2020 CEO Survey: Matt Halliday, Ampol

Policy reforms from all levels of government are needed to ensure development of a range of technologies and alternative fuels, says Ampol chief Matt Halliday.

Ampol CEO Matthew Halliday in Concord. Picture: Toby Zerna

What are the three enduring lessons or changes to flow from COVID-19?

First, the shift to convenience in the retail sector. We believe one of the lasting impacts of COVID-19 will be Australians spending more time in their local areas and increasingly visiting convenient smaller format stores rather than traditional shopping centres.

Second, the renewed support for local businesses is a trend we have seen in our transition to Ampol, but also in buying trends across our retail store network.

The transition to remote working and an increasing reliance on technology to stay connected.

How would you rate the shape of the Australian economy as we head into the new year?

While it is concerning to see the vast number of jobs that have been impacted and the devastating impact on many companies, on a positive note the economy has proven to be (resilient).

What three reforms are needed to sustainably grow the economy?

Obtaining further certainty on climate change and energy, productivity focused initiatives and further investment in skills.

We support a bipartisan policy position that guides long-term investment in supporting the transition to a low carbon future. Such an approach would not just bring greater investment certainty to the energy sector but provide more stability to the Australian economy.

Policy reforms from all levels of government will be needed to ensure the development of a range of technologies and alternative fuels, such as battery electric vehicles, hydrogen powered fuel cell electric vehicles and advanced biofuels such as sustainable aviation fuel.

We would like to see a less combative approach to enterprise bargaining and the implementation of initiatives that support a shift to more flexible and productive working arrangements.

Regarding skills, with the shift to online learning there is an opportunity for industry, government and the education sector to work more closely together to ensure tertiary education is aligned with the jobs of the future in the Australian economy.

What are the three best growth opportunities for your company in 2021?

Our three best growth opportunities are in retail convenience here in Australia, continued expansion in our international fuels business, and opportunities presented by the Ampol rebrand.

We have commenced international fuel storage activities over the past two years and opened a trading and shipping office in Houston in January, to complement our operations in Singapore, and we will look to further expand these opportunities in 2021.

What impact will digital transformation have on your company?

The biggest impacts will come in the way our employees work and the way we engage our customers. We have over 80,000 B2B customers and more than three million retail customer visits per week, and the digital evolution will continue to transform the way we enhance our offer to customers. We have made investments in big data, cloud computing, robotic process automation and cybersecurity over recent years to ensure we are prepared to change as customer needs and preferences evolve.

How would you rate business, state and federal government performance this year?

In the face of an extremely challenging environment, I think governments have done extremely well, both in managing the spread of COVID-19 and the safety of Australians, while at the same time providing support to the economy. The rebound in economic activity in the second half, and how sustainable it is going forward, will be highly dependent on the ongoing stimulus provided and efforts to ensure our state borders remain open.