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Speaker Profile

Michael Byrne was appointed International Freight Coordinator General, Austrade on 31 March 2020 in an interim role to assist with the Federal Government’s COVID-19 response.

Michael’s appointment followed a distinguished 30-year career in executive positions both in Australia and internationally in the logistics, supply chain, retail and property sectors. Previous roles include Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Toll Group Holdings; Chief Executive Officer of Coates Hire; Linfox and Westgate Holdings, as well as Non-Executive Director of Australia Post.

Michael currently serves on the Ausgrid Asset, Management, Finance and Operator Partnership Boards. He is also a council member on the NSW Freight Advisory Council, a Senate member for the University of Western Australia and is a Strategic Advisor on Infrastructure to IFM Investors and leads the Talent and Capability Think Tank for Deakin University.

Previously, Michael has been on numerous government boards advising on transportation, infrastructure, food security and security matters. He has also held board positions with OzHarvest (a food charity) and education committees for Victoria University and the University of Denver.

Michael holds a Master of Science in Transportation and Infrastructure from the University of Denver, USA. He completed management training at the Darden School of Management at the University of Virginia, as well as the International Management Program at the MIT Sloan School of Management, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2017, Michael became the inaugural Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Supply Chain and Logistics at Deakin University.

Michael has been married to Leah for over 28 years and they have three adult children - Sarah, Jacob and Isaac. He has been a patrol captain and board coach at Elouera Surf Club, Sydney, for more than 15 years. Michael has also coached children’s sport for over 25 years in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire.