Celebrating Top Female Talent in Transport & Logistics

31 May 2023

Finalists announced for the 2023 everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards.

The finalists for the 2023 everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards have been announced. Now in their 16th year, the awards celebrate the vital contribution women make to transport and logistics across all sectors of the industry – from freight and retail to automotive, maritime and air transport. This year’s finalists demonstrate the progression, accomplishments and increasing avenues of opportunity within a traditionally male-dominated industry.

With women still only accounting for 20% of the 1.7 million people working in transport and logistics, tackling the lack of female recruits would be an invaluable resource to a pressurised industry and these diverse teams will be better positioned to unlock innovation and drive growth. The everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards play an important role in highlighting success stories, shifting perceptions and creating role models to inspire future female talent who may not see the industry as an option to them, whether that's in distribution, technical and operational roles, or leadership and management positions. A significant 76% of former Award winners agreed that their everywoman Award has positively impacted their career and 63% said it improved their personal and professional confidence, demonstrating the powerful impact that these awards have and the importance of role models for women in traditionally under-represented industries.*

There will be two winners per category (Leader and Above & Beyond) and one recipient of the Tech Innovator, International Inspiration, Industry Champion, Male Agent of Change, Apprentice of the Year and Woman of the Year Award. In recognition of the significant and vital role sustainability has played in transforming the sector the new category “Sustainability Champion” is included this year for the first time.

Maxine Benson MBE, Co-Founder of everywoman, comments, “We are thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2023 everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards. It’s been another extraordinary year for transport and logistics, with a continued need for adaptation and innovation at every level and across growing areas of the industry. In our finalists we identify and celebrate the passion, dedication, skills, and leadership that are making transport and logistics dynamic and resilient. We look forward to the awards ceremony where we can shine a spotlight on some of the most exceptional women whose achievement will motivate others to consider a career in a male-dominated industry, paving the way for future generations of ground-breaking women to succeed.”

The 2023 finalists are:

The Customer / Passenger Award - awarded to two women whose commitment to the highest standards of customer or passenger service led to outstanding business results:

Above & Beyond

Billie Hoey, Service Assurance Specialist at FedEx Express, from Nuneaton
Valerie Pope, ACMS & eDepot Manager at Great Western Railway, from Plymouth
Lucy Hope, RAF Logistics Officer at Royal Air Force, from Oxford

Leader

Rebecca Rathore, Operations Director at Stagecoach Bus, from Manchester
Jenny Dempsey, Business Development Director at Diamond Rail Services, from Sheffield
Paulina Czuber, Customer Experience Director at Australia Post Global eCommerce Solutions, from London
Hayley Russell, UK Operations Team Lead at FlixBus, from London
Vanda Roberts, Senior General Manager at Palletways Scotland, from Edinburgh

The Freight Award – awarded to two women exemplifying the excellence, drive and innovation of women across the freight subsector:

Above & Beyond

Anika Shenfield, Learning & Development Manager at Freightliner Limited, from Felixstowe
Ruth Williamson, Operations Manager at Amco from Redditch
Helen Bird, Customs Senior General Manager at CEVA Logistics Ltd, from Felixstowe
Aurore Borja de Mozota, Senior Product Manager – Fleet at Amazon Transportation Services, from Luxembourg

Leader

Jane Nash, Quality & Procedures Manager at John Good Logistics Limited, from Felixstowe
Jane Walton, Senior General Manager at Wincanton, from Walsall
Kelly Vasey, Sales and Marketing Director at Espace Europe Ltd, from Staffordshire
Shipra Singh, General Manager at Amazon EU SARL Ltd, from London

The Infrastructure Award – sponsored by IAG Cargo - awarded to two women who are demonstrating outstanding achievements within infrastructure:

Above & Beyond

Stephanie Franco, Structural Engineer and Deputy Framework Manager at Atkins, from London
Margaret Pate, Portfolio Governance Lead at FedEx Express, from Atherstone
Claire Williams, Head of Cycling at Transport for West Midlands, from Birmingham
Charlotte Wicker, Class 1 Driver / Transport Administrator at Wincanton, from Downham

Market Leader

Yanyan Bryan, Practice Manager at Atkins, from Newcastle upon Tyne
Abi Sowande, Group Head of FP&A at Wincanton, from Berkshire
Caroline Milnes, Senior Manager, Fleet Management and Programs at Amazon, from London
Joanne Parkes, Head of Asset Management at HS1, from London

The Supply Chain Award – sponsored by Unipart Rail - awarded to two women who show exceptional talent and drive within the supply chain system:

Above & Beyond

Terrell Mitchell, Managing Operations at FedEx Express, from Tamworth
Adrianna Czerepak, Inventory Operations Manager at GXO, from Kegworth
Mihaela Stoenica, Contract Manager at OPX Logistics, from Swindon
Charlotte Burns, Operations Manager at Oceanblue Logistics, from Bradford

