AAVT CEO Mark Liversedge attended the Australian Industry Group’s National Forum 2026, held in Canberra on 12–13 October, joining senior business leaders, policymakers and industry representatives to examine the challenges and opportunities facing Australian industry.
Under the theme Turning Turbulence to Advantage, the two-day Forum brought together senior political and industry leaders, with contributions from the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, government ministers and representatives from across the political spectrum.
Discussions explored issues shaping Australia’s economic and industrial future, including productivity, workforce capability, emerging technologies, trade security and the broader economic outlook.
A highlight of the Forum was the keynote address by 2026 Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg, the first Australian to qualify as an astronaut under Australia’s space program. Drawing on her experiences in space exploration, she offered an inspiring perspective on ambition, innovation and the opportunities that emerge through collaboration and a willingness to look beyond immediate challenges.
For AAVT, the Forum provided an opportunity to engage with the wider Australian industry community, strengthen relationships and gain insights into developments that may influence the future of the vertical transport sector.
Workforce Capability and Productivity
In its 2026 research, Key Economic and Policy Reform Issues for Industry, Australian Industry Group reported that 61% of employers recruiting for technician and trades roles experienced recruitment difficulties.
The research also identified declining productivity across industrial sectors, including manufacturing, construction and utilities, where shortages of skilled technicians, rising energy costs and volatile market conditions have affected performance.
These findings highlight the relationship between workforce capability and industry productivity. For the vertical transport sector, they reinforce the importance of developing and maintaining technical expertise to support operational performance, innovation and future industry capability.
Emerging Technologies and Industry Change
Ai Group’s research also highlighted the growing adoption of artificial intelligence, with 38% of surveyed businesses reporting the adoption of new AI technologies over the preceding 12 months.
Among businesses adopting AI, 66% identified improving efficiency in existing tasks as an objective. However, the research also identified more advanced applications in areas including safety hazard identification, automated monitoring, quality assurance and technical information support.
These developments have potential implications for technical industries such as vertical transport, where technological innovation must be considered alongside workforce capability, specialist expertise and operational requirements.
The research also identified investment costs, workforce skills and cybersecurity as significant considerations in the adoption of emerging technologies, highlighting the importance of building organisational capability alongside technological change.
Supporting AAVT’s Industry Engagement
Participation in national forums provides AAVT with opportunities to strengthen its understanding of broader industry developments, build connections with business and policy leaders, and raise awareness of the Association and the vertical transport sector.
The insights gained contribute to AAVT’s ongoing engagement with members and its understanding of the issues and opportunities shaping the industry’s future.
Further reading: National Forum 2026 — Australian Industry Group