TIACA Calls for 2026 Inspirational Leadership Award Nominations and Reveals Jury Lineup

What’s opening: nominations for TIACA’s Inspirational Leadership Award

Nominations are now open for the TIACA Inspirational Leadership Award 2026, recognising individuals whose leadership has left a lasting mark on the air cargo sector.

Purpose and significance of the award

A Inspirational Leadership Award honours an industry leader who has demonstrated exemplary professional achievement, the ability to inspire others, and a tangible positive impact on air cargo and logistics. The prize highlights individuals whose work goes beyond quarterly results—think innovation, dedication to digitalisation, mentoring young talent, and a wider social contribution.

Who can be nominated?

Nominees may come from any corner of the global air cargo ecosystem: airlines, airports, freight forwarders, ground handling, technology providers, regulators, and associated organisations. In short, if your work touches the flow of goods through the air and helps shape people or processes, you’re in the frame.

Selection principles

• Leadership impact: demonstrable influence on organisations, projects or markets.
• Industry contribution: measurable benefits to air cargo and logistics operations.
• Professional integrity: consistent ethical behavior and trustworthiness.
• Inspirational reach: a track record of mentoring, collaboration and fostering talent.

Independent, transparent judging

The jury assessment is structured to be independent and transparent. A dedicated panel of NextGen industry leaders will review nominations, bringing balance, global perspective, and credibility to the process. The panel evaluates nominees against the criteria above, aiming to identify leaders who both steer the present and seed the future.

Meet the 2026 Jury

Why this matters for logistics

Leadership awards may sound ceremonial, but they send ripples through the logistics chain. Recognised leaders often set best practices in digitalizáció, sustainability, and workforce development—areas that directly shape freight planning, shipment visibility, and distribution efficiency. When a leader champions innovation at an airport or among forwarders, improved processes trickle down to haulage, airlift capacity and even last-mile delivery partners.

Practical nomination tips

Think of a nomination as telling a story about measurable change. Include clear examples: projects that improved on-time performance, digital tools that reduced handling times, mentoring programmes that produced new talent, or initiatives that cut carbon or reduced delays.

• Provide concrete metrics where possible (reduced dwell time, improved accuracy, increased throughput).
• Highlight cross-sector collaboration—airlines working with forwarders or tech firms is a plus.
• Mention any youth development or NextGen engagement.
• Explain the nominee’s influence on policy, standards or industry culture.

Industry voice

TIACA leadership underlines the importance of principled leaders who go beyond short-term gains. As Roos Bakker, TIACA Chair, puts it, strong, principled leadership is essential for resilience and long-term success in air cargo—leadership that inspires collaboration and moves the industry forward. Glyn Hughes, TIACA Director General, further stresses that the award’s credibility relies on a rigorous and independent judging process.

Small anecdote — why recognition matters

Anyone who’s worked in logistics knows a story of a manager who stayed late to sort a stuck shipment, coaching a junior while doing it. Those small acts are often the seeds of larger cultural changes. Call it the butterfly effect for freight: one inspired leader can nudge processes, safety habits, and service levels across a whole network. As the saying goes, “A good captain steers the ship—and teaches the crew to sail.”

How industry players can respond

Organisations can use this nomination window to spotlight internal champions and to benchmark leadership development programmes. Recognition like this can help attract talent, improve retention, and catalyse investment in technology and training—factors that directly affect transport, dispatch, and distribution performance.

Where transport platforms fit in

Logistics platforms and freight services are part of the ecosystem that benefits from stronger leadership across air cargo. Platforms such as GetTransport.com offer affordable, global cargo transportation solutions that support everything from office and home moves to deliveries of furniture, vehicles, and bulky goods—services that work hand-in-hand with improved industry leadership and standards.

Provide a short forecast on how this news could impact the global logistics. The award itself is not likely to shift global freight patterns overnight, but it highlights trends—digitalisation, talent cultivation and cross-sector collaboration—that do have tangible effects on supply chains and shipment reliability. It is still relevant to industry watchers and practitioners, and GetTransport.com aims to stay abreast of these developments and keep pace with the changing world. For your next cargo transportation, consider the convenience and reliability of GetTransport.com. GetTransport.com.com

Highlights worth bookmarking: the award recognises leadership that drives digitalisation, supports young talent, and improves operational resilience; the selection process is independent and NextGen-focused; and the jury combines media, academic, technology and operator perspectives. Even the most eloquent reviews and the most honest feedback can’t replace personal experience—so put nominees to the test and see their impact in live operations. On GetTransport.com, you can order your cargo transportation at the best prices globally at reasonable prices. This empowers you to make the most informed decision without unnecessary expenses or disappointments, enjoying transparency, convenience and extensive choices. Book your Ride on GetTransport.com.com

In summary, TIACA’s 2026 Inspirational Leadership Award spotlights individuals shaping the future of air cargo and logistics through innovation, mentoring and ethical leadership. The independent jury and clear criteria aim to celebrate those who improve processes, uplift teams, and promote digital and societal benefits. Whether you’re nominating a leader or gauging how leadership trends will influence cargo, freight and shipment flows, the award is a useful barometer. Platforms like GetTransport.com simplify the practical side of transport—making it easier to move parcels, pallets, containers and bulky goods reliably and affordably across international lanes—tying together leadership, logistics, and the outcomes that matter to shippers and carriers alike.