IATA, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), and TT Club, the renowned international freight transport insurer, are thrilled to unveil the global winner of this year’s Young Logistics Professionals Award (YLP) at the prestigious 2023 FIATA World Congress in Brussels, Belgium.
It is with immense pride that FIATA and TT Club announce Andre Hein Gerber, as the Young Logistics Professional 2023 Global Winner. Andre represented Region Africa and Middle East and comes from The South African Association of Freight Forwarders, South Africa. Andre’s dedication to the field, exemplified by his insightful dissertation focused on the import of a hydrogen desulphurisation reactor and the export of an entire sweet factory, truly embodies the YLP spirit.
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Michael Yarwood, chair of the YLP steering committee, commented that “once again the award has attracted a large number of worthy candidates, each passing year becomes increasingly challenging for the steering committee to select an overall winner from the talented individuals that enter the awards programme. While, this being a competition, there must be an overall winner, each of the four regional finalists should be incredibly proud of their achievements. Discussions at the YLP day during the FIATA World Congress in part focused on the importance of attracting and retaining young talent in the industry and I am convinced that the YLP award programme continues to deliver against its objectives in this context”.
FIATA President, Ivan Petrov, added “As we celebrate the exceptional achievements of the YLP Global Winner 2023, we reaffirm our commitment to nurturing the potential of young talents in the logistics industry. Their innovative ideas and dedication are the driving force behind the evolution of our field. Congratulations to Andre Hein Gerber and all finalists for inspiring us and showcasing the limitless possibilities that lie ahead in logistics, and the pivotal role of young professionals in shaping the future of logistics. The competition recognised FIATA‘s commitment to nurturing their potential and we continue to prioritise the future workforce of our sector as such”.
The YLP Award not only recognises excellence, but also addresses the industry’s challenge of finding talented and motivated candidates. This competition motivates, inspires, and elevates the career prospects of young logistics professionals, offering networking opportunities, skill development, and exposure within the global freight forwarding community.
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The 2023 FIATA World Congress witnessed another milestone with the full-day programme for young logisticians competing during an exciting hackathon, gathering 116 industry students and professionals. Prior to the hackathon, the students and 2023 FIATA World Congress participants heard inspiring speeches from Kristof Cuadros Perez and Wim Gijbels on climate change, leaving them with food for thought for new and innovative logistics technologies. The events around the promotion of youth demonstrates FIATA‘s continuous efforts to illuminate the path for the next generation and cultivate a vibrant community within the freight forwarding sector.
As the logistics industry evolves, FIATA and TT Club remain dedicated to propelling the achievements of young professionals and envision a future where innovation prevails.
