David Macken of IIFA Full Trading Member Hawthorn Logistics Ltd has been selected as IIFA’s Young Irish Freight Forwarder of the Year for 2025.
The Young Irish Freight Forwarder of the Year competition was a two round process for 2025, with Participants submitting a video entry outlining their career to date in the first round in November 2024. Three Finalists from the IIFA membership body were selected from Round 1:
This is the second year of this national competition, which has a dual aim of giving focus to the diligent and creative work of rising stars in the industry and acting as a selection process for Ireland’s Candidate for the annual FIATA Young Logistics Professional Award (YLP). The YLP requires Candidates to pen a 6,000-word thesis, focusing on a key export and a key import shipment, effectively detailing a solid case study for both shipments and the challenges within same.
For Round 2 of the competition, each of the finalists submitted a 700-word outline of what their prospective thesis would be, and prepared a presentation on same. The finalists delivered their presentations to a Steering Committee of Representatives from IIFA Council at an event last night, Wednesday 22nd January 2025. The presentations delivered featured a study of:
The presentation evening event was a first for this competition and will remain a feature into the future as it fits well with the interpersonal nature of Freight Forwarding.
David can now begin expanding his research for his thesis and IIFA will formally nominate David to FIATA as Ireland’s Candidate for the 2025 Young Logistics Professional competition. IIFA are excited to have introduced this initiative to promote the good work of young Irish Freight Forwarders and to see how well it is received by the membership.
IIFA also wishes to acknowledge the three finalists and their Employers who supported them throughout the selection process and at the presentation evening:
Hawthorn Logistics Ltd, Arcese Cosulich Ireland Ltd, and RHENUS Air & Ocean Ltd.
IIFA wish David the very best as he prepares his thesis and looks forward to seeing Ireland continue to be represented at international level through FIATA.
David Macken with IIFA President Sandra Morrisey
Cover photo, L-R: Gerard Kiernan (IIFA Council Member, a. Hartrodt Ltd), David Macken (Hawthorn Logistics), Sandra Morrisey (IIFA President, Eastway Global Forwarding Ltd), Gaia Manconi (Arcese Cosulich Ireland Ltd), Vikram Nair (RHENUS Air & Ocean Ltd), Derek Dunne (IIFA Honorary Secretary, Manifests Ireland Ltd)
