Turning Pressure into Progress at the 2025 ALC Supply Chain Summit

In an era of unprecedented global disruption, Australia's freight and logistics sector stands at a critical crossroads. Intensifying pressures from geopolitical instability, regulatory complexity, climate volatility, fuel insecurity, and critical workforce shortages are converging, making the nation's economic sovereignty directly dependent on the resilience and adaptability of its supply chains.

"Australia must move beyond viewing freight infrastructure as merely operational – it is essential national infrastructure that underpins economic security and community resilience," says Dr. Hermione Parsons, CEO and Managing Director of the Australian Logistics Council (ALC).

This strategic perspective drives the agenda for the 2025 ALC Supply Chain Summit in Sydney on 21 August. Under the theme "Australia's Supply Chains Under Pressure: Solutions for a Resilient Future," this premier industry event will unite government and industry leaders to forge collaborative responses to the sector's most pressing challenges.

If your business or portfolio touches freight, infrastructure, energy, regulation, transport, ports, warehousing, land use planning, technology, decarbonisation, workforce development, or supply chain resilience – you should be there.

Why Australia's Supply Chains Matter Now More Than Ever

Recent years have not merely exposed vulnerabilities in modern supply chains—they have revealed the sector's remarkable capacity to adapt, innovate, and lead through crisis. From pandemic disruptions to natural disasters, cyber threats and economic volatility, recent years have exposed critical vulnerabilities in Australia’s supply chains. Yet they have also highlighted the freight sector’s capacity to adapt, innovate, and continue operating under pressure.

Six Critical Themes Shaping the Summit Agenda

The 2025 program has been meticulously crafted around the key vulnerabilities facing Australia's freight and logistics sector. Each session goes beyond outlining problems to focus on actionable solutions, foster candid insights, and create meaningful collaboration between industry and government stakeholders.

Geopolitical Risk and Economic Volatility

Australia's supply chains have become increasingly exposed to global economic tremors and significant trade realignments. The summit will feature thought leadership from key figures including Port of Melbourne's CEO Saul Cannon and KPMG's Partner and Geopolitics Lead for Australia Merriden Varrall, who will examine the profound impacts of rising protectionism and shifting global alliances on Australia's freight networks.

These industry leaders will unpack the complex interplay between geopolitical instability and Australian trade patterns, delve into the implications of ongoing China–US tensions, and demonstrate why robust freight strategy must now be considered integral to national economic security. As import dependencies in fuel, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors continue to shape our vulnerability profile, this session will provide critical insights for businesses operating in an uncertain global landscape.

Infrastructure: Behind the Curve or Built for the Future?

Australia faces a critical question: Is our national infrastructure keeping pace with freight demand, or are we perpetually behind the curve? A panel featuring cross-sector expertise from ports, rail freight and logistics operations will deliver a forthright assessment of infrastructure gaps and investment priorities.

The conversation will tackle the transformative potential of projects like Inland Rail alongside the pressing challenges of intermodal integration across the national freight network. Panellists will address the growing constraints on urban freight movement, the critical shortage of industrial land in key logistics corridors, and the long-term economic costs of continued planning paralysis.

Industry consensus is clear—Australia urgently needs infrastructure investment that supports freight growth, not just population expansion. The ALC continues to advocate for funding decisions that reflect this strategic imperative and will showcase how coordinated, long-term planning can be effectively decoupled from short-term political cycles.

The Sustainability Imperative: Decarbonisation Meets Commercial Reality

In today's business environment, resilience extends beyond operational continuity to encompass sustainability leadership. As international competitors accelerate their freight decarbonisation initiatives, Australian industry faces both opportunity and risk in the transition to low-emissions logistics.

The summit's sustainability panel brings together senior figures from major logistics, energy and transport organisations to chart a practical path forward. Their discussion will examine viable pathways for low-emissions freight including hydrogen applications, fleet electrification strategies, and the potential of advanced biofuels across different transport modes. Speakers will address the economic implications of fuel security challenges and volatile energy markets, while outlining the policy support needed from government to enable decarbonisation without undermining commercial competitiveness.

With logistics accounting for approximately 10% of Australia's emissions profile, the pathway to net zero demands realistic investment timeframes, regulatory certainty, and solutions that work across the entire network—including the particular challenges of regional and long-haul freight operations.

Workforce: The Most Pressing Crisis Yet

Industry leaders now universally recognise that the supply chain skills shortage has evolved from a workforce issue into a fundamental productivity challenge. Facing an ageing workforce demographic, chronic underinvestment in specialised training, and poorly defined career pathways, the sector stands at the precipice of a talent crisis that threatens operational continuity.

A keynote fireside chat at the summit will confront this challenge directly, examining potential solutions including targeted migration programs to build critical supply chain capabilities, addressing systemic gaps in national training investment, and tackling the fragmentation of skills development across state jurisdictions. Perhaps most crucially, the discussion will explore strategies to transform sector branding and attraction strategies to appeal to the next generation of logistics professionals.

This session represents more than analysis—it's a call to action. Beyond identifying challenges, speakers will showcase successful employer-led development initiatives already delivering results and discuss how these models can be scaled nationally to create sustainable talent pipelines.

Where Policy Meets Practice

As always, the 2025 ALC Supply Chain Summit will act as a policy-shaping forum. In no other space do supply chain leaders, customers, government departments, regulators, planners, financiers and operators come together under one roof. It's where ALC's advocacy agenda is sharpened—and where attendees can influence the direction of national reform.

This includes work under way on:

• National harmonisation of freight regulation
• Reform of the energy market to enable zero-emission transport
• Planning approvals and land use strategy for freight corridors
• Public–private investment models for freight infrastructure

Attending this Summit isn't just about networking—it's about helping shape the operating environment your business will face in the coming decade.

Recognising Excellence: The 2025 ALC Supply Chain Awards

The 2025 ALC Supply Chain Summit will include a formal Awards Ceremony, celebrating the people and projects driving change across the supply chain. It's a moment to recognise leadership in a sector that often works behind the scenes but is fundamental to every aspect of Australian life.

Award categories include:

• Rising Star Award – for emerging leaders
• Wayfinder Champion Award – recognising commitment to gender equity
• Innovation Award – for breakthrough technologies or approaches
• ESG Excellence Award – for outstanding environmental, social and governance initiatives
• Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds Award – for excellence in workforce mental health and wellbeing

Your Opportunity to Connect and Influence

The 2025 ALC Supply Chain Summit will take place on August 21 in Sydney. This is the only national event of its kind - where conversations shift from theory to action, and where public and private leaders shape the next phase of freight resilience, sustainability, and productivity.

If your organisation is serious about remaining competitive, future-ready and connected to the key players shaping the national logistics agenda, you need to be in the room.

Registrations are now open for the 2025 ALC Supply Chain Summit. Be part of the conversation that will define the next decade of freight in Australia.