Last week, 290 bp dealers and retailers from across Australia and New Zealand met in Port Douglas for the bp DARC 2023 conference. Under the theme of ‘Today, Tomorrow, Together’, an impressive line-up of experts, partners and suppliers combined to deliver a conference whose focus was on arming bp dealers and retailers with business knowledge and tools to help them protect and grow their businesses today and be ready for the business of tomorrow.
The event opened with Tanya Ghosn (Vice President, Fleet, Dealer & Electrification, RAP Committee Chair – ANZ at bp), opened the conference with a commitment to continue to build respectful and successful relationships that involve real and open communication, learnings and innovation.
Frédéric Baudry (President, bp Australia and SVP fuels & low carbon solutions, Asia Pacific), delivered bp’s Net Zero Report Card three years on from the announcement that rocked the industry.
The key message was that change is happening, but it is slow and impacted by external factors, such as geopolitical and resource pressures. Three years on, the learnings are clear; investment, commitment and customer driven solutions are critical to change and success and bp is committed to ‘leaning in’ to the strategy of ‘transforming while learning’ and is investing in both traditional systems and energies, including traditional fuels, searching for efficiencies where possible, while also investing in future and alternative fuel options.
Frederic was open and generous in the Q&A that followed his detailed presentation. “Energy transition has been an exercise in humility. We have learnt a lot and we will continue to learn, but we are committed to make this work”.
In closing Frederic noted that “bp is all in on ANZ” , which was him quoting bp CEO Bernard Looney when he was here in Australia in November 2022, but has become the business motto.
Delegates were then treated to sunset over the water and some serious networking at the Dare Iced Coffee Dinner presented by Bega Cheese Limited and the fun continued at the after DARC after party presented by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
290 delegates met in the Glade at bp DARC 2023 to hear presentations with focus on practical, inspirational, technical and operational realities.
Shane Langford (Senior Dealer Manager ANZ at bp) led delegates through the progress and pressures since last DARC and set the stage for a practical safety review from Stuart Walker (Business Manager at bp) and Keith Joyce (Distributor Manager at bp).
Craig Hamilton then held a mirror up to the hard working, thick skinned ‘blokey blokes’ that make up this industry and challenged them to be honest with themselves, their doctors and their confidantes about where they are on the scale of; fine (really fine) to ‘fine’ (not fine) before it’s too late.
Mark Mazurek, CEO Linfox provided delegates with a window into the businesses commitment to safety and the humans in their business and the wider transport industry.
After lunch, Leigh Taylor (GM Asia Pacific Brand & Communications at bp), led delegates through the exciting brand refresh for Wild Bean Cafe that had the room buzzing before Matt Elliott (Vice President Mobility and Convenience Australia and NZ, and Head of Country NZ), took delegates through the critical role that convenience sales will have in stabilising site success as the transport energy transition continues.
ACAPMA’s Elisha Radwanowski led delegates through a high level review of the current fuel retail market in ANZ before a fast but detailed review of the compliance and business pressures fuel retailers are facing as well as the customer opportunities that are still able to be found even in the constricting economic conditions.
Ensuring that the event was not just talking the detailed listening breakout sessions saw delegates take the lead and really dive into practical and operational scenarios and questions.
Learning done for the day it was time for networking at the Mondelēz International Sports Icon Dinner where delegates were treated to a feisty chat between sporting legends; Simon O’Donnell, Cedric Dubler, Natalie Cook and Dermott Brereton.
The Honourable Julie Bishop opened the conference sessions for bp DARC 2023 on day two which was also International Women’s Day. It was standing room only as Ms Bishop gave an open and detailed exploration of her inspiring journey. Lessons included knowing when to bend and compromise, the importance of making time to look after your body and mind if you want to do your best work, and the importance of just making decisions “As leaders you must make decisions, don’t dither. Do your homework and then make the decision and move ahead”. The room continued to buzz with thoughts and conversation prompted by Ms Bishop well into the evening.
Nick Shaw (Head of Trading & Shipping, Low Carbon Energy Business Development ANZ at bp), opened a deep dive, technical exploration of the Future Fuels mix nationally and internationally including: timeline and challenges of the move to decarbonise.
