linfox-header-logo Solutions December/January 2023 - Together, stronger
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Executive Chairman: Investing in our people

Written by

Peter Fox AM
Executive Chairman
Peter Fox AM is the Executive Chairman of Linfox Pty Ltd, Linfox Australia Pty Ltd, Linfox International Group Pty Ltd and Linfox Armaguard Pty Ltd. He held a wide range of roles across the Linfox business in operational and management positions before his appointment as Executive Chairman in 1993.
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Welcome to our people edition. We are proud to celebrate and showcase our greatest assets – the skilled and committed team members who keep our business and economies moving.

Most successful companies recognise the value of good people and work hard to keep them. Linfox invests heavily in our people. This includes promoting from within and offering opportunities for training and development as well as cross functional experience.

Our internal placement rate of more than 30 per cent demonstrates this. It is a figure we are particularly proud of in this time of record low unemployment and a notable rise in resignations across all sectors.

We continue to roll out the Linfox Leader Program. Now in its second year, more than 130 senior leaders and people managers have graduated from courses in Australia alone.

In recent weeks, three Linfox team members graduated from prestigious institutions including London Business School and Harvard Business School, having been awarded Linfox scholarships.

General Manager Human Resources, Lauren Pemberton graduated from the Senior Executive Program at London Business School in December, after winning this year’s Chairman’s Award.

Linfox General Manager HR, Lauren Pemberton graduates from London Business School (pictured with Vice-Dean; Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship; Academic Director, Institute of Entrepreneurship and Private Capital, Julian Birkinshaw).

General Manager Resources and Industrial West, Gary Pyne and Executive General Manager Operations, Cameron Trewin graduated from management studies at Harvard Business School having previously been awarded the Chairman’s Award and CEO’s Award respectively.

Image: Professor Cynthia A. Montgomery and Linfox General Manager Resources and Industrial West, Gary Pyne at the Harvard Business School graduation ceremony.

All three graduates completed their studies through a combination of on-campus and remote learning. We are proud to offer this transformational learning opportunity, which significantly broadens our team members’ business perspective and leadership skills.

Congratulations to Lauren, Gary and Cam on this outstanding achievement.

Image: Cameron Trewin graduates from Harvard Business School.

Linfox is committed to providing a safe, diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong.

While our Diversity and Inclusion Program is making headway, we recognise that we have a long way to go in our journey. Fundamental to this journey is the education and training of our people.

Linfox continues to roll out training in unconscious bias and cultivating positive workplace behaviour, as well as dedicated diversity and inclusion modules in our leadership training programs. We have also established resource groups and mentoring programs, dedicated to influencing positive change.

We are also continuing our work with the Champions of Change Coalition, a globally recognised strategy for advancing women in leadership and achieving gender equality. Linfox embraces these strategies and, while progress takes time, we continue to improve our female participation rate.

We are serious about improving diversity and inclusion in our business and are committed to taking real steps to effect change.

Linfox was proud to be named 2022 Coles Supply Chain Partner of the Year. The awards recognise Australian businesses that have driven innovation, sustainability and community support in a year punctuated by floods, supply chain challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pleasingly, Linfox was a finalist in five categories at 2022 Australian Freight Industry Awards, with former graduate Claudia Jennings winning the Young Achiever Award. This and other awards are detailed here. 

BevChain is also excited to partner with Woolworths Group’s supply chain arm, Primary Connect, to manage beverage warehousing from a new liquor distribution centre in Kemps Creek, NSW from early 2023. The new partnership will create more than 150 new roles.

BevChain is forging ahead with two new facilities in Western Australia and Victoria to support customers. The construction of the facility in Maddington, Western Australia is progressing ahead of its scheduled completion in mid-2023. We will celebrate the first sod turn for our new 70,000 square-metre BevChain Laverton facility in early 2023.

All new Linfox sites will be built to a minimum of 5 Star Green Star certification, in accordance with Linfox’s commitment to act sustainably as we strive for carbon neutrality by 2030.

We are purchasing grid-supplied renewable electricity from large-scale solar and wind generators, with the view to make several major Linfox sites 100 per cent carbon neutral. We continue to achieve this through LED lighting, state-of-the-art refrigeration systems, on-site solar generation, battery storage, waste reduction, landfill diversion and renewable grid electricity.

In October we welcomed Tony Brun to Linfox as the CEO of Avalon Airport. Tony has extensive aviation, commercial, planning, delivery and organisational transformation experience within local government, Perth Airport, and Melbourne Airport.

We are investing heavily in our Avalon Airport Industrial Precinct, creating jobs and opportunity for Geelong and the surrounding areas.

Avalon is Victoria’s only industrial precinct with road, air and sea access, making it an attractive choice for big brands like Australia Post, Cotton On and Petspiration. The Petspiration Group turned the first sod on its new distribution centre at Avalon in August this year. Expected to open in 2024, the facility will help Petspiration to meet increased demand and its ambitious growth plans. Read more here.

CEO and Founder Petspiration Group, Shane Young, Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, The Hon. Ben Carroll, Executive Chairman Avalon Airport, David Fox.

Linfox International Group (LIG) continues its success, built on safe, resilient and reliable service across our Asian operations. As economies reinvigorate across Asia, LIG deservedly celebrates new and extended customer partnerships as it continues to invest for future growth.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a joyous festive season. All the very best for the New Year 2023.

Stay safe.

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