Now in its 12th year, the everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards continues its mission to uncover female role models, identify male agents of change and transform the industry perception. We talked to Anna Delvecchio, Commercial Account Director at Amey plc and winner of the FTA 2018 Everywoman in Transport and Logistics Woman of the Year Award about her work supporting others and helping to inspire the next generation to be part of this exciting sector.
Who inspires you and why?
HRH The Princess Royal, who is an exceptional ambassador for Great Britain, supporting and inspiring hundreds of organisations and their people.
I have heard her speak many times, most recently at the 140th Anniversary event of City & Guilds where she talked passionately about skills and apprenticeships. She left me feeling inspired to do even more. She is also the patron of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and is similarly passionate about logistics and transport and its importance to society.
Why are you passionate about the Transport and Logistics (T&L) Sector?
Because I believe it’s a great profession to work in. It is an exciting sector to be part of that keeps Britain moving, both in goods and services, 365 days a year. There is never a dull moment!
The second is absolutely the people. We have so many talented and inspiring women and men working in the sector, which employs around 2.7m people.
I am passionate about helping our sector to become more diverse and leading change.
You began your career as an apprentice – how significant was that experience for you?
Significant. I started my career at 16 in an electromechanical engineering organisation and the skills and knowledge I learned there were invaluable. I recently went back for Apprenticeship Week as part of the Fire It Up Campaign to learn what some of our apprentices do and, in turn, for them to shadow me. The experience was brilliant, we have great apprentices and so many different types of apprenticeships across T&L.
I think we need to showcase this much more next year across T&L. I am keen to help do this and as such, I will be helping Amey champion its apprenticeship programme and will also be working with NSAR and others on this much more.
What have been the biggest opportunities in your own career?
Picking an apprenticeship programme. If I hadn’t done that I probably would never have found my chosen profession in commercial, supply chain and programme management – a choice that has lasted 20 years. I am delighted to be involved in judging the new Apprentice of the Year category at the everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards for 2019, to highlight those excelling in either transport and/or logistics.
More recently, one of my biggest opportunities has been co-leading the Industrial Strategy Sector Deal for Rail, working with the entire sector to coordinate, develop, negotiate and secure it.
Setting up the “Women in Rail South” group two years ago, which aims to provide women with a local network to support their professional and personal growth has been very important to me, and equally sitting on the Women in Transport board.
My biggest opportunity this year is helping CILT lead their first ever Big Logistics and Transport Diversity Challenge.
This is a great opportunity to bring the entire profession together to look at how we ensure diversity is tackled collectively and collaboratively. The sharing of best practice, stronger combined leadership, networks and better use of roles models are all vital. The aim of this event is to start that journey together. The good news is we have over 270 individuals already attending across transport and logistics.
What has winning the FTA 2018 everywoman in Transport and Logistics Woman of the Year award meant for you?
I was so proud to have won it – and for the rail sector; a sector that I have enjoyed working in for many years. Winning the award has inspired me and given me a stronger platform to help others make a difference every day.
I have also met some amazing everywoman finalists who have also become my friends – what a great way to reach out and network within the sector and beyond.
This year, I have nominated many individuals for the awards. These are great ambassadors and role models for our sector – and I know from my own experience that the everywoman awards can bring real recognition and support for that.
The 2019 everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards is held on the 13 June 2019 at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane.