Australia has won the right to host the 2011 International Conference of World Leaders of Transport and Logistics. Last night leaders of the Transport and Logistics Industry from around the world, meeting in Malta as the International Council of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) announced Australia's win. The associated meetings will be in Sydney 2-5 May 2011 with the conference itself on 4 May 2011.

"This will give Australian T&L a perfect opportunity both to share our successes with the world and to learn, first hand from international experience" said Hal Morris, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia (Cilta). "We anticipate that at least 100 senior industry leaders from the 30 plus CILT countries as well as other CILT members will attend and meet with Australian leaders."

The opportunity to host this important event comes on the back of Australian Len Harper becoming the International Chairman of CILT, only the second time in over 80 years that an Australian has held the prestigious post.

"Cilta is celebrating 75 years in Australia in 2010 and we have already organized a busy program of events that will now provide an ideal lead up to the international meeting" Morris said.

These events and activities have been designed to focus on specific issues for T&L such as

* T&L in the Tropics in Townsville on 3 June
* T&L in Regional Australia in Perth in August
* National Passenger Transport Summit in Brisbane in August
* National Freight and Supply Chain Summit in Melbourne in September
* Cilta's National T&L Awards in Sydney in November.

"Cilta's priority is professional development" Morris said. "We focus, in particular on development of young people in T&L and the 2011 International Conference will be a great chance for our young professionals to meet the world leaders of our industry and to understand the exciting global opportunities offered by careers in T&L."