Freight and Logistics News for the Women in the Shipping Industry

UK – NORWAY – WORLDWIDE – Much happening at the moment for those who aspire to break the glass ceiling in the shipping industry starting with a special offer from the everywoman in Transport & Logistics Academy plus news of its next conference being held in June. Meanwhile the finalists of the 2012 MAN everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards have been named and the list contains a range of freight and supply chain professionals, whilst the Norwegian branch of the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association has named the winner of its WISTA LeaderShip Award 2012.

The everywoman in Transport & Logistics Academy was established with the development of future female leaders as its mission. The Academy says that women make up 24% of the 1.55 million people working in the transport and logistics sector showing the gender gap in this industry is starting to decrease. There is a real business case for attracting more women to the sector and retaining existing talent, which is essential to build a strong pipeline of female leaders.

Membership of the everywoman Network entitles women to numerous discounts and offers and delegates at the Academy’s June Conference will be able to take advantage of free membership courtesy of sponsorship by National Skills Academy Logistics when they sign up for the Conference which is to be held on the 21st June 2012 at the De Vere Venue, Daventry, Northants. The cost is £225 + VAT with a special early bird (pardon the pun – their words not ours) rate of £180 + VAT for those who sign up by Monday 30th April – that’s a 20% saving, details on the website.

Meanwhile the finalists for this year’s 2012 MAN everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards have been announced and the full list of potential winners can be seen HERE. With seven categories from Green Champions to Woman Driver of the Year the contest this year will doubtless be as hard fought as ever. Role models such as BBC Dragon Hilary Devey, who founded Pall-Ex and is herself a former everywoman Award winner, have drawn attention to the industry and Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of everywoman, comments:

“Yet again, we are bowled over by the quality of our finalists and hope they show others what fantastic opportunities there are for women looking for a varied and challenging career. We undertook research last year through the everywoman in Transport and Logistics Leadership Academy which found that 84% of respondents felt the industry fulfils their career aspirations, proving that this non-traditional sector offers fantastic opportunities for women.”

MAN Truck and Bus UK has done sterling work in supporting the role of women in logistics by sponsoring the Awards and Des Evans, Chief Executive says:

“Once again it’s a great pleasure for MAN Truck & Bus UK to be sponsoring the everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards. Our association with these awards dates back to 2008 and we are delighted and proud to be asked to be part of their success in 2012. In our 20th year in the UK, MAN has a long established reputation of encouraging women to enter and excel in what by many is seen as a traditionally male dominated industry. However this perception is continuing to diminish fast as growing numbers of energetic, career minded women choose to make a new start in the transport and logistics sector.

“If the high standard of the previous years’ nominees and winners are anything to go by these awards are proof to all the women working within this sector of what can be achieved. Good luck to all this years entrants in their chosen category.”

Another organisation dedicated to the furthering of the careers of the fairer sex is the Womens International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) and the Norwegian WISTA LeaderShip Award is given out as recognition to people in the industry who contribute to the development of the maritime industry. This year’s award has gone to the President of YoungShip International, Birgit Liodden who receives the award as recognition of her dedicated efforts to raise the profile of the maritime industry and attract more female talents to the business. The award will be handed over by Ms Rikke Lind, State Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, during Oslo Maritime Week in May.

In 2009, Birgit Liodden was listed one of the 100 top young Norwegian leaders in the annual rating by the business news channel E24.no. Today, she runs her own company and holds key positions in among others Oslo Maritime Network, YoungShip International, Nor-Shipping, Maritime Career and Oslo Region Maritime Council. With dedication and enthusiasm, Liodden is a driving force in the Norwegian shipping community. Innovation, recruitment of top talent and social responsibility are key industry challenges which are close to her heart. President of WISTA Norway, Bjørg Ekornrud commented on the award:

“Birgit Liodden is an accomplished young leader in our industry. For some time now, she has distinguished herself as a knowledgeable and passionate spokesperson for the new shipping generation both in Norway and internationally.

“With former award winners like Elisabeth Grieg, Gunvor Ulstein and Borgny Eidesvik to mention some, it is a great honour for me to receive this award from WISTA Norway”, says Liodden. Her efforts to promote the maritime industry among young people in general and young women specifically are widely known. The need for renewal and openness within the Norwegian and international shipping industry are matters close to her heart.

“We need to attract forward thinking young people to the maritime industry in order to strengthen and secure our ability to compete in the global market. Shipping has a lot to offer our top talents, but we need to work on the overall image of the maritime sector and generally be more open in our dealings with the stakeholders outside our industry in order to get on their list of attractive future employers.”

Photo: Birgit Liodden