IB Woman
Issue No. 27 - February/March
Keeping SA moving
Trudy Elliot
by Penelope Herbert
“If you don’t know what’s going on out there, you can’t give the best service,” says Trudy Elliott, Business Development Manager (SA) for the Port of Melbourne Corporation.
“I’m very mindful of the changes in my industry and how they affect my customers. But handling change also adds another string to the bow of challenges and relationship building that excites me about business.”
It’s just as well that transport logistics and shipping pushes Trudy’s buttons as she is immersed in these aspects as she strives to show South Australian producers the best and most cost-effective ways to export their produce.
Trudy’s background includes 16 years in international trade and facilitation with DHL, shipping and logistics with a distribution focus and development of strong commercial skills through work and study.
In 1998, she joined the Port of Melbourne based in Victoria but after 18 months, was offered a great opportunity to set up an office in Adelaide. She says that the dominance of the wine industry was the catalyst and she could see that increased transport options would be required.
Believing that “knowledge is power”, Trudy wanted to increase choices for potential customers and expose them to all modes of transport – with the new Port of Melbourne Adelaide office facilitating linked options.
“I have always had a strong customer focus in all that I have achieved,” says Trudy, “and I try to resolve issues for customers based on their need and my experience.
“I believe it’s important for a business to stand in its customers shoes in order to be of the best service.”
Talking to potential customers enabled Trudy to identify needs, processes and to facilitate the most effective solution. She says Adelaide is unique in its networking mindset and a “family orientated” approach with South Australian customers.
She went through a period of “rapport ...
