Wednesday, 26th March IPWEA Australasian Fleet Conference 2025

A great opportunity to have a working breakfast in the Exhibition Hall with suppliers

Welcome

Jonathan Jones, Head of Education, IPWEA

Topic: Aurecon’s Decarbonisation Vision

Speaker: Rich Mitchell, Associate, Integrated Transport and Mobility, Aurecon

Rich is a design engineer for roadside electronics known as Intelligent Transport Systems and has been part of Aurecon's decarbonisation journey, with his role focussing on Aurecon's fleet transition to Electric Vehicles. Aurecon's fleet started  with mainly Toyota Camry's and Corolla's with 4wd Hilux utes. As part of the transition Rich has tested the following EV's: Tesla 3, Leaf, Ford F150 Lightning 4wd ute, Rivian 4wd ute, LDV 2wd ute, Maxus/LDV 4wd ute.

Topic: Hydrogen and Other Alternative Fuel Options for Fleets

Speaker: Andrew Willis, Manager Carbon Policy, Toyota Australia

Andrew has 30+ years’ experience within the automotive industry starting his career with Ford Australia before joining Toyota Australia in 1994.

Within Toyota Australia, he has held multiple managerial roles including Export Planning, Government Affairs & Trade Policy, Office of the President, Environment Policy, as well as Dealer Development and Lexus Franchise Planning.

Mr Willis has been a member of a range of industry associations and their committees. Notably, he has been member of the board for the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries as well as held representative positions across government working groups related to topics such as NVES, end of vehicle life and the local automotive manufacturing industry closure and transition.

Mr. Willis currently manages the Carbon Policy and Hydrogen Engagement team within Toyota’s New Business Solutions Division and is based out of Victoria’s first Hydrogen Experience and refuelling station at Altona North.

Panellists

• Rich Mitchell, Associate, Integrated Transport and Mobility, Aurecon
• Andrew Willis, Manager Carbon Policy, Toyota Australia
• Edwin Higginson, Director, Australian EVS

Speaker: Chris Forbes, General Manager Fleet, Kia Australia

Chris Forbes is the General Manager, Fleet for Kia Australia. During his 15 years at Kia, Chris has seen a tremendous rise in Kia’s popularity both in Retail & Fleet. With previous roles in asset finance (GE Commercial Finance) and remarketing (Pickles Auctions), his broad industry experience enables him to deeply understand Fleet customer requirements.

Networking in the Exhibition Hall with suppliers and delegates

Topic: Reducing Fleet Emissions in every Asset Category

Speaker: Evert Verhage, Fleet Manager, City of Charles Sturt

With a career spanning several decades, I began my journey in 1984, completing my schooling and embarking on a mechanical apprenticeship within my family's business in rural South Australia.
This initial experience provided a comprehensive exposure to a variety of plant, ranging from lawnmowers and chainsaws to trucks, buses, and farming machinery, and fostered an early understanding of petrol, diesel, and auto electrical works. Importantly, it also instilled invaluable customer relations skills at a young age.
In 1995, I relocated to Adelaide and joined a Metro Ford Dealer, where I quickly recognized the need to transition to an office-based role due to ongoing knee injuries. Despite this shift, my passion for the mechanical aspects of vehicles remained strong, especially as technological advancements in fuel injection systems and computer integration were on the rise. My career took a significant turn when I joined a Holden Dealership as a Trainee Service Advisor, progressing to roles such as Warranty Clerk, Workshop Controller, and ultimately, Assistant Service Manager. This period enriched my understanding of fleet management and provided deeper insights into both people and business operations.
Leveraging my dealership operational knowledge, I advanced to an Assistant Service Manager/Pre-Delivery Manager role at a new Toyota Dealership in Adelaide. Here, I was at the forefront of Hybrid Technology and played a pivotal role in organizing workshop staff development. This experience broadened my business acumen and honed my skills across various manufacturers, including Toyota, Ford, and Subaru.
Seeking a "Sea Change," I transitioned to the South Australian Caterpillar dealer as a Customer Service Manager. This role allowed me to bridge my automotive expertise with Caterpillar's extensive range of machinery and services, working closely with government departments and major corporations like BHP, Oz Minerals, and Santos. This role offered a wealth of learning opportunities and took me across Australia.
In 2021, I seized an opportunity within the council sector as a Fleet Manager for three metropolitan councils. My broad industry experience, knowledge and expertise in fleet management and transitioning towards net-zero emissions were seen as key factors to help local councils. Today, I am actively involved in moving our fleet from petrol and diesel to hybrid and battery electric vehicles (BEV), and pioneering trials of EV trucks and battery-powered hand plants.
As I share my journey and insights at the IPWEA conference, I hope to offer valuable lessons and inspiration from my extensive career. I continue to learn every day, striving to improve our operations and achieve sustainable success.

