The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has relaunched its award-winning Future Leaders’ Forum (FLF), unveiling a refreshed professional development program designed to prepare the next generation of leaders for Australia’s transport industry.
Now supported by new major sponsor Geotab, the Future Leaders’ Forum is targeted at trucking professionals aged between 21 and 40 and provides participants with the leadership, media and advocacy skills needed to help shape the future of the industry.
Nominations for the program are accepted annually from ATA member associations and its safety management arm, TruckSafe.
The program has a strong focus on developing industry advocates who can contribute to conversations around safety, sustainability, profitability and professionalism, while also supporting the ATA’s research and policy initiatives.
ATA Director of Marketing and Partnerships Bianca D’Rosario said the program had been updated to better reflect the realities of the modern transport industry.
“Given the dynamic and lean nature of the industry, a number of standalone components of the program were reviewed, refreshed and moved online to enable less time away from work as well as greater flexibility for participants to balance their professional and personal commitments,” D’Rosario said.
“We are excited to welcome ATA council member and supporter, Geotab, as a new major sponsor for the program.”
The Future Leaders’ Forum has become one of the industry’s most successful leadership initiatives since its launch, creating an alumni network of almost 80 professionals who have gone on to executive and non-executive leadership roles across ATA member associations, regulatory agencies and transport-related businesses.
Its success was recognised nationally in 2024 when the program received the LearnX Platinum Award for Best Learning and Talent Development in the industry-specific leadership development category.
For Geotab, supporting the initiative aligns with its long-term commitment to improving the transport industry through technology, innovation and people.
“Geotab is proud to support the refreshed ATA Future Leaders’Forum and help invest in the next generation shaping Australia’s trucking industry,” said Andrew Hintz, Associate Vice President of Heavy Transport, Geotab APAC.
“At Geotab, we are committed to supporting a safer, more sustainable and more productive transport industry, and programs like this play an important role in building the leadership, advocacy and innovation needed to help drive the industry forward.
“We are excited to continue working with the ATA to support the long-term success and resilience of the transport sector. Developing strong industry leaders today will help ensure the industry is well positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.”
The refreshed format aims to make participation more accessible by combining online learning with key face-to-face experiences, reducing time away from the workplace while maintaining opportunities for collaboration and networking.
The ATA has also announced that the Future Leaders’ Forum is open to additional sponsors from July 2026, providing organisations with the opportunity to support leadership development and invest in the future capability of Australia’s trucking industry.
As the industry continues to navigate challenges around workforce attraction, safety reform, decarbonisation and technology adoption, the Future Leaders’ Forum is positioning emerging leaders with the skills and networks needed to help guide the sector through its next phase of transformation.
