Last week, our Head of Logistics, Fiona Dempster, travelled to London for the final of the 2022 Amazon Everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards and was announced the Winner of the Freight Leader Award, much to the delight of everyone at PG Paper.
About the Awards
The transport and logistics industry is home to one of the largest and most crucial workforces in the UK, with over 2.5 million employees currently working across the country. As the industry is beginning to open its doors to more women, females still only account for 20% of the total workforce, proving that more needs to be done to attract more women to this important industry.
The everywoman in Transport & Logistics awards, which this year celebrated their 15th year, was established to celebrate the vital contribution women make to transport and logistics across all sectors involved in the industry.
The 2022 awards celebrated a total of 16 nominees across various sectors who have demonstrated positive contributions to the industry and leadership by encouraging and mentoring young females to become more involved in transport & logistics.
Global Spotlight on Transport & Logistics
Ever since the global outbreak of Covid-19 back in 2020, the world’s supply chains have continuously experienced various disruptions and challenges. As businesses began shutting down their operations to tackle the spread of the virus, overall industry activity experienced a mass decline. As we move forward in 2022, consumer demand has soared, and global supply chains are finding it difficult to operate at pre-pandemic standards.
Although the industry has faced trying times over the past two years, the outcome of this can only be looked upon positively. Having to overcome various barriers has resulted in an increase in women joining the industry for the first time, with the number of female delivery drivers increasing by approximately 104%. The awards also allow us to show our appreciation towards all of the women who have demonstrated resilience to keep our country afloat through complex and uncertain times.
Congratulations Fiona!
With over 24 years of experience within the industry, Fiona has been an integral asset to PG Paper’s success today, offering her support and expertise to her colleagues and suppliers whenever required. Fiona has helped break down cultural barriers between our UK and Indian office to enhance the cohesiveness between our global logistics team, as well as being a champion for mental health and first aid.
Over the past year, Fiona has also been team lead on various humanitarian aid projects. In 2021, Fiona and the rest of the PG Paper logistics team sent close to 5,000 oxygen concentrators to India, meeting India’s urgent need for oxygen to help fight against Covid-19. In addition, the team also helped provide charitable donations to Poland for Ukrainian refugees. These are just a few examples of all of the hard work Fiona has put into her eight years here at PG Paper. The PG Paper team is immensely proud of Fiona’s achievement, and she is an inspiration to not only us but to all women looking to step into the world of transport and logistics.