Logistics is becoming an increasingly appealing career option for women according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA), and their influence is particularly strong in areas of health and safety and fuel efficiency. 

The FTA has announced this year’s finalists for the seventh annual FTA Everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards - 25 female champions whose successes it hopes will encourage more women to bring their skills to the industry.

Logistics is one of the UK’s fastest growing industries employing around 1.5 million people. It is estimated that the sector will need to recruit over 900,000 people to cope with growth and replacement demand. 

With other sectors struggling to recruit female talent, transport and logistics firms are reaping the rewards of investing in attracting and retaining more women.

Gender diversity can pay off in many ways, not least by sparking creativity and enhancing innovation – which is why the industry needs more women, says the FTA. 

The FTA Everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards were founded to raise awareness of the opportunities offered by the industry and to show the variety of fulfilling careers available.

Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of Everywoman, said: “As Britain forges ahead in its economic recovery, logistics remain essential to its infrastructure.  This fast growth sector has announced a huge recruitment drive and diversity is high on the agenda with a huge variety of opportunity.

“We congratulate this year’s finalists who have demonstrated that their gender is no barrier to success and that opportunity exists at every level of the career ladder.”

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at The Savoy in London on May 13. For further information and tickets please visit www.everywoman.com/tlawards.

This year’s FTA everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards finalists are:

Director of the Year – sponsored by Asda Stores Ltd
• Marie Boyer, managing director, France Line Transport International Ltd, from Manchester
• Sarah Copley, commercial director, National Express, from Birmingham
• Kate Lester, CEO and Founder, Diamond Logistics, from Guildford
• Anna Whitty, CEO, ECT Charity, from London

Driver of the Year Award – sponsored by TNT Express
• Rachel Garlick, HGV driver, DHL Homebase, from Wellingborough
• Christine Saunders, PUD driver/driver Assessor, TNT Express UK Ltd , from Kidderminster
• Jenny Tipping, C+E Driver at Manpower Logistics, Royal Mail, from Bournemouth

Innovation and Sustainability Award – sponsored by DHL Supply Chain
• Karen Jacques, chief operating officer, Dryad Maritime, from Portsmouth
• Corinne Murphy, national fleet manager, Asda Logistics Services, from Leeds
• Astrid van der Burgt, national road risk manager, Kuehne + Nagel Ltd, from Draycott in the Clay, Derbyshire

Rising Star Award – sponsored by Wincanton
• Megan Bowne, fleet planning engineer, Southeastern Railway, from Lenham, Maidstone
• Maryam Cassidy, continuous improvement manager, Asda Logistics Services, from Liverpool
• Kat Horsley, operations director, Easy as HGV, from Guildford
• Anna Kozlowska CMILT managing director, Myway Enterprises, from Lutterworth

Team Leader of the Year
• Caroline Capone, transport manager, Kuehne + Nagel, from Milton Keynes
• Tracey Clifford, general manager, Wincanton, from Stoke on Trent
• Simone Fogg, general manager, Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd, from London
• Julia Wraithmell, district maintenance Manager East, Northern Rail, from Leeds 

Warehousing Award – sponsored by DHL Supply Chain Ltd
• Jane Curl-Carter, site manager, DHL Tradeteam Ltd, from Burton on Trent
• Laura Edwards, general manager, Wincanton, from Greenford, London
• Amy Goddard, department manager, ADC Lutterworth Asda, from Daventry, Northamptonshire
• Claire Morrissy, deputy distribution centre manager, Tesco PLC, from Dagenham, London

Industry Champion Award
• Sharon Davies, senior director, Corporate Affairs, DHL UK & Ireland, from London
• Tracy McDermott, senior HR manager, ALSTOM Transport, from Manchester
• Sue McGeorge, supply chain director, Diageo Plc, from London