IIFA - Honorary Fellows

Honorary Fellows

Honorary Fellows of IIFA

Pictured at the 2017 IIFA AGM are (left to right), Colm Walsh, Liam Davis, Greg Lewis, John Bermingham, John Dunne, Karl Louwrens, Paddy Kenny and Seamus Kavanagh.

To recognise their contribution and service to the Irish Freight Forwarding industry, or the Association itself, IIFA has two categories of Honorary Membership to acknowledge the work of remarkable individuals throughout the years:

Honorary Fellows:

Aidan Archer – a founding member of the IIFA at its inception and inaugural meeting of 14th March 1962.
Vincent Brennan – 28th May 2025 - in recognition of his many years of service and contributions to vocational training in Freight Forwarding
Paul Byrne
Harry Hines
Terry Jones – a founding member of the IIFA at its inception and inaugural meeting of 14th March 1962, who also served as President for 1983. Terry Jones was a well-known and respected leader of the Freight Forwarding and Shipping industry, being the Managing Director of James P. Jones & Son Limited, and sister companies Hartrodt Jones Limited and Container Agencies & Shipping Limited.
Sean McCool – a leading Irish Air Freight Forwarder with a career that lasted more than 70 years. Sean was a founding member of the Irish Air Cargo Institute and the Irish Institute of Freight Forwarders (IIFA). In 1989, Sean established International Airline Marketing (IAM), Ireland’s largest Air Cargo General Sales and Service Agent (GSSA).
Richard Malkin – a distinguished air cargo journalist and former managing editor of Air Transportation, who, at a meeting with Sean McCool in 1957, played a crucial role in the inception and development of Shannon Airport as the western-most airport in Europe, strategically adjacent to sea, air and with inter-global possibilities.
Owen O’Brien – 2nd June 2022 – in recognition of his many years of service and contribution to the Irish Freight Forwarding & Customs Brokerage industry. Owen, along with business partner Tom Freeney, set up Irish Freight Forwarding firm Emerald Freight Ltd in 1981.
Aidan O’Donoghue
Tony O’Hanlon – in recognition of his work as President of IIFA (1986 and 1987) and for 5 years as Chief Executive Officer of the Association in the 1990s.
Pakenham Pim
Louis Reynolds
Tom Thornton – 30th November 2018 – in recognition of his work as President of IIFA (2015 – 2017) and throughout the 2016 FIATA World Congress Dublin.
Colm Walsh – 11th October 1994 - in recognition of his work as President of IIFA (1980 and 1981) leading up to and hosting the 1981 FIATA World Congress Dublin. Colm, along with his Bother Larry, founded Walsh Western in Galway in 1969. Colm would later serve as CEO of IIFA across 2005 – 2014, during which time he set up the FIATA Diploma course to be delivered direct from IIFA and played a pivotal role in having Ireland selected as the location for the 2016 FIATA World Congress Dublin.
Jim White

Honorary Members:

John Bermingham – 30th May 2017 – in recognition of his work with the 2016 FIATA World Congress Dublin
Jack Burke
William Cress – 30th May 2017 – in recognition of his work with the 2016 FIATA World Congress Dublin
Liam Davis – 30th May 2017 – in recognition of his work with the 2016 FIATA World Congress Dublin
John Dunne – 30th May 2017 – in recognition of his work with the 2016 FIATA World Congress Dublin
Noel Good – 30th May 2017 – in recognition of his work with the 2016 FIATA World Congress Dublin
Seamus Kavanagh – 30th May 2017 – in recognition of his work with the 2016 FIATA World Congress Dublin
Paddy Kenny – 30th May 2017 – in recognition of his work with the 2016 FIATA World Congress Dublin
Greg Lewis – 30th May 2017 – in recognition of his work with the 2016 FIATA World Congress Dublin
Karl Louwrens – 30th May 2017 – in recognition of his work with the 2016 FIATA World Congress Dublin
Sean McCool – 30th May 2017 – in recognition of his work with the 2016 FIATA World Congress Dublin
Colm Walsh – 30th May 2017 – in recognition of his work with the 2016 FIATA World Congress Dublin