The world has just seen its 114th International Women’s Day take place on 08MAR25, and CargoForwarder Global (CFG) congratulates all those companies and individuals truly upholding and ensuring equal opportunities and equal pay*. The fact remains however, that on the face of things if you take any random panel setup at most air cargo conferences, women are still the minority, worst case: non-existent. Yet, there are many women out there shaping the future of our industry and leading by example. And our industry needs more of them. Hence, the CAAS/Eva International “Top 100 Women in Air Cargo” initiative, and CFG’s call for nominees.
Open up LinkedIn and it is, on the one hand, encouraging to see ever-improving creative and educational coverage of efforts to ensure equal pay, equal opportunities, fair representation and role models in all walks of career life. On the other hand, the destruction and negativity that the Trump administration has attached to DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs, the false accusations that these are to blame for recent aviation accidents, along with the highly worrying U.S. cancel culture that is taking place where references to women, people of color, or LGBTQ have systematically been removed from digital archives, and – worse still – many people have been made redundant under the thin guise of “efficiency”, has made it more important than ever to ensure correct narrative.
Not DEI, but gender imbalance is detrimental
DEI is certainly not to blame for any shortcomings in any company. If anything, statistics will prove to you that the greater the diversity within a company, the better the commercial output and the healthier and more resilient the company culture. IATA’s own 25by2025 (minimum 25% female employees by 2025) initiative, [sparked by the male CEO of Air New Zealand, who after winning the Diversity & Inclusion Team in 2019, asked the predominantly male audience and IATA “How can we do more to change the gender balance in our industry?”], showcases some of those statistics:
https://www.iata.org/contentassets/cd7f1170cbf447c7824f63e8d138e5d0/gender-in-aviation-final.pdf (It will be interesting to see how many of the 261 signatory companies will have achieved their goals this deadline year.)
Do away with DEI programs, and Unconscious Bias is given free rein – which ensures far from fair outcomes, however blue-eyed (pun cynically intended) the intention may be.
Let’s get Air Cargo Specific
IATA’s 25by2025 is a welcome move – as is ICAO’s longer-standing Gender Equality Resolution which aims to have 50/50 male/female industry representation by 2030. Yet, we really need something air cargo specific to increase the number of women in our historically highly male-dominated industry. The greater the visibility of women as aspiring role models, the better the chance we have of attracting new talent. As they say, “You can’t be what you can’t see!”
Earlier this year, I came across Matthew Higa’s initiative ‘TOP 100 Women in Aerospace & Aviation to Follow on LinkedIn 2025’, and shared his post on my LinkedIn page, openly wondering if we could have an equivalent ‘Top 100 Women in Air Cargo’. (After all: copy with pride, when it comes to great ideas!)
Eva International’s Parveen Raja immediately took up the challenge and Cargo Airports & Airline Services soon published a cargo-focused nomination page.
Nominate air cargo’s inspiring women
Our aim with the Top 100 Women in Air Cargo initiative, is to acknowledge and celebrate women throughout the year, not just on International Women’s Day. We want to recognize the remarkable contributions women make to the air cargo industry, showcasing their leadership, innovation, and dedication. We want to share inspiring stories and spotlight those influential trailblazers driving meaningful change within the industry.
CAAS will be publishing a Top 100 Women in Air Cargo supplement with information on all the nominees, and CargoForwarder Global will continue to ‘Spotlight On…’ inspiring individuals in its weekly column. With the industry facing skilled labor shortages, you have more than just one reason to inspire and encourage the next generation to join the air cargo sector by nominating those women who serve as role models in air cargo.
Click on the link and nominate now!
You have until 30JUL25 to nominate women in our industry who do a fantastic job, who pioneer innovation and industry change, who mentor, encourage and motivate. Click on the link NOW and let us know who inspires you! (There are no limits to the number of women you can nominate).
To honor these outstanding women and celebrate their achievements, Eva International will also host an exclusive awards ceremony at the ACHL 2025, which takes place 14-16OCT25, at the Clarion Hotel Copenhagen Airport. We look forward to your nominations!
*That official date was finally adopted in 1921, a decade after the first International Women’s Day on 19MAR11. International Men’s Day, by the way, is on 19NOV25.
** Is your company one of those? Care to tell CargoForwarder Global more and showcase what your company does? Write to cargoforwarderglobal@kopfpilot.at