Leader

Kris Hammond, Amazon UKCF Site Lead – MAN4 at Amazon UKCF, from Doncaster
Naomi Harryman-Hassan, Consultant at Hatmill, from Newcastle upon Tyne
Dawn Carney, Managing Director at Fresh Pastures Ltd/School Milk UK Ltd, from Teesside
Sandra Collymore, Head of Operations at Gate Ventures Lfd (GV Group), from London
Lisa Tomlinson, Divisional Director at Carlton Forest 3PL, from Doncaster

• The Warehousing Award – sponsored by FedEx - awarded to two women excelling in their role within a warehousing environment:

Above & Beyond

Ludmila Plotkin, Contract Manager at CEVA Logistics, from Daventry
Lindsay Mackie, AGM at Wincanton, from Corby
Hayley Deas, Department Manager, Asda, from Leicester
Ionela Tone, Warehouse Productivity Analyst at Boughey Distribution Ltd from Nantwich

Leader

Kerry Delaney, Managing Director at Rhenus Warehousing Solutions, from Leicester
Isobel Maslen-Jones, MMN Process Expert at Amazon, from Bradford-on-Avon

Industry Champion Award – sponsored by Asda - awarded to a female pioneer whose longstanding and continuous support of women in transport and logistics has led to impactful and measurable change:

Kimberley Whelan, Health and Wellbeing Manager at Royal Mail, from Sheffield
Diane Ward, Deputy CEO at Carlton Forest Group, from Sheffield
Rachel Dale, Head of Operations at AAA Taxis, from Potters Bar
Sim Rezazadeh-Wilson, Warrant Officer – Air Cargo at Royal Air Force, from Oxford
Kerren Ratcliffe, Associate Director Customer Logistics at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, from Manchester

International Inspiration Award – sponsored by EV Cargo - awarded to an exceptional role model working outside of the UK & Ireland who inspires women and men in their community:

Donna Mullins, Vice President at Kale Info Solutions, USA, from Atlanta
Celine Hourcade, Founder and Managing Director at Change Horizon, from Geneva
Melissa Osterwind, President at SRI Fine Art Services, from New Jersey
Laura Rodriguez, Manager Implementation & Quality Assurance, Cargo iQ, from Geneva

Apprentice of the Year Award – awarded to an enterprising female apprentice who is making an exceptional contribution to their organisation in their early career:

Fran Coult, Supply Chain Apprentice at Alstom, from Derby
Koli Begum, Mentor/Bus Driver at Go-Ahead London, from London
Lauren Cooper, Apprentice Civil Engineer at Kier Highways, from Birmingham
Becky Walker, Civil Engineering Advanced Level Apprentice at Mott Macdonald, from Bristol

Male Agent of Change Award – sponsored by Mott MacDonald – awarded to a male role model who is actively committed to encouraging, advancing, sponsoring, or championing the progress of women in transport and logistics in his organisation and beyond:

Tom Flannery, Practice Manager – Rolling Stock Technical Services at Atkins, from Derby
Paul Elson, Managing Director at Palletline Logistics, from Birmingham
Mark Pepper, CEO at Carlton Forest Group, from Sheffield
Sujan Sribalakrishnan, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager at Amazon, from Slough
John Hoult, MD Information Technology at FedEx Express UK Ltd, from Atherstone
Matthew Gardiner, Head of Marketing and External Communications at IAG Cargo, from London

Tech Innovator Award – sponsored by Amazon - awarded to a woman designing, developing, researching, implementing or being exceptionally creative with technology within the industry:

Claire Charlton, Head of W2 (Wincanton’s Innovation Programme) at Wincanton, from Bristol
Lisa Spong, Sales Director at Reflex Vehicle Hire, from Leicester
Jenny Tocknell, Head of Operations at National Express, from Birmingham
Oana Jinga, CCO and Co-founder at Dexory, from London
Hazel Beasley, Consultant at Hatmill Ltd, from York
Julie Furnell, Managing Director, Mobilityways, from Norwich

Sustainability Champion Award – awarded to a woman or female-led team making an exemplary contribution to sustainability and environmental protection within a transport or logistics company:

Alba Morgan Martinez, Area Manager – Operations at Amazon, from Bristol
Claire Wansbury, Atkins Fellow and Technical Director at Atkins Ltd, from London
Zebrina Hanly, Head of Environment and Climate Change at Royal Mail, from Portsmouth
Jessica Ferrari, Project Lead Engineer at Fedex from London
Liz Hancock, Head of Safety, Health and Environment at Unipart Rail from Alsager

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony and luncheon held on 28 June 2023 at the brand new location of The Londoner Hotel. Visit www.everywoman.com/tlawards for further information or to book tickets for this networking event and celebration.

* Everywoman Impact Report 2020