Business-as-usual could not have been further from the truth at the Bus Industry Confederation over the last three months. Most membership organisations are rounding things off for the year and wholeheartedly patting themselves on the back. The BIC, on the other hand, had other ideas and sometimes we, at the Secretariat, wonder whether it has a mind of its own.
First-off the rank was the annual BIC AGM, which was held on the 29 October 2025 in Perth. Not to be mistaken with your regular run-of-the-mill affair, the official announcement that a new Constitution was endorsed by the BIC membership was further enhanced by the proclamation that the change to a Company Limited by Guarantee was also formally adopted.
The new Constitution will offer a comprehensive framework for the effective management and oversight of the new Board’s activities. It replaces the previous governing document and reflects the evolving needs and priorities of the organisation and its stakeholders.
This represents a major step forward in strengthening the governance, accountability and operational integrity of the BIC, and we’d like to thank all those involved for their unwavering support over the past year.
BIC Council members for 2026, as well as the Chair and Vice Chair, were also locked in for the year ahead at the AGM. The Council is made up as follows:
Operators Group
Tony Hopkins, CDC (Chair); Wayne Patch, Kinetic; Rolf Mitchell, Keolis Downer
Chassis Suppliers & Manufacturers Group
Mitch Peden, Volvo; Jon Tozer, BYD
Body Suppliers & Manufacturers Group
Seve Heanes, Irizar (Vice Chair); Desmond Armstrong, Bus and Coach International (BCI)
Associated Services Providers Group (ASPs)
Mick Hall, McConnell Seats Australia; Caleb Harriott, GoTransit Media Group
Energy and Infrastructure Group
Jack Kotlyar, Energy Australia
New South Wales
Byron Rowe, Busways Pacific; Jamie Klemm, Sapphire Coast Buslines
Victoria
Emily Lalley, McGinty Group; Robert Wright, Moreland Buslines
Queensland
Kaylee Clark, Clark’s Logan City Bus Service; Michael Baulch, Emerald Coaches
South Australia
Stephen Lucas, Warrnambool Bus Lines
Tasmania
Rachel Hodge, Manion Coaches
Western Australia
Natalie Gough, West Coast Bus Charters
But the biggest shine on the proverbial hubcap was the return to the fold of Bus Association Victoria (BusVic) as state association members of BIC. We’re eagerly looking forward to seeing what the industry will sound like in 2026 as a wholly unified voice once again.
A fair few of you will also be aware that we held a wee soiree out west in Perth last month. In the lead up to All Hallow’s, an industry-wide contingent over 450-strong descended onto Western Australian shores to attend the biggest bus and coach event of the year. In fact, a whole slew of new faces lined up to register on day one of the BIC National Conference (BNC25).
A successful addition to this year’s proceedings was the mini expo which attracted positive comments from supplier members and operators alike. And our little Scan2WIN QR code hunt went down a treat, with delegates clambering to top the leaderboard throughout the event. Our collection of keynotes and special guests also received impressive reviews from those present. If you’d like to go back and revisit some of those key takeaways, presentations are available online.
Day one concluded with a literally glittering dinner and entertainment at scenic Kings Park, which also played host to the 2025 National Industry Awards presentation. A member benefit for BIC members, along with those from the individual state bus associations, five awards went out to the year’s most amazing bussies. Read our media release and meet the winners.
We had a wonderfully engaging time with you all in Perth and we have the photographic evidence to prove it! This was one of the biggest conferences in recent years for us flanked by all of the successes from the AGM, rekindled relationships with the full complement of state associations, and locked-in plans for upcoming events and activities that we can’t wait to share with you in the months to come.
In the meantime, we invite this year’s delegates to keep an eye out for our post-conference survey in their inboxes, including details on how to win an amazing $500 Hamilton Island Experience at BNC26 from the 15th to 17th of November 2026! Incidentally, you can already get ahead and book your stay or submit a presentation expression of interest.
We are immensely grateful for the unwavering support of our loyal members this year’s sponsors, without whose help this year would not have been possible.
Catch you next month for a full wrap-up of 2025.
