Robert Smedley
Managing Director & Senior Engineer
Robert JG Smedley is the Managing Director and Senior Engineer at Smedley’s Engineers. In 2013, he joined forces with his father to evolve the Smedley family business into a leader in Australia’s heavy vehicle engineering industry. Robert has been instrumental in shaping the company’s direction, bringing hands-on expertise and a national perspective to the work.
With a degree in Engineering majoring in Robotics and Mechatronics, Robert built his early career at Knorr-Bremse Australia, progressing to Senior Engineer and leading braking system design for major OEMs. He also served as Principal Engineer for Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads, advising on vehicle dynamics, infrastructure, and freight strategy.
Robert has held senior roles with ARTSA and ARTSA-i, including Vice Chair, and is currently a Director on the board of Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA). A recognised industry voice and ARTSA-i Life Member, he remains active in technical advisory roles while continuing to test, drive and develop the vehicles that define his life’s work.
4:30 pm
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5:45 pm
PBS, ACCESS, & PERMITS
Bruce Gunter will welcome Robert Smedley (Smedley Engineers), Paul Gallagher (Borcat Trailers) and Lez Bruzsa (NHVR) to the stage for an in-depth look at the process behind Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicles and access permits. Key topics include: • Ordering PBS vehicles, engineering and working with the NHVR • The importance of compatibility and integration with other systems and requirements • Education of NHVR Inspectors on PBS, permits and access issues • Real-world operator experiences and reports