THE International Cargo Handling Association has elected Scott McKay as chairman of its global board, replacing John Bennett after a total of 18 years of service to the organisation.
“With members from the port, terminal, shipping and cargo handling community throughout the world, ICHCA remains committed to improve the safe working environment of all those handling cargo throughout the international maritime supply chain,” the association said.
The 30 September appointment of Mr McKay, a veteran with nearly forty years’ experience of supply chain management is seen as reinforcing that mission, particularly regarding the Association’s attempts to disseminate safety performance data and innovations to cargo handlers and the broader industry.
“I see that ICHCA has a fantastic opportunity to further develop gathering, analysing and sharing safety data and best practice to help improve safety decisions and cultural change along and across the cargo supply chain,” Mr McKay said.
Mr McKay joined a state chapter of ICHCA Australia seven years ago. He was appointed Chair and became a member of the international board in November 2023. Formerly a chartered accountant at KPMG and a principal at Aurecon a design and delivery global infrastructure consultancy, he has vast experience in the supply chain industry, including senior roles in Europe, Asia and Australia as CEO in warehousing and road transport, container rail and intermodal and bulk ports operations.
Currently, as founder and chief executive of Flywheel Advisory, he helps organisations and businesses using supply chain as a differentiator to drive profitability and service levels. He is also CEO of T Ports, the South Australia bulk grain handler that operates innovative storage and transhipment services at Lucky Bay and Wallaroo.
John Beckett, who served as ICHCA chair for eight years, said: “I believe Scott is a highly appropriate professional to be taking on the role of ICHCA Chair. He inherits a membership which is growing rapidly and has diverse members of all sizes and nationalities that share a common goal to maintain, and where possible improve safety regimes for all operators in the industry. I wish him and the ICHCA community every success in the future.”
According to its official profile ICHCA International was established in 1952 and is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the safety, productivity and efficiency of cargo handling and movement worldwide.
ICHCA’s privileged NGO status enables it to represent its members, and the cargo handling industry at large, in front of national and international agencies and regulatory bodies, while its Technical Panel provides best practice advice and develops publications on a wide range of practical cargo handling issues, it says.
“Operating through a series of national and regional chapters, including ICHCA Australia, ICHCA Japan and plus Correspondence and Working Groups, ICHCA provides a focal point for informing, educating, lobbying and networking to improve knowledge and best practice across the cargo handling chain.”