IIFA host Young Logistics Professionals event on 2nd April 2025

As part of the 2025 Logistics & Supply-Chain Skills Week, Irish International Freight Association will host an event for Young Professionals in the industry, with a focus on growing your skillset and career on Wednesday 2nd April 2025.

Logistics & Supply-Chain Skills Week is an initiative of Department of Transport, to be held across Monday 31st March – Saturday 5th April 2025. The aim of this week is to promote careers in Freight Forwarding and Logistics and to attract people to join the industry. IIFA are providing an event for persons already in - but new to - the industry, with a focus on expanding their view of the possible career paths before them.

The day will begin at the Dublin Port Substation, where attendees will receive an introduction from the Commercial Manager of Dublin Port, who will outline the port's future plans. Following this, participants will embark on a Boat Tour of the terminals (weather permitting), led by the Harbour Master, who will provide insights into the port's daily operations and maritime logistics. After the boat tour, the experience will continue with a VIP Bus Tour of the DSG Terminal, featuring expert commentary from DSG’s Operations Manager, offering a behind-the-scenes perspective on terminal activities and logistics operations.

Lunch will be provided in the Spencer Hotel, after which Attendees will have Career talks from three Freight Forwarding Professionals. All three started at entry level positions and have risen to prominent and leading roles within the Irish Freight Forwarding industry. Through their career talks, each Speaker will provide an insight into the daily operations of their current role, while also spending some time to outline their journey over the years to attain their current position. The Speakers for the afternoon session are:

		Pearl Cumiskey Director, Account Management, Europe Expeditors Ltd With a career spanning 25 years in Freight Forwarding, Pearl started as a European Road Freight Co-Ordinator and has advanced to hold positions from Business Development Executive, to Branch Manager and is now Director, Account Management, Europe for Expeditors. Such a position with a leading global multinational is an achievement in itself and Pearl holding this from Ireland is a wonderful testimony of the career growth available within Freight Forwarding.
		Gary Morrissey Head of Air Freight, Region West DB Schenker Ltd Gary started his career as a ground handling agent in Dublin airport. He then moved into Freight Forwarding where he worked multiple roles including Operations/Customer Service, Team Leader, Airfreight Manager, OKAM and Business Development. He later moved on to become a Global Strategic Sourcing Manager with an ecommerce business before returning to Freight Forwarding as Head of Air Freight for DB Schenker. Gary’s role is wide reaching, responsible for Schenker’s Irish Air Freight Branches, ensuring the delivery of efficient, customer-focused airfreight services.
		Carl Coates ICT Business Relationship Manager Rosslare Europort & Rail Freight Carl has held various positions within Irish Rail across the years, with a keen interest in education and expanding his skillset to new areas. With the advent of BREXIT and new strategic importance of Rosslare Europort for the Irish Haulage industry, Carl took the opportunity to be involved with SMARTPORT, an initiative to empower Rosslare's operational staff by digitizing tasks and automating processes to drive their operational performance and digital transformation as their operations expanded.

This event aims to be a celebration of Freight Forwarding as a career path, with a visual tour of cargo movement in action and focus on enriching careers available.

IIFA members can book their Colleagues for this event by contacting the Secretariat via e-mail to info@iifa.ie or telephone through to 01 845 5411. Numbers for this event are limited and IIFA can take a maximum of 2x persons per member company.

Note re IIFA + Department of Agriculture Border Control Post Tour

This event is separate to IIFA’s annual Dublin Port Tour with DAFM. Normally held toward the end of April, a fourth DAFM BDP Dublin Port Tour will be open to Employees of Members and will be held in May 2025. Further details on this event will be shared when arrangements have been finalised.