Hino Australia boss Richard Emery elected Truck Industry Council president

Emery takes over the TIC presidency

Richard Emery, president and chief executive of Hino Motor Sales Australia, has been elected president of the Truck Industry Council, the peak body representing Australian truck manufacturers, importers and distributors. The election was reported by AutoTalk Australia and separately by Prime Mover Magazine, both identifying the change as a leadership handover at the top of the truck industry's national representative body. ¹²

Prime Mover Magazine, whose summary of the appointment was carried by Ground News, broke the news of the appointment on Friday, October 2, 2026, reporting that Emery would lead the council following the annual general meeting in Canberra. ²

According to AutoTalk Australia, Emery succeeds Isuzu Trucks Australia managing director and chief executive Andrew Harbison, who led the council before him. Harbison and Volvo Group Australia's Tom Chapman were elected vice-presidents at the same meeting. ¹

Continuity after the Harbison era

Emery told AutoTalk Australia he was pleased to step into the role and to continue building on the approach taken by Harbison over recent years. "The truck industry is dynamic and continuing to evolve to meet the various challenges of today's freight task," he said. ¹

The incoming president's comments frame the handover as continuity rather than rupture, with the new leadership explicitly committing to extend the direction set during Harbison's tenure rather than chart an immediate new course, according to the AutoTalk Australia report. ¹

Policy priorities: the National Truck Plan and road-user charging

The Truck Industry Council works with governments, regulators and other industry stakeholders on behalf of the Australian truck sector, and its priorities include advocating for the National Truck Plan, which is intended to support a safer, cleaner and more efficient Australian truck fleet. ¹

Beyond the National Truck Plan, Emery told AutoTalk Australia that securing a balanced future road-user charge will be a key focus for the council. "Beyond the Truck Plan, we will work to provide valuable input to the Government regarding the pressing need for a balanced Road User Charge in the future," he said. Road-user charging is a long-debated element of Australian transport funding, and the new president's comments signal the council intends to engage directly with the federal government on its design. ¹

The incoming president's background

Emery brings four decades of automotive industry experience in Australia and Southeast Asia, spanning multiple brands and markets, according to AutoTalk Australia. He previously served as a director of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and chaired the chamber's Importers Group, giving him prior experience in peak industry representation. ¹

That combination of manufacturer leadership at Hino Australia and earlier industry-body service positions Emery as an experienced figure for the TIC presidency as the council continues its advocacy on fleet safety, emissions and charging policy on behalf of the nation's truck makers, importers and distributors. ¹