CBAFF Conference, Queenstown
The 23rd annual CBAFF Conference convened in Queenstown, New Zealand, with approximately 150 attendees from New Zealand and Australia. Geoff Dolan served as master of ceremonies for an event themed around "Disruption."
Opening Remarks
Rosemary Dawson and Glenn Coldham (CBAFF President) welcomed delegates and presented updates from the prior day's AGM. Coldham discussed CBAFF's engagement with government, highlighting congestion issues at Auckland Airport and Ports of Auckland, as well as similar challenges at Tauranga and Lyttleton Ports.
Keynote Address
"New Zealander of the Year 2019" Mike King delivered an inspiring keynote on mental health awareness. He emphasised that "Vulnerability is what future generations need to see" and urged leaders to acknowledge their own vulnerabilities, enabling organisational growth.
Morning Sessions
Richard White (WiseTech CEO) challenged the industry to redefine the "Amazon Effect" beyond simple logistics. He stressed that "Exceptional volumes… and increasing cross-border risk can only be solved with digital-straight-through processing."
Rhonda Koroheke (Spark) addressed leadership and workplace diversity, noting that culture and diversity represent significant organisational challenges requiring strategic planning.
Afternoon Sessions
Disaster Recovery Panel
Derek Singline (Maersk Line), Tom Moore (Aura Information), and Christian Probst (Unitec) discussed digital recovery strategies. Key takeaway: backups alone are insufficient; organisations must test full restoration capabilities. Maersk's experience with a 300-million-dollar attack underscored the importance of managed restart procedures to prevent reinfection.
NZ Customs Update
Richard Bargh reported that 92 infringement notices were issued. The Low Value Goods threshold increased to $1,000 NZD, eliminating tariff duty except for tobacco or alcohol.
Biosecurity Update
Graeme Marshall emphasised that biosecurity should be viewed as a business risk rather than merely a compliance issue. Biosecurity leadership could become a competitive advantage.
The day concluded with a formal dinner at Moonlight Country Estate, featuring live music and multiple food stations. Natalia Harold from Jacanna received the Young Freight Forwarder of the Year Award.
