The 2017 Young International Freight Forwarder of the Year (YIFFY) Award has been presented to Bradley Davis of the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association at the FIATA annual World Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Each year FIATA celebrates the achievements of young freight forwarders representing national freight forwarding associations at its annual World Congress. This year was no exception as over 1,000 attendees at the Kuala Lumpur Congress congratulated the winner of the Young Freight Forwarder of the Year (YIFFY) Award Bradley Davis of the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association. Specialist insurance provider to the international freight transport industry, TT Club is proud to have sponsored this award for each of its nineteen years and Senior Loss Prevention Executive; Mike Yarwood was on hand to announce the winner and present the award with a brief speech, evocative of the important achievements in training made by FIATA and its members. FIATA and TT Club duly recognise the succession challenges facing many areas of the global industry and therefore the need to invest in the development and education of young logistics professionals. The YIFFYA competition provides opportunities for all candidates, of which there were 22 this year, to demonstrate and develop their knowledge of the industry. The competition remains both challenging and rewarding for the candidates, each candidate requiring to submit a 6,000 word dissertation outlining an import and export shipment from their native country. Each year four regional finalists are selected and are invited to attend the FIATA World Congress, providing each candidate with invaluable learning and networking opportunities. In addition the overall winner of the award is invited to attend two, one week training sessions with the TT Club at one of their regional headquarters in London, New Jersey or Hong Kong as well as a 1 year subscription to the ITJ publication. Commenting on the outstanding quality of the work presented to the judges Yarwood said, “from a highly professional and broad array of entries the YIFFY Steering Committee selected a shortlist of four regional finalists. These four young professionals were then invited here to Kuala Lumpur to deliver a short presentation on their dissertation topic to the steering committee. Congratulations to all four finalists for their polished presentations and especially, of course to our winner Bradley Davis”. The four regional finalists for the 2017 competition were:
  • Region: Africa/Middle East: Tinasche Chiwanza – Zimbabwe (SFAAZ)
  • Region: Americas: Bradley Davis – Canada (CIFFA)
  • Region: Asia/Pacific: Nian Wan – China (CIFA)
  • Region: Europe: Nina Brose – Germany (DSLV)
The judges stressed that the dissertations this year were of a particularly high standard. The work of the entrants as a whole admirably demonstrated the complexity of processes carried out within the global supply chain and the logistics skills required to serve it. The diverse subjects covered by the dissertations included the transport of Earth movers supporting the diamond trade, Lithium Ion Batteries, Flue Cured Cut Rag Tobacco and Raw Tea, a clear example of the variety of challenges the industry is facing to provide crucial trade services. The TT Club sponsored award is presented in recognition of operational excellence in the logistics field and was established by FIATA with the support of TT Club to encourage the development of quality training in the industry and to reward young talent with additional valuable training opportunities and enhanced visibility. The TT Club has been a sponsor of the award since its inception and remains firmly committed to the importance of individual training and development within the global freight forwarding and logistics community, which is regarded by FIATA as a strategic important cooperation. Speaking on behalf of TT Club, Yarwood said, “We are pleased to be continuing our sponsorship of this unique award into 2018. Once again, we hope that the competition will prove to be successful in terms of attracting outstanding candidates from across the globe. The quality of the dissertations and presentations this year were of the usual exceptional standard and it was clear that a lot of research, planning and hard work had gone into their preparation.”