Farewells and congratulations were in order at the unofficial opening of the annual QBIC conference on Monday, as QBIC President Graham Davis prepares to step down
Volvo Bus Australia General Manager Peter Duncan was first to congratulate Davis on the completion of his three-year presidency term, during the Volvo and IVECO welcome reception at the Gold Coast Convention Centre last night.
“I can’t believe it has been three years,” Duncan says.
“I remember you coming on board as president.”
“It was a tremendous three years and you certainly set a good course for QBIC going forward.
To whoever follows you, they have big shoes to fill.”IVECO Bus and Coach general manager Steve Heanes’s speech followed in the same vein.
“I would also like to thank Graham,” Heanes says.
“He has been an interesting character for me to work with.”
“Although we have had some challenging conversations we have had some good results as well.”
Davis has been in the bus industry for more than 30 years.
His first job in the industry was with Newmans Coach Lines in New Zealand, where he worked for 10 years. He has since worked in Perth and Brisbane in various roles. When he first took on the position of QBIC president he said his major objectives were to maintain an “inclusive” association.
“I use that word because every operator in the state that wants to be part of QBIC can be,” he says. “I see us as being inclusive in that regard.”
The end of Davis’s term coincides with this year’s conference, fittingly themed Communicate, Connect, Create.