THE Australasian Fleet Management Association (AfMA) has elected Lee Sauerwald as its president.

He has 30 years of experience in corporate and fleet management, alongside two decades in the ‘profit for purpose’ sector.

AfMA said he brings a unique perspective to the role and that his leadership and commitment to sustainability have been key to his career in business and the fleet industry.

Lee Sauerwald

Mr Sauerwald started with AfMA in 2010 when he accepted the Fleet Environment Award on behalf of Uniting Communities.

This achievement marked the beginning of his involvement with AfMA, initially joining the South Australian committee before quickly being appointed chair. His leadership and dedication led him to the national board in 2013, where he has served as both vice president and president on several occasions.

AfMA said that as a strategic thinker with a focus on social, financial, and environmental sustainability, his expertise extended beyond fleet management.

“He is a passionate advocate for reducing fleet carbon emissions, managing grey fleets, and optimising operating costs,” it said.

“Lee regularly shares his insights at state, national and global fleet conferences and contributes articles on these important topics.”

In his professional role, he is a fellow CPA MBA and leads Uniting Communities’ Corporate Services division. This includes overseeing investment, property, financial management, procurement, fleet management, marketing, and carbon reduction initiatives.

Under his leadership, Uniting Communities became Australia’s first carbon-neutral registered charity in 2015 and is now on track to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035.

One of his notable achievements is his leadership in the development of U City, a multi-award-winning six-star green star vertical village in Adelaide that blends residential, social and commercial spaces to create a sustainable, inclusive community.

U City is also the first certified carbon-neutral building in South Australia.

As president of AfMA, Mr Sauerwald is committed to continuing his work in advancing fleet management practices that support sustainability and efficiency across the industry.

AfMA said that his leadership will undoubtedly guide it in its mission to create a more sustainable and efficient fleet industry, ensuring that the association continues to drive positive change within the sector.

AfMA also elected other members to board roles.

Vice President: Vince White – general manager of QFleet

Treasurer: Brendan Stooke – national fleet manager, Telstra Fleet

Board member: Pat Ahern – Mackay Regional Council

Board member: Sharon O’Neill – category manager, Ventia

Board member: Philip Browne – Autorola Australia Pty Ltd

Board member: Meryl (Mez) Connolly – Tabcorp

Board member: Chris Dhu – CVDhu Advisory