Australian Logistics Council announces new CEO

The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has appointed a new CEO who has commenced responsibilities as ALC Secretariat in Canberra.

Kirk Coningham has been selected by the ALC Board for the position, and was previously National Executive Director of the Urban Development institute of Australia until December 2018. He has also headed the Master Builders Association of the ACT as Chief Executive and held senior positions within Leighton Holdings, the Australian Medical Association and the Murray Darling Basin Commission.

Coningham has served as a diplomat, been a Captain in the Australian Army, held senior media roles within government and works as a journalist. He received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his work with the crisis taskforce following the combings which occurred in Bali on 12 October 2002.

ALC Chair, Philip Davies, said the Board is confident that Coningham’s experience in organisation leadership, member engagement and influencing policy outcomes will further enhance ALC’s capacity to deliver policy framework and reforms to enhance national supply chain efficiency.

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“This is especially important as we head into a Federal Election year, and as the Commonwealth prepares the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy for release in 2019. ALC is committed to remaining the lead advocate for this much-needed Strategy, and ensuring it delivers the right outcomes for ALC Members and for the nation’s freight logistics industry as a whole,” Davies said.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Mr. Lachlan Benson for the dedicated and energetic organisational leadership he has provided as ALC’s Interim CEO since July 2018. During his planned acting tenure, key structural and internal corporate changes have been achieved that will allow Kirk as the incoming permanent CEO to focus on the major policy issues facing the industry.”

Mr. Benson, according to Mr. Davies, will continue to work closely with the ALC to support Coningham as he transitions into the role of CEO and meets with key ALC members and stakeholders.

He is expected to return to his strategic advisory and director work, but will be available to assist Coningham and the ALC Board as required in the future.