The IPWEA 2025 Fleet Conference officially opened in Brisbane with a powerful trio of keynote presentations designed to challenge, inspire and encourage continuous improvement among fleet practitioners. With record attendance and a theme centred on comparison, creativity and collaboration, the first morning set the tone for strategic thinking and best practice fleet management.
John Cadogan, well-known automotive industry commentator and YouTuber with over 400,000 followers, kicked off proceedings with his provocative keynote: Is Critical Thinking Dead in 2025?
His presentation struck a chord with delegates, sparking discussion across the room. Cadogan’s central challenge to the audience was simple yet profound: question everything, especially when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs). Rather than being an anti-EV voice, Cadogan urged fleet practitioners to put aside emotion and industry hype, instead asking: is this vehicle fit for purpose? His emphasis on fit-for-purpose decision-making resonated strongly with fleet practitioners who are increasingly balancing environmental goals with operational requirements. In questioning whether EVs are suitable for every fleet application, Cadogan re-centred the conversation on thoughtful analysis and critical evaluation — core principles for maturing fleet management.
Following on, Steve Williams, National Manager – ICT & Fleet at Komatsu, delivered a compelling presentation on Moving Focus from Efficiencies to Value Creation.
Williams’ talk was not a corporate sales pitch, but rather an insightful discussion about how technology can transform fleet management. He showcased how predictive maintenance, safety enhancements, and reduced downtime are not just opportunities for efficiency but drivers of tangible value. By highlighting real-world examples, Williams demonstrated that the integration of data and smart technology can help fleet practitioners not just cut costs, but also elevate fleet performance and reliability. His message was clear: focusing solely on cost savings limits a fleet’s potential; creating value through technology and strategic thinking is where long-term success lies.
The final keynote for the opening session came from Will Batty, Associate Vice President, Business Development – APAC at Geotab, who posed a crucial question: How Will Technology Change Fleet Management in the Next Five Years?
Batty provided delegates with a forward-looking view, outlining three critical trends that will reshape the industry: artificial intelligence, lower-emission vehicles, and video telematics. Importantly, he reassured delegates that these advances are not about replacing fleet managers but about augmenting their capabilities. Artificial intelligence will help simplify data analysis, allowing fleet practitioners to make faster and smarter decisions. The move towards lower-emission vehicles will continue to evolve, with more options becoming available to meet a wider range of fleet needs. Finally, video telematics will drive significant improvements in fleet safety, giving managers new tools to protect drivers and assets.
Marc Sibbald, Director – Fleet at IPWEA, summed up the success of the opening session by highlighting how each speaker had achieved what a fleet conference is meant to do: pull practitioners out of day-to-day operations and challenge them to think more strategically. According to Sibbald, the speakers encouraged fleet professionals to reassess their practices, set clear strategic goals, and pursue continuous improvement.
The morning’s presentations left no doubt that fleet management is undergoing rapid transformation, and the IPWEA 2025 Fleet Conference is set to be a key forum for sharing ideas and preparing for the future. From questioning accepted narratives to embracing technology that enhances safety and efficiency, fleet practitioners were urged to move beyond compliance and cost savings and toward creating lasting value.
This opening session perfectly embodied the conference themes of comparison, creativity, and collaboration — pushing fleet professionals to compare current practices with emerging opportunities, think creatively about solutions, and collaborate across industries to raise the maturity level of fleet management throughout Australasia.
