THE FREIGHT & Trade Alliance (FTA) along with Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) has announced that John Park, head of business operations, has been recognised by receiving the 2024 Industry Australian Biosecurity Award.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) secretary Adam Fennessy bestowed Mr Park with the award at Parliament House in Canberra yesterday, (25 November).
On its official website, DAFF highlighted the contributions made by Mr Park to Australian biosecurity over a career that has so far spanned nearly 60 years.
Mr Park began his current role at the FTA/APSA in June 2019, where he co-designed and provided industry support on biosecurity reforms to manage the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) and khapra beetle.
“John has worked collaboratively with the department for many years to manage and reduce biosecurity risks,” DAFF said in a post on its website.
“John has been a strong advocate for industry, working with the biosecurity operations staff to ensure industry concerns have been heard, particularly with relation to document and assessment processes, leading industry representation over the periods of significant operational changes.
“As a trusted expert, he raises biosecurity awareness among Australian importers, depots and logistics providers and actively promotes treatment and safeguarding measures offshore.”
Mr Park was nominated for the award by the FTA/APSA’s Paul Zalai. In a statement, FTA/APSA thanked DAFF “for the recognition bestowed upon John for his ongoing commitment to maintaining biosecurity integrity and for an outstanding career in trade facilitation that to date has spanned more than 57 years”.
In a post on LinkedIn, Mr Park said he was “very honoured” to receive the award.
“I feel very privileged to be the recipient of this award in an industry I have been in for some 58 years – proud to have my wife Ann with me.”
MP Collins reportedly delivered an address which included a special tribute to Mr Park.
Mr Park began his career in 1967 with Rudders Customs Agency, which would eventually become a division of TNT, advancing to become a licenced customs broker in 1980 and performing a range of executive roles over 30 years.
Mr Park also became the inaugural Western Australian Regional Manager for the then Customs Brokers & Forwarders Council of Australia Inc (CBFCA), representing members’ interests in statutory reporting and local logistics matters.
In July 2020, Mr Park was the founding secretary of the Biosecurity Treatment Provider Reference Group (BTPRG), which is open to members from onshore biosecurity treatment providers.
The BTPRG aims to collaborate with the department to deliver nationally consistent communication and support to onshore biosecurity treatment providers to develop practical compliance assurances that satisfy departmental requirements.
