TIACA’s latest Professional Development Workshop, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, has inspired participants to see a bright future in air cargo. The three-day program, held at the end of February in conjunction with Air Cargo Africa, attracted 18 participants from across the air freight supply chain for an interactive educational experience reflecting real world air cargo business and operational situations. “The course challenged the way I think and made me realize that a change starts with me,” said Elize Werner, Branch Manager, Capetown, DN Freight, South Africa, who took part in the workshop. “I strongly suggest that more people attend, I can apply the knowledge to my day-to-day work.” The program, designed by Strategic Aviation Services International (SASI), gives participants an appreciation of each different air cargo sector by encouraging discussion and the sharing of perspectives as well as providing practical advice and insight. The course benefitted from active participation from various senior industry leaders, including TIACA Chairman Oliver Evans, Chief Cargo Officer at Swiss World Cargo, David Yokeum, President of WCA, Franz van Hessen, Director of Cargo and Sales, Koeln-Bonn Airport, and Stan Wraight, Senior Executive Director, SASI, and culminated in students delivering presentations reflecting real-life scenarios. “It was a challenging workshop, the teamwork and dynamics created by the group and the leaders were great,” said Thomas Schuermann, Manager, Marketing and Sales, Flughafen Dusseldorf, Cargo GMBH, who took part. “I got a far better understanding of the industry, especially about all the different links in the supply chain." The workshop was led by SASI’s Lilian Tan and Charles Edwards, and included practical information sessions, as well as discussion, debate, and a chance to network with peers as well as senior industry veterans. Topics covered included market and competitive analysis, brand management, revenue management, understanding and analyzing financial statements, business ethics, and leading teams. “The knowledge helped to refine talents related to leadership and helped me believe that there is a great future for the younger generation,” said delegate Jean Nightingale, Export Manager, DN Freight, South Africa. Amina Ismail Omar, Cargo Interline Analyst from Etihad Airways, who also took part, added that TIACA and SASI had challenged students in a very amicable way. “They taught us and made us better, they believed in our capabilities and I think we need people who believe in us so that we can give more,” she said.