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Logistics software group WiseTech Global (ASX: WTC) is expanding its educational division through the acquisition of Canberra’s Centre for Customs and Excise Studies (CCES) which delivers accredited courses for the customs and border management sector globally.
The acquisition will be merged with the company’s WiseTech Academy, which was established in 2018 to train new entrants to the logistics industry and assist those already in the sector to enhance their global trade, logistics and supply chain industry skills and certifications.
The deal also follows a 50 per cent increase in WiseTech Academy courses completed in 2025 by participants outside of the WiseTech group.
Courses run by CCES, which was founded in 2003 by Professor David Widdowson, are accredited by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and focus on maintaining professional standards at various levels in customs administration.
CCES has designed and delivered training and awareness programs in more than 60 countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas, the Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East.
Collaborating with tertiary institutions, such as Charles Sturt University, CCES also provides internationally focused courses including the Bachelor of Border Management as well as postgraduate degrees in Customs Administration for global professionals.
“Together with CCES, a global leader in customs education, WiseTech Academy will offer high-quality online training in customs administration and customs broking to those working in global supply chains worldwide,” says Tudor Maxwell, head of WiseTech Academy.
“This investment combines our strengths, allowing CCES’ world-class training to be made available to an even wider audience.”
WiseTech Academy also provides technical certifications for the logistics industry such as biosecurity and handling dangerous goods.
CCES last year partnered with Fiji National University and the Oceania Customs Organisation to establish the Pacific Centre for Border Management and Security to offer vocational and higher education programs for border management officers in the Pacific.
WiseTech says that CCES will continue to operate under its existing brand and remain under the leadership of its founder Widdowson as CEO.
However, CCES will consolidate its online platforms onto WiseTech Academy, WiseTech Global’s online learning platform.
WiseTech says the deep domain knowledge of the CCES’ team will inform country-specific customs requirements in the ongoing rollout of the CargoWise Customs and Compliance global solution, which provides guidance for the logistics sector to meet varying regulatory requirements globally.
“We are very excited about this next phase for CCES,” says Widdowson.
“As part of WiseTech, a leader in logistics and supply chain technology, we are now better positioned to further improve the global standards of customs management and compliance by reaching more logistics professionals with the specialized training and content required by this sector."
Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
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