The London-based GSF, originating in 1996 and formally incorporated as a non-governmental organisation in 2011, is the peak body for leading national and regional trade and transport organisations in Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa and Australasia.

Mr Brooks-Garrett is the Secretariat and a Board member of the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA), designated by the Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Transport to protect the interests of Australian exporters in respect to international liner shipping services. APSA members include Australia's largest containerised exporters by volume.

He is also a director of Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA), the advocacy body representing approximately 70% of the country's inbound containerised trade, including major importers and logistics service providers. "While my election to the Board is a personal honour it's far more important that Australia, a nation so utterly dependent on international trade and the efficient transport that facilitates it, now sits on a global body dedicated to influencing regulatory developments impacting on international freight transport and the policy decisions of governments and international organisations as they affect shippers and receivers of freight" Mr Brooks Garrett said. 

"APSA and FTA co-hosted the GSF's annual general meeting and very successful global conference in Melbourne in May this year – a first for the Southern Hemisphere – and I believe international members were able to see first-hand Australian importers' and exporters' support for our effective, persistent and committed efforts on shippers' behalf."

GSF Director and Secretary General James Hookham said the other directors of the Forum welcomed the support of the Australian Peak Shippers Association in nominating Travis to serve on the GSF Board.

"Travis' in-depth knowledge of trade procedures and understanding of the shipping markets will greatly assist the Board in setting the direction and strategy of GSF to achieve the outcomes sought by its members," Mr Hookham said. "We look forward to working with him." 

"On a day-to-day basis GSF is lobbying, educating and influencing government and inter-government organisations on an expanding range of regulatory and trade issues affecting shippers, and in doing so raising the profile of shippers and their interests." Mr Brooks-Garrett said. "I am confident we in Australia can and will make a substantial contribution to GSF's work and, at the same time, reap the benefits of their drive and momentum." 

The appointment is for a three-year term

What results has GSF achieved for shippers?

Here are some recent examples of successes GSF has secured for shippers:

• The abolition of liner conferences and price fixing and capacity agreements in all trades to and from Europe.

• Persuaded the ILO/IMO not to introduce new regulations increasing shippers' responsibilities for the safe stowage of containers throughout the whole supply chain in favour of enhanced guidelines in the promotion of training and best practice.

• Influenced the outcome of the recent INCOTERMS revision by the International Chamber of Commerce.

What is GSF campaigning for?

GSF is campaigning on the issues that most affect shippers, including competitive and efficient shipping markets by all modes to improve the performance of shippers' logistics and supply chains. We are therefore campaigning for:

• Regulatory reform in ocean transportation in Asia and North America.

• Market based voluntary environmental efficiency measures to mitigate the impacts of shipping and transport emissions and greenhouse gases (GHGs).

• Mutual recognition of global security regimes through ICAO and WCO to enhance existing global security arrangements and facilitate international trade.

Travis Brooks-Garrett, FTA / APSA (back row second from left) - representing the GSF as a guest of the Director-General of Chinese Customs in Shenzen for the U.N. IPPC Sea Container Taskforce Meeting – November 2018