MegaTrans 2026 unveils a conference program tackling decarbonisation, automation, workforce pressures and infrastructure shaping Australia’s freight future.
MegaTrans is set to return to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 16–17 September 2026 with a conference program built around the real-world pressures and opportunities reshaping Australia’s freight and logistics sector.
Reflecting an industry in transition, the program will explore the key challenges shaping the future of supply chains, from decarbonisation and automation to workforce pressures and infrastructure planning. The event will bring together operators, infrastructure owners, technology providers and policymakers, reinforcing MegaTrans’ role as a cross-modal platform spanning road, rail, ports, intermodal and warehousing.
A standout session, Beyond Diesel: The Best Way Forward, will feature Andrew Newman, Director of Policy and Strategy at Freight Victoria, and Heather Bone, Director of Sustainability at Team Global Express. Joined by a panel of industry experts, the session will explore practical pathways beyond diesel as the sector works toward a lower-emissions future.
Innovation across the freight task will be explored in Automate All Avenues: Driving All Modes Forward, featuring Bruno Porchietto, CEO of Victoria International Container Terminal Melbourne, and Gren John Britto, Amazon Australia DSP Country Leader. Together with fellow panellists, the discussion will examine how automation is transforming operations across ports, road and beyond.
Mid-tier operators, often the backbone of the sector, will be the focus of Reinvigorating Mid-Tier Logistics, featuring Steven Ballerini, CEO of the Australasian Supply Chain & Logistics Association. The session will bring together a range of perspectives on how these businesses are under growing pressure from rising costs, tight margins and long payment terms, and how to respond.
Strategic infrastructure planning will take centre stage in Location, Location, Location: Establishing DCs for the Future, featuring Hermione Parsons, CEO and Managing Director of the Australian Logistics Council. Alongside other industry representatives, the session will examine how businesses can secure and design distribution centres that align with evolving freight flows, land constraints and long-term network planning.
Sustainability will remain a key theme throughout the program. In Greener By Design: Manufacturing Driving Sustainability Across the Supply Chain, Scott Edwards, Associate Director Sustainability at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australia, will join fellow panellists to explore how sustainability is being embedded across operations, from manufacturing through to distribution.
Workforce challenges will also be addressed in Recruiting Right: Overcoming Staff Shortages, featuring Tony Mellick, CEO of Hi-Trans Express. Together with other industry voices, the session will focus on practical strategies to attract, retain and develop talent in a highly competitive labour market.
These sessions form part of a broader conference program designed to reflect the operational realities facing the sector. The agenda is expected to expand further, with additional speakers and topics to be announced in the lead-up to the event.
Molly Hancock, Head of Marketing – Events at Prime Creative Media, says the 2026 program reflects both the urgency and opportunity facing the sector.
“Freight and logistics are under real pressure right now, and that’s exactly why this program matters,” Siobhan says.
“We’ve built it around the conversations the industry is already having on the ground and brought together the people who can speak to what’s actually changing and what comes next.”
MegaTrans 2026 will again bring together a broad cross-section of the supply chain, including major operators, logistics providers, infrastructure stakeholders and technology companies, alongside the dedicated Operator Hub showcasing real-world operational perspectives.
With registrations now open, the event is shaping up to provide businesses with practical ideas, sharper insight and a clearer path forward in a fast-changing freight and logistics landscape.
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