Group Chief Executive’s Report My initial focus has been to establish the platform from which to advance the benchmarks of advocacy, services, support, training and innovation in the best interests of our members.
Brett Dale Chief Executive Officer MTA Queensland
The Motor Trades Association of Queensland Board appointed me to the role of Group Chief Executive in May 2016. It has been an honour to return to the MTA Queensland to implement the Board’s decisions and policies, provide the leadership to the corporate office and to serve the membership of all our divisional groups. Although a short partnership and tenure to date, the team and I have hit the ground running. My initial focus has been to establish the platform from which to advance the benchmarks of advocacy, services, support, training and innovation in the best interests of our members. This has required a multifaceted approach built on collaboration, inclusiveness, professionalism and trust with staff, members and the broad range of stakeholders. Increasingly and consultatively I initiated: • Staff engagement mechanisms; • Interactions with Divisional Chairs; • The procedures to implement the Group’s 2016-18 Strategic Plan; • The membership growth strategy; • The advocacy actions to raise the profile of the Association: »» within the retail, service and repair sectors of the motor trades; »» with local and interstate stakeholders; and »» with political representatives at local, state and federal levels through communications and direct engagement; • The implementation of effective corporate governance arrangements for relationships, systems and processes to ensure compliance with the Association’s rules. This includes reviewing corporate risk, occupational health and safety, and member engagement strategies; • The activity schedule for the 2016-17 financial year;
08 Motor Trades Association of Queensland Industrial Organisation of Employers
• The establishment of a business development team to promote and grow the MTA Queensland and the Professional Circle; • Cooperation with interstate Motor Trades Associations to establish a national collaborative arrangement; and • Negotiations on training programs with federal and state training entities. To implement these across the Group, and to achieve positive outcomes, relies on the professionalism and goodwill within the corporate office. I thank General Managers Kellie Dewar and Paul Kulpa, CFO Kathy Winkcup and all staff for their courtesies to me during a period of significant management change, for their willingness to respond to new goals and to enthusiastically advance the MTA Queensland Group.
The motor trades and the economy Those of you who have followed my column in Motor Trader magazine in recent months will have noted my interest in the economy and its impact on the motor trades. Indeed, in several reports from the MTA Queensland divisional chairs, they indicate differing business circumstances. Some express ‘a positive trading year’, including significant membership growth, whilst others experienced ‘patchy/varied trading conditions’ with a limited increase in new personnel and static renewals including business closures. Although business volatility prevailed, there was optimism particularly with ‘the Professional Circle championing the MTA Queensland members’ high industry standards for workmanship.’ Consistent themes were identified by Chairs as impacting on their businesses in the past financial year. These comprised challenging