Freight Forward 2026 brought together leaders from industry, government and investment for a national conversation on the future of freight, one that quickly extended well beyond the room.

Held at Parliament House in Canberra, the summit came at a moment of real pressure: fuel security concerns were rising, transport emissions were climbing, and the gap between policy and action was becoming harder to ignore.

Working with presenting partners Smart Energy Council, Boundless Earth, EFF, TWU & T&E, the focus wasn’t just on convening the right people, but on creating a moment that could shift the conversation – reflected in strong cross-sector engagement, national media coverage, and direct traction within policy discussions in the days that followed.

The response was strong, and importantly, it felt genuine.

Over 300 people attended, representing more than 180 organisations. Engagement held throughout the day, which says as much about the room as it does about the program.

Feedback was consistently high -b 9/10 for both experience and recommendation, and a Net Promoter Score above +75. People described it as one of the most relevant and well-curated events they’d been to in years.

More than 25 federal parliamentarians engaged with the event, and it was referenced directly in parliamentary debate in the days that followed. That level of traction doesn’t happen by accident.

Media coverage extended the conversation well beyond the room, with national broadcast, print and digital outlets picking it up and helping position zero-emission freight as a serious, near-term priority.