Night of the Stars with SCANIA and IRIZAR
| Tuesday, November 17, 2026 |
| 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM |
| Conference Centre - Auditorium |
| Sponsored By: |
Overview
Network with colleagues, clients and mingle with other delegates at this gala dinner style night.
Details
Closing the conference in style, join us back in the Conference Centre for a gala night with a three-course dinner and beverages. Celebrating with entertainment, music and awards.
Dress code: Semi-formal or cocktail attire
*This is a ticketed function. Nominate your attendance when registering. Scan entry at doors - please bring your name badge to gain access*
Speaker
Ashley Bennett
Heartsongs Band
Music Entertainment
7:00 PM - 10:30 PMBiography
Ash is one third of HeartSongs. The trio is a popular live band featuring Ash and Ben Bennet and Antony Vanderstichel . They regularly perform across North Queensland, Townsville, and the Whitsundays.
Ben Bennett
Heartsongs Band
Music Entertainment
7:00 PM - 10:30 PMBiography
Ben is one third of HeartSongs. The trio is a popular live band featuring Ash and Ben Bennet and Antony Vanderstichel . They regularly perform across North Queensland, Townsville, and the Whitsundays.
Peter Rowsthorn
Actor, Actor, Comedian and Master of Ceremonies
Master of Ceremonies
7:00 PM - 9:00 PMBiography
Peter is BACK!
One of Australia’s most experienced stand up comics performing in just about every stand up room in the country. He is very, very funny.
Best known as Brett on ABC TV’s Kath & Kim, Peter Rowsthorn has also been a series regular on Channel Ten’s Thank God You’re Here and has been the host of Can We Help? on ABC TV for the past five years. In 2009 he was a contestant in Celebrity Master Chef. He has presented radio shows for Triple M’s The Cage (mornings) and The Shebang (drive) as well as for Austereo Network.
Antony Vanderstichel
Heartsongs Band
Music Entertainment
7:00 PM - 10:30 PMBiography
Antony is the final piece of HeartSongs. The trio is a popular live band featuring Ash and Ben Bennet and Antony Vanderstichel . They regularly perform across North Queensland, Townsville, and the Whitsundays.
Steve Heanes
Managing Director
Irizar
Sponsor Presenter
7:30 PM - 8:00 PMBiography
Steve Heanes is the Managing Director of Irizar Australia, a position he has held since September 13, 2021. He has a rich background in the bus industry, with over 20 years of experience, including serving as the Vice-Chair of the Bus Industry Confederation and convenor of the Suppliers Group for 10 years. His leadership role at Irizar Australia is expected to contribute significantly to the company's growth and success in the Australian market.
Manfred Streit
Managing Director
Scania Australia
Sponsor Presenter
7:30 PM - 8:00 PMBiography
Manfred Streit, has 15 years of experience working with Scania in Europe, specifically in Austria. He has a strong retail background in the automotive and transport industries, working for Renault Group in Austria as a Senior Product Manager and then as Head of Fleet Sales, prior to joining Scania in the role of a Regional Director in central Austria in 2007. After 8 years in this role, he moved to the position of Country Manager for Scania Austria, which he held for more than 6 years before accepting the job of Managing Director of Scania Australia in August 2022. Manfred has spent his life in and around the industry, having driven trucks commercially in his younger days. He completed an MBA at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, and initially worked with French signalling manufacturer Alcatel, both in Canada and Austria.
Kent Cheng
China
Yutong Bus
Award Presenter - Operator of the Year
8:00 PM - 9:00 PMBiography
Mr. Chang Hao currently serves as the CEO of Yutong Asia-Pacific, overseeing the company’s business operations and strategic development across the Asia-Pacific region. With over a decade of experience in the public transportation industry across more than ten countries and regions—including Singapore, Hong Kong (China), the United Kingdom, Chile, Peru, the Philippines, and France—he has developed extensive expertise and deep insights into the market dynamics, industry trends, and customer needs within the public transit sector.
Mr. Chang has also actively participated in a range of environmental and sustainability initiatives, including activities related to COP26, demonstrating his strong commitment to sustainable development and the advancement of green mobility.
Anthony Hopkins
Chair / Chief Executive Officer
BIC / CDC
Award Presenter - Outstanding Contribution and Supplier Awards
8:00 PM - 9:00 PMBiography
Tony Hopkins is the Chief Executive Officer, Regional Australia Division of ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC), one of the country’s largest urban, school, and charter bus operators and part of the international ComfortDelGro group.
Brett Jackson
Head of Australian Bus And Coach
360 Underwriting Solutions
Award Presenter - Achiever Award
8:00 PM - 9:00 PMBiography
Brett Jackson is an experienced Insurance Professional with over 40 years of working in the insurance industry. He has worked in various markets around the world, London, Asian and Australia.
His skill sets spans across insurance underwriting as well as insurance broking including sales and distribution. Whilst underwriting he has covered insurance products like Oil and gas, Marine, Transport Livestock/Bloodstock, Property, liability and Buses.
His years in the industry has taught him that underwriters and brokers need to work closely with each other to understand the clients needs and requirements to get the best outcome for both client and their underwriter.
His team at Australian Bus and Coach have over 100 years of experience in the insurance bus industry and are very passionate about what they do.
Mr Jack Kotlyar
Head of Green Transport
EnergyAustralia
Award Presenter - Environment and Innovation Award
8:00 PM - 9:00 PMBiography
Tony La Rocca
National Business Development Manager
Guard Bus And Coach Insurance
Award Presenter - Young Achiever Award
8:00 PM - 9:00 PMBiography
Gard Bus and Coach Insurance was established to provide a fresh and innovative approach to the bus and coach insurance market. By combining specialist underwriters and claims management professionals with extensive industry experience, Gard Bus and Coach Insurance delivers tailored insurance solutions for operators in the passenger transport sector. Our market-leading underwriting system ensures an efficient, fast, and seamless service. With a strong commitment to sustainability and long-term partnerships, Gard Bus and Coach Insurance provides stability in an evolving market, backed by trusted insurer relationships. We offer: • Motor vehicle insurance for bus and coach owners and operators • Coverage for businesses of all sizes - from individual operators to large corporate and government fleets • Specialist policies for self-drive hire, transfers and shuttles, tour and charter services, community and hospitality transport • Bus and Tour Operators - general liability for your depot and business operations
Niklas Walter
Sales Director, Bus & Power Solutions
Scania Australia Pty Ltd
Award Presenter - Driver of the Year
8:00 PM - 9:00 PMBiography
Niklas Walter is the Director of Bus & Coach and Power Solutions at Scania Australia, bringing more than 15 years of international experience across the bus, coach and power solutions sectors.
He is responsible for leading Scania Australia's strategy and growth in these business areas, working closely with customers and industry partners to deliver efficient, innovative and sustainable transport and energy solutions. Passionate about building strong partnerships, Niklas is committed to advancing low- and zero-emission technologies and supporting the transition to a more sustainable future.
Niklas combines global industry expertise with a collaborative leadership style, helping customers navigate change while driving long-term value for their businesses and the communities they serve.