Post Haste
It’s not easy moving an entire country’s mail
in this fast-paced technological jungle we call
home. Fortunately, for Australia Post, James
Dixon is in the command bunker.
WORDS SCOTT MURRAY PHOTOS SUPPLIED
A
1964 Chevy pick-up isn’t the last word
in automotive innovation, nor is it a
vehicle many would lust for or dream
about. But reliability is more important to more
people than novelty or sentimentality. This is
the right attitude to have when you run one of
the biggest fleets in the country. Meet James
Dixon, a man on a mission to keep Australia’s
non-stop 24/7 postal service going and going
and going.
The Chevvy was nothing more than a tool for
James, but it was dependable. “It was a means
to an end,” he said. “It provided a transport
solution, however was not the most prestigious
vehicle on the road, it must be said.”
For two centuries Australia Post has been that
crucial link between cities, communities and
regional areas and has seen world wars, the
industrial revolution and the computer age. At
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every step, the postal services has remained
steadfast and strong, adapting with change
and delivering – literally. James Dixon fully
intends to continue that legacy.
“Australia Post will continue to evolve to meet
the changing needs of our consumers,” he
said. “In April, Australia Post became the first
logistics company in Australia to test Remotely
Piloted Aircraft (RPA) or ‘drone’ technology for
parcel delivery.” Not to mention the $20million
investment in a new eCommerce Innovation
Capital Fund in partnership with Melbourne
University. “We’ve also established partnerships
with ShipStation and QANTAS,” James said.
“The former will make it easier for customers
to print labels and lodge articles for shipment,
while QANTAS will be our new dedicated air
freight partners networking with Australia Post
and StarTrack.”