Hyundai Commits Long-Term to Australian Forklift Championship
Long-term Hyundai deal announced as Australian Forklift Championship grows in scale and impact
Hyundai High Performance Forklifts has cemented its position as a cornerstone of Australia’s logistics sector, announcing a three-year extension as Official Forklift Sponsor of the Australian Forklift Championship, the nation’s premier competition for forklift operators, held annually at CeMAT Australia.
This strategic partnership represents Hyundai’s ongoing commitment to raising safety standards, celebrating frontline talent, and supporting workforce development across the logistics and materials handling industry.
As part of this extended commitment, Hyundai will also fly the 2025 Individual Champion, Kaelyn Pakoti, to Southeast Asia to represent Australia at the upcoming CeMAT Southeast Asia Forklift Championship, giving a local forklift operator the opportunity to compete internationally.
“Hyundai High Performance Forklifts has held the major sponsorship of the Australian Forklift Championships for three years and announcing the trip to Singapore for our individual winner in May next year is the next step and is the culmination of many discussions, particularly over the last 12 months with CeMAT,” said Marketing Director of Hyundai High Performance Forklifts Australia, Nathan Owens.
“It takes the prestige of the Australian Forklift Drivers’ Championship to a new level and we have already started fielding fresh interest in next year’s Title.
“This week, we’ve had forklift drivers from all over Australia take part in the Championship, which has been a highly competitive affair among all drivers,” he added.
Mike Nissen, Commercial Director of CeMAT Australia and Asia-Pacific, commended Hyundai Forklifts and the expanded partner base - and said the newly announced prize adds an even further element to CeMAT.
“Hyundai High Performance Forklifts has been a great partner to CeMAT over the last few years and this prize just puts the Forklift Championship and our show on the regional map,” said Nissen.
“The interest in CeMAT, especially from South East Asia, grows every year and the show this week has added millions of dollars to Sydney’s economy with those who’ve visited from the region, along with those from Australia and other parts of the world.
“We’re thrilled that the Australian Champion will be able to compete against the best in Asia in Singapore at CeMAT in May.”
The multi-year partnership will see Hyundai continue to support competition logistics, equipment supply, safety briefings, and competitor engagement, ensuring the Championship remains the benchmark for forklift excellence.
A Showcase of Excellence: 2025 Championship Results
Held at Sydney Olympic Park during CeMAT Australia, the 2025 Championship brought together over 30 of the country’s top forklift drivers to compete across both Counterbalance and Reach Truck challenges.
Kaelyn Pakoti, a Services Support Operator from Sydney Trains, took out the Individual Champion title. He was joined on the podium by Andrew Galea (Krost Business Furniture) in second place and Joe Willow (Primary Connect) in third.
In the Corporate Team category, M3 Logistics Pty Ltd earned top honours, represented by Josh Abbott and Kahn Che. Bunnings claimed second place (Justin Layzell & Rayy Akhtar), followed by Primary Connect (Laura Miolta & Aaron McNiel) in third.
Safety and Wellbeing at the Heart of the Championship
Beyond the podium, the Championship reinforced its dual focus on raising safety standards and supporting mental health across the logistics sector. All funds raised through the Corporate Team competition were donated to Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds (HHTS), the official Charity Partner, helping fund national mental health and wellbeing initiatives in transport, warehousing, and supply chain workplaces.
Powered by Industry Support - Thank You to Our Sponsors
The success of the 2025 Championship was made possible through deep industry collaboration and shared purpose.
We proudly acknowledge the support of:
- Hyundai High Performance Forklifts – Official Forklift Sponsor
- Axelent – Safety Supplier
- Dexion – Racking Sponsor
- Forkpro – Judging Partner
- Genie – Attachment Sponsor
- Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds (HHTS) – Charity Partner
- ForkliftAction and MachineryonQ – Media Partners
Each sponsor brought expertise, resources, and a commitment to better industry standards, transforming the event into a celebration of capability, safety, and wellbeing in materials handling.
Sponsors Return for 2026
We are pleased to confirm that several more of our valued 2025 sponsors have already resecured their involvement for CeMAT and the Australian Forklift Championship in 2026. Returning to support the event once again are:
- Hyundai - Forklift Sponsor
- Dexion - Racking Sponsor
- Kaup - Attachment Sponsor
- GenieGrips - Safety Sponsor
- KAUP Australia - Safety Barrier Sponsor
And welcoming back once again for next years competition, our charity sponsor: Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds.
Their continued support is a testament to the value and impact of the Championship, and we look forward to working with them to deliver an even bigger experience in 2026.
Looking Ahead - Pre-Register for 2026
Inspired by this year’s Championship? Whether you’re a skilled individual driver or a company ready to represent your brand, pre-registrations for the 2026 Australian Forklift Championship are now open.
