholders.

And the last thing
The final events for the year were the Annual General Meeting (AGM) followed by the Board lunch and the Annual Industry Dinner. The AGM dealt with all the statutory requirements including the election of the new Chairman Paul Peterson following the retirement of the long-serving Chairman David Fraser. At the Board lunch, long servicing MTA Queensland Board member and Industry leader, Ian Field was awarded life membership.

The Annual Industry Dinner is the one occasion when we celebrate in style all aspects of the automotive value chain. It was an evening to enjoy each other’s company and praise some excellent achievements by some outstanding people and businesses, including the Apprentice of Year Jack Goodrich; the Innovation Award winner ACE EV Group; and Community Award winner Southeast Auto Mechanical. To all who contributed to its success ‘thank you’.

Soon, the festive season will be here with the joy of Christmas and the goodwill for the New Year. To each of you I wish a joyous Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. For me, the festive season will be a family affair, honing my Grandfather/Santa Claus skills for Eli and Weston.

Until February 2019, as Henry Ford, the industrialist and the founder of the Ford motor company said, ‘execute ideas with enthusiasm . . . as it is the bottom of all progress’.