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The 2010 Supply Chain & Logistics Summit, which is held during the annual Queensland Supply Chain & Logistics Conference, focused on key issues that the group determined to be the most relevant in the challenging times currently being experienced by all Supply Chain and Logistics Professionals and Practitioners.
The three key issues were: (1) Environment;(2) Infrastructure;(3) People.
SCL Summit participants emphatically concluded that:
“We must act now in a collective and committed manner, with efforts being led by the profession and related industries.”
It was agreed the following process would be adopted for the ensuing year.
1. A representative group embracing all elements of Supply Chain practice will be formed as a Steering Committee to address challenges identified at the SCL Summit. Professional and Industry Associations will be encouraged to collaboratively participate.
2. Regular updates on progress will be widely distributed throughout the Supply Chain Community and relevant industries.
3. At the SCL Summit in 2011 a report on achievements and emerging issues will be presented for review.
4. The Steering Committee will seek to initiate a Profession and industries led national collaborative Group to pursue the development of effective practice in Supply Chain and Logistics in Australia.
The following Priorities emerged from the 2010 SCL Summit.
INFRASTRUCTURE
• Industry must lead development of long term strategic planning for transport infrastructure.
• Existing infrastructure should be optimised as a first priority.
• Whole of Supply Chain infrastructure planning, rather than transport only infrastructure is mandatory. Effective modal connectivity is a key.
• The Supply Chain profession and related industries need to speak with one voice in approaching governments. We must present a united front with consistent lobbying and or messaging from all our sectors.
• Must build compelling arguments to support ‘wish lists; on infrastructure.
• Connectivity and lean principles are important considerations in planning.
• Alternative fuels, vehicle optimisation and design, innovative Transport & Logistics solutions, and integration with infrastructure are key components.
• Training, education, discussion forums and applied research are important issues.
ENVIRONMENT
• Increased education and awareness is mandatory to ensure industries and consumers understand the far ranging impact their activities have on the environment.
• Must deal with realities and facts, not hype and fallacies.
• More research is needed re cause and effects of climate change.
• Green practices must be promoted throughout the profession and relevant industries.
• Need to find and encourage champions to pursue change within organisations.
• Clever approaches are necessary in making our profession and industries attractive to green conscious people seeking careers.
• We must take leadership in protecting the environment, and exciting and enthusing industries and consumers to take real action. We cannot wait for Governments to get the courage to act.
• Improved measurement and reporting on achievements and non compliance is essential.
• Must support and promote clean products.
• Green and Sustainable Supply Chains must be pursued. This includes promulgation of relevant standards and guidelines.
• Incentives rather than taxes or penalties offer the best chance of success.
PEOPLE
• Training and education is paramount
• Career paths and training/education articulation are critical.
• Attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining quality people area priority.
• Developing a true profession based on competencies and a common body of knowledge are overdue requirements.
• People of all age groups and experience are candidates for employment, not just school leavers.
• Need to develop profession and industry wide marketing campaigns to bring people to our profession by choice not by chance. All of our sectors must agree on a consistent promotional and image building messages.
• Mentoring is important.
• Higher education programs need re engineering to reflect needs of the profession and related industries.
• Supply Chains are dependant on people. They represent the most critical resource. | 
