The Women in Logistics, Supply Chain and Transport event took place on Thursday 16 May in our partners, Morgan McKinley’s building on Burlington Road.
The event came from a discussion between Senior Consultant Jack O’Connell who had worked with the Southern Section on previous event. Jack and Áine Holden CILT Communications Manager were both interested in having Women focused event. The objective of the event was to highlight the role of women in industry and show the opportunities available to those wishing to enter.
Keynote speakers on the evening were Pamela Quinn, Managing Director of Kuehne + Nagle Ireland), Susan Boylan, Supply Chain & Operations Manager - Kepak Foodservice Solutions and Ruth Waring, Founder WiL (women in logistics) Group in the UK and Director of BigChange.
Pamela spoke about how she joined Kuehne + Nagel in 2001 when the Irish office had only 30 employees. Starting in accounts, she was then asked to set up a new HR function for the business. Four years later, she was promoted to Dublin Operations Director, then National Operations Director. At 36 Pamela was offered her current role as Managing Director of the firm.
Her presentation was fascinating to hear and her experiences of being a woman working in the industry. Positively, she feels her gender has never been an issue in the boardroom and her skills and experience is how she is viewed by her colleagues.
Next up to speak was Susan Boylan, Supply Chain & Operations Manager of Kepak Foodservice Solutions. Her experience lies in supply chain and operations management in the FMCG, pharmacy and fresh food channels, specialising in Warehouse & Logistics Management. Susan gave an enlightening presentation beginning with the number of women who attended her college course and completed it compared to the men who left. She talked about the issues she has faced in the industry; how cultural differences has played a part in how she was treated and how her experience has helped her become a leader regardless of gender.
Ruth Waring FCILT and founding member of the Women in Logistics UK Group was the last of the keynote speakers. Ruth spoke from the heart about her time in the industry. Her time working in France which she didn’t enjoy but which gave her excellent skills and another language. What was clear from her speaking was her drive to set up her own consultancy business and if you are 80% sure of something to go for it. The WiL group has over 3,600 members now and meet regularly across the UK.
For the panel discussion Pamela Dennison, Northern Ireland Officer for CILT UK and Marina Efthymiou, PhD Course Director for executive M.Sc. in Aviation Leadership in DCU joined the three other women. Chaired by Darragh McCarthy Associate Director in Morgan McKinley a lively debate begun around the women’s experience in the industry, how current students can enter the industry and issues surrounding maternity leave and child care.
In all the evening was a great success for networking, idea creation, involvement from the audience during the panel discussion and meeting women at all levels of the industry.
We would like to thank Jack O’Connell from Morgan McKinley for all his help in setting up the event. We hope to continue our partnership into the future.