Jeffrey LIU (General Manager – BP Pulse ANZ. FLP. MBA. EV. Future Mobility) and Michael Gregorevic (EV Offer Lead, ANZ region at bp), combined to explore the detail of EVs within the bp regional and international market.
Andreas Prosinecki (Head of Hydrogen Commercial Development and Origination ANZ at bp), went back to basics on hydrogen before exploring the significant commitment and investment bp has to further building on current hydrogen development and roll out and delivering into the future. There have been hurdles and the pace is not as fast as everyone would like, but the commitment is there.
Amanda Woollard (Head of Hydrogen Commercial Development and Origination ANZ at bp) and Georgia Mouratidis (Customer Insight Advisor- Customer & Products ASPAC at bp), led delegates through the important role of innovation in the consumer space across all touchpoints and particularly the goal of fully frictionless interactions in convenience.
Lunch saw a bit of fun with an epic mountain bike video game playoff where the prize was a real bike thanks to Ice Break Lactalis Group.
The learning continued in practical breakout sessions on loyalty, fleet and card, oils and EV.
The night wrapped up in style at the V Refresh Dinner presented by Frucor Suntory and the fun continued at afterDARC presented by Imperial Brands PLC
The final day of bp DARC 2023 conference opened with the energetic Nick Shaw exploring the often opaque operation of midstream trading desks before Paul Anderson, Business Development Director Uber, led a rare and energising session on the Uber and bp partnership now and the massive plans for the future.
Tanya Ghosn then provided delegates with an update in the Reconciliation Action Plan area and how bp is actively working to highlight, support and engage with first nations community and businesses. For the second year running DARC highlighted two fabulous first nations food suppliers The Unexpected Guest and Dreamtime Tuka as well as textile, art and experience providers.
The formal sessions closed with a bang when bp took the opportunity to recognise the important role that suppliers play in success with the coveted Supplier Awards.
Top gongs going to;
– NPD of the Year – Frucor Suntory V Refresh
– Beverages – Frucor Suntory
– Confectionary – Mondelēz International
– Snackfoods – PepsiCo
– Tobacco – Philip Morris International
– Cafe and Food – My Muscle Chef
– General Merchandise – Pacific Optics
– Distributor – Metcash
And the big one;
BP Supplier of the Year Overall went to Frucor Suntory.
Delegates then departed to the amazing Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, a must-do for anyone travelling in the beautiful Far North Queensland region where they were able to take part in a range of self-guided walks through the Daintree and gain a deeper understanding of the Kuku Yalanji land and culture.
Learning and exploring done it was time for the bp DARC 2023 delegates to get to the serious business of recognition and relaxation at the sparkling Asahi Beverages Gala Dinner and Awards Night.
Great food and great company was accompanied with recognition of those businesses in the room who embodied the third element of the conference theme – Together.
BP DARC 2023 Partnership Awards
Recognising 20 years + Partnership
– BP Centre
– BP North Rocks
– Vantage Group
Recognising 30 years + Partnership
– Jasbe Group
Recognising 40 years + Partnership
– BP 2Go Oamaru
– BP 2Go Powderham
– Pump Group
– Jaro Group
Recognising 50 years + Partnership
– Agostino Group
– BP Ridley Motors
– BP Rio Thornbury
– BP Pat & Tina’s
BP DARC Community Awards
Recognising Outstanding Community Service
– Rampage for their work on the Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds initiative
– Vantage Group for going above and beyond during the Rochester Floods
– Mcfall Fuels for community sponsorship and support
– RD Petroleum for extensive community and regional support
– Nightowl for their OwlGood Program
– Recharge for going above and beyond during the Kimberly Floods
– Jaro Group for their extensive community support during the NZ Earthquakes
Awards done the only thing left to do was announce the location for DARC 2024, and the winner is London!
Then it was over to Vanessa Amirosi to get the party started!
Delegates left the event energised, informed and refreshed to get back to their businesses for another year.
Elisha Radwanowski BCom (HRM & IR)
ACAPMA
Source: https://acapmag.com.au/2023/03/bp-darc-2023-bringing-anz-together/.
