Noelene Watson will retire as the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) chairwoman at its annual general meeting on April 5.
Watson was first elected as the association’s chairwoman in 2014, and re-elected last year. She is the managing director of Don Watson Transport, one of Australia’s leading refrigerated logistics companies.
It’s time to retire from the demanding role and hand over to another industry leader, Watson says.
“Under my leadership, the ATA campaigned for strong practical road safety measures, including the reforms to the truck safety laws that will come into force next year,” she says.
“We also stood up for owner drivers and small family trucking businesses. I’ll never forget the chilly April morning when I watched our truck convoy against the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal roll up to Parliament House.”
Watson says one of her personal goals has been to work for better truck driver health.
“The ATA pressed the NTC and Austroads to upgrade the truck driver medical standards. As a result of our work, the standards now warn treating doctors against relying on subjective measures of sleepiness to rule out a patient having sleep apnoea.”
Watson also sought to promote a more professional perception of the transport industry.
“I believe it’s the ATA’s job to stand up for our industry when it’s attacked. I well remember the day in 2014 when the ATA media unit phoned me to say that Cardinal George Pell had insulted Australia’s professional truck drivers by comparing them to paedophile priests. I stood up for our industry and our drivers then, and would do it again.
“More positively, I had the privilege of helping to present the National Trucking Industry Awards for three years to some amazing people. I also had the chance to honour the winners of the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian Award, which recognises heroic and selfless acts by drivers in the course of their work.”
Watson thanks ATA supporters, staff, sponsors and event partners.
She will remain a member of the ATA board and its council.