Topic: EV Transition Case Study

Speaker: Brendan Ling, Project Lead, Logan City Council

Brendan has a twenty-year environmental science background with experience in energy efficiency, solar PV, climate change mitigation, and all things related to environmental sustainability.
As Project Lead in Logan City Council’s Plant Fleet Services team, he is now focused on implementing the Council’s Green Fleet Strategy, including enabling the successful transition to electric vehicles. He handles fleet charge station installations, culture
change and training, carbon accounting, and EV policy development and implementation.

Panellists:

• Evert Verhage, Fleet Manager, City of Charles Sturt
• Brendan Ling, Project Lead, Logan City Council
• Hino

Speaker: Sam Bloomer, Key Account Manager – Carbon Solutions, Viva Energy

A good chance to follow up with suppliers in the Exhibition Hall and ask questions about their products

Topic: Using Technology to Manage Fleet Maintenance Programs

Speaker: Michael Mills, Fleet Manager, Essential Energy

Michael is an accomplished asset management and operations practitioner, with over 20 of experience in a variety of maintenance and leadership roles.
With a career spanning multiple sectors, Michael has been involved in the management of a diverse range of fleets including off-road Mining, Mobile Cranes, Civil equipment and Heavy Haulage.
Holding mechanical trade background and a Diploma of Leadership, Michael has also completed a Leadership Development Program with Mt Eliza Business School and is currently undertaking a MBA with the University of Newcastle.
Michael currently works in the energy sector and is deeply passionate about people, safety and the de-carbonisation of fleet

Topic: How to Use Current Technology to Better Optimise Fleet Processes

Speaker: Mihnea Stancuic, Fleet Coordinator, Hume City Council

I am an experienced fleet management professional with over a decade in the automotive industry and a Bachelor's degree in Automotive Engineering. My career has been dedicated to managing diverse fleets and equipment, with expertise in acquisition processes, maintenance scheduling, operational optimization, whole-of-life cost (WoL) analysis, and developing Capital Replacement Programs and budgets.

In my current role, I manage a varied municipal fleet and have successfully implemented digital solutions to streamline operations. By leveraging our fleet management software, I’ve improved efficiency in areas like job card handling and prestart checklists.

I pride myself on being data-driven, relying on objective insights to guide decision-making. I am passionate about continuous improvement, staying adaptable to industry advancements, and stepping out of my comfort zone to embrace new challenges. At this conference, I look forward to sharing my experiences and discussing innovative strategies in fleet management.

Panellists:

• Alkan Ciftci, Partner Account Manager, Geotab 
• Mark Hosking, CEO, Formbird
• Richard Biffin, Chief Technology Officer, Smartrak
• Darren Gore, General Manager, Summit Fleet Leasing and Management

Fleet Council on stage - It’s time to wrap up!

The IPWEA Fleet Council members discuss the highlights of the conference and how to include them in your Fleet Asset Management Plan for strategic fleet management.

See you in 2026!