Trade conferences are where companies, which often compete intensely with each other come to collaborate on common ground and to find out about innovation and knowledge that can help them do business.

The 2015 annual Forum of the Australian Logistics Council in Melbourne brought together the leading logistics, infrastructure and transport companies across Australia, so it was an ideal event for the ACRI to have a presence.

In addition to our chair, John Anderson, addressing the conference, ACRI joined about 17 leading logistics suppliers and logistics-related organisations with a display in the trade area of the conference.  Morning and afternoon tea and lunches were served in the trade area so conference participants were drawn to see what was on offer.

As a new body, ACRI generated quite a lot of interest.  Importantly the forum provided the chance for ACRI staff to talk to industry players about our role.  Industry was particularly interested in the fact that participants can direct exactly where their research dollar is spent to solve issues specific to their organization, but also benefit from sharing outcomes of other’s research.

The display stand resulted in contact interchange and requests for follow-up meetings.  Having the display stand and staff on hand to answer questions lifted the profile among people in companies and organisations, which rely on operational efficiency and the continued high performance of rail in the supply chain.