Clara Thomas, operations coordinator from UK-based Quality Freight Services, has been appointed as chair of the virtual format of the British International Freight Association’s Young Forwarder Network (YFN), succeeding Herbie Cobby from Geodis.
Established in 2019, BIFA’s YFN allows participants to enhance their career by providing opportunities to support their professional development through exclusive in-person events, boosting knowledge, sharing skills, advice, and experiences from industry professionals, and providing visits to places of industry interest. It consists of five regional groups, which each organises events on a quarterly basis.
The virtual format was established during the pandemic lockdown to enable the networking opportunities to continue online and remains active with events every month or so that are open to members nationwide.
Thomas, who is based in South Wales, has participated in many virtual and face-to-face YFN events. She is excited to get started and looking to add her enthusiasm to the good work done to the virtual format of the network. She is also keen to support BIFA’s activities in the South West and Wales region.
Carl Hobbis, member services director at BIFA, who has management responsibility for the trade association’s training and development services, said: “The monthly events held online attract good numbers and are very popular. They last for one hour, cover a range of topics and as with all YFN events, guests always learn something new.
“BIFA looks forward to working with Clara and continuing the development of the virtual format of the YFN. We are always looking for more people to get involved in the YFN by supporting online events, or the face-to-face meetings of the regional groups. We encourage members to contact us, support the YFN in whatever way they can and encourage young people to attend.
“Four years on from the start of the YFN, we have held over 120 events ranging from the educational, such as presentations on specific aspects of the freight and logistics industry, to purely social. The YFN group on LinkedIn is now a community of over 2,000 followers.”
