The winner is …. Thomas Brayley, Fleet and Plant Services Manager at Logan City Council.
It was a fantastic night for Brayley and his team because earlier in the night they also won the Fleet Environment Award for implementing a green fleet program that took a wholistic approach reducing the environmental impact of the entire fleet operation.
In the submission for Fleet Manager of the Year award, Brayley outlined how he strived for excellence with his team after several difficult years post-COVID where labour shortages and other constraints forced him to pivot several times without losing sight of the ultimate objective.
“Creating a branch operating model for Plant Fleet Services is something that took a long time,” explained Brayley in the award video.
“We started off with splitting the programs into creating a strategic program and an operational program; and then recruiting for those positions. The program leaders Lee Halkias and Richard Thompson are key in the new operating model for Plant Fleet Services. And how we are delivering those services for the community; and how we deliver those services for our stakeholders is crucial to our operating model.”
Safety is another priority for Brayley, and when staff shortages threaten to create a risk to safety, he secured a temporary wage uplift of 20% for three years to retain and attract staff.
“Plant Fleet Services and the organisation as a whole has had a huge safety uplift and a new safety framework put in place,” according to Brayley. “We audit our own processes on a regular basis. We engage external auditors to audit our processes. We do regular safety observations which is split across not just the leaders, but the supervisors and the trade based staff as well. We do risk assessments and hazard inspections on the whole of depot on a regular basis as well as.”
Organisational engagement and managing upwards are an important part of fleet management which often gets delayed due to operational issues. Brayley addresses this regularly to ensure he has the attention, and the finances required for the fleet to meet the service levels expected by the community.
“Providing awareness to the organisation of our financial position, and the sustainability of Plant Fleet Services in a very tough environment is critical. We’ve gone through a huge budget rebuild where we’ve engaged external consultants to work with our Finance department; closely with Plant Fleet Services to make we’ve got enough money to support the 10-year strategy going forward.”
As a strong supporter of fleet management excellence, including a role as Chair on the IPWEA Fleet Council, Brayley is always available to advise and guide industry peers. He’s a strategic thinker who takes a collaborative approach to ensure every initiative delivers value for the community he serves.
“Receiving this award is a tremendous honour, and accolades and recognition that I think we should all strive to achieve,” said Brayley during his acceptance speech.
“These awards have the power to elevate the industry; inspire those working within it and shape the leaders of tomorrow. My career journey has taken many forms and taken me to many places. It’s been interesting, colourful, difficult, rewarding, challenging; but everything I’ve done is contributed to who I am and what I do in my chosen profession.”
“I want for nothing more than building a culture of excellence and contributing to the industry and making a difference. I want to thank AfMA for raising the bar and offering innovation and leadership from their award and recognition program. I want to thank all the sponsors as well for these awards tonight.
“I want to thank Logan City Council for investing in, and supporting in developing leaders as the ultimate goal was to leave a strong and lasting legacy. I dedicate this award to my team who have been pivotal in the transformational journey of fleet management and organisational requirements. Together we’re setting new standards in excellence.”
