Meet the Future of Australia’s Cold Chain: The RWTA 2026 Frank Vale Award Finalists and WINNER!
Representing five states and some of Australia’s leading cold chain businesses, Stacey Randles, Puneet Virk, Kayla Thompson, Kayla Derwin and Justin Harvey arrived as competitors, but very quickly became something more. Throughout the judging process and conference, there was genuine encouragement, respect and support between them, and, weeks later, the conversations and connections continue.
Stacey Randles of Primary Connect was ultimately named our 2026 Frank Vale Award winner, joining an impressive list of recipients stretching back more than three decades. Her progression from the warehouse floor into operational leadership, while continuing her university studies, is an outstanding example of the potential the Award was created to recognise.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Diamond Sponsor, ASKIN Performance Panels, for sponsoring this important award. To all the judges that took time out of their schedules to interview and nominate the State Winners and then the National Winner, we also thank them and appreciate the work that they do for the future of our sector.
This is why the Frank Vale Award remains so important. It celebrates individual achievement, certainly, but its greater legacy is in finding, connecting and encouraging the people who will lead our industry next.
Congratulations to all five, and particularly to our 2026 Frank Vale Award winner, Stacey Randles. We have a feeling this is only the beginning.
The future of the Australian cold chain is in very capable hands.
Proudly sponsored by:
Frank Vale Awards Video
Kayla Derwin, Karras Cold Logistics, New South Wales
An unexpected start that became an 11-year cold chain career
Kayla entered cold chain logistics almost by accident after deciding to leave a teaching degree and accepting an opportunity with Karras Cold Logistics. Eleven years later, she has progressed from Customer Service Officer through a series of operational and leadership positions to become National Risk Manager. Her focus today is on making safety and compliance something people genuinely understand and practise rather than simply a box to tick. With expertise spanning workplace health and safety, HACCP, TACCP, VACCP and auditing, Kayla is particularly interested in building a more proactive approach to risk — including greater recognition of mental health, fatigue and psychosocial hazards.
Justin Harvey, Primary Connect, Western Australia
Leading change where it matters, on the floor
Justin’s understanding of the cold chain began in retail, managing milk stock and learning firsthand the importance of temperature control and product integrity. Now Temperature Control Team Leader at Primary Connect, he has developed into a hands-on operational leader with a strong appetite for innovation and improvement. Most recently, Justin played a key leadership role in Primary Connect’s Perth “Blending Project”, bringing Fresh Produce and Temperature Control commodities into one streamlined delivery operation. The change improved workflows, reduced transport frequency and helped deliver a 15% improvement in inbound pallet rates, all while Justin helped lead his team through significant operational change.
Stacey Randles, Primary Connect, Queensland
From the warehouse floor to operational leadership
Stacey’s cold chain career began just four years ago as an order picker at Primary Connect’s Heathwood facility. A determination to understand not just what happens in an operation but why has seen her progress through inventory and troubleshooting, Team Leader and now Shift Operations Manager, while also studying Supply Chain Management and Finance. Named Primary Connect’s Rising Star in 2024, Stacey is passionate about smarter, safer and more sustainable operations, and about creating an environment where people feel empowered to solve problems and grow.
Puneet Virk, Americold Logistics, South Australia
A career built from the ground up
Puneet arrived in Australia at 18 with one bag, $403 and a determination to build a future for himself. His career has since taken him from picking, packing and delivery roles through transport, food logistics, IT and continuous improvement to Operations Support Manager at Americold Logistics. Today, Puneet combines a rare mix of operational and technology expertise, leading improvements in safety, systems and efficiency — including changes that delivered around $250,000 in annualised savings. He is particularly passionate about using technology and data to make the cold chain smarter while never losing sight of the people doing the work.
Kayla Thompson, Lineage Logistics, Victoria
Turning complex challenges into practical change
Originally from Wellington, Kayla moved to Australia in 2015 and took a casual role as a transport clerk at Swire Cold Storage — the beginning of a cold chain career now spanning more than a decade. As Implementation Manager at Lineage Logistics, she specialises in turning complex operational challenges into practical solutions, recently leading a major implementation that cut stock availability time from 8.5 hours to 3.5 hours. One of the first three Australian graduates of the Cold Chain Institute, Kayla is also passionate about mentoring others and increasing opportunities for women in logistics through her role with the Asia Pacific Women in Lineage group.
