FIATA elects new global freight forwarding leadership team

FIATA, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, has confirmed its new global leadership team following the Electoral General Meeting held on 10 October 2025 in Hanoi. The newly elected team comes from all major logistics regions worldwide and is charged with shaping the future of global freight forwarding and trade facilitation.

In the Presidency, Dr Thomas Sim of the Singapore Logistics Association leads as President, supported by Immediate Past President Turgut Erkeskin from Türkiye. Senior Vice Presidents are Jens Roemer of FORWARD Belgium W.E.B. in Belgium, Nadia Abdul Aziz of the National Association of Freight and Logistics in the United Arab Emirates, and Yukki Hanafi Nugrahawan of the Indonesian Logistics and Forwarders Association in Indonesia. Neil Taylor of the Asociación Logística de Chile in Chile assumes the role of treasurer, while Keshav Tanna of the Air Cargo Agents Association of India serves as secretary general.

The Extended Board includes Vice Presidents Stephen Adjokatcher of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Tej Contractor of the Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India, Mauro Da Ros of the Federazione Nazionale delle Imprese di Spedizioni Internazionali in Italy, Dao Trong Khoa of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association, and Guillermo Gonzalez Larsen of the Federación Colombiana de Agentes Logísticos en Comercio Internacional in Colombia.

Also serving on the Board are Kaoutar Guessous of the Association des Freight Forwarders du Maroc in Morocco, Ahmed Khaleel Mustafa of the Egyptian International Freight Forwarding Association, and Sheila Mashiri of the Shipping & Forwarding Agents' Association of Zimbabwe. They bring with them regional perspectives that reflect FIATA’s focus on inclusive representation from across Africa and the Middle East.

Other members include Farid Saffarzadeh of the International Transport Companies Association of Iran, Angel Sanchez of the Asociación Panameña de Agencias de Carga in Panama, Edward John Urio of the Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association, and Adelaide Yang of the Taiwan Freight Logistics Association in Chinese Taipei. Together, this board unites leaders from across continents to further FIATA’s mission of strengthening global freight connectivity.

FIATA’s Institutes will be chaired by Dawit Woubishet of the Ethiopian Freight Forwarders and Shipping Agents Association for the Air Freight Institute, Steve Parker of the British International Freight Association for the Customs Affairs Institute, Alperen Guler of the Turkish Forwarding and Logistics Association for the FIATA Logistics Institute, and Mark Bromley of the British International Freight Association for the Multimodal Transport Institute.

In advisory roles, Yuntao Yang of the China International Freight Forwarders Association will lead the Advisory Body on Legal Matters, while Niels Beuck of the Bundesverband Spedition und Logistik in Germany heads the Advisory Body on Safety and Security.

Regional leadership appointments include Ali Al Mesned of the Qatar Association for Freight Forwarding and Logistics as Chair of the FIATA Region Africa and the Middle East, with Ahmad Abdul Razeq of the National Association of Freight and Logistics in the United Arab Emirates as Vice-Chair.

Miguel Espinosa of the Federación Colombiana de Agentes Logísticos en Comercio Internacional chairs the FIATA Region Americas. Minh Duy Nguyen of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association leads the FIATA Region Asia-Pacific, joined by Vice-Chair Samir Shah of the Air Cargo Agents Association of India. In Europe, Antonella Straulino of the Federazione Nazionale delle Imprese di Spedizioni Internazionali serves as Chair, with Tomas Arvidsson of the Swedish International Freight Association as Vice-Chair.

Outgoing President Turgut Erkeskin expressed confidence in the new team’s capabilities: “I have every confidence that Mr Thomas Sim will lead FIATA with vision and dedication. The new presidency and extended board represent an inclusive and experienced team ready to take on the challenges of global logistics.”

In his first address as president, Dr Sim emphasised collaboration and innovation as priorities. “As your president, I pledge to continue serving with humility, transparency, and dedication—to be a bridge between cultures, sectors, and generations with a collaborative spirit, ensuring that our Federation remains not just relevant but indispensable in shaping the future of logistics and trade,” he said. Dr Sim underscored FIATA’s strength in diversity and shared vision, stating, “Our true strength lies in unity—in the collaboration of thousands of members across continents who believe in the same mission: to connect the world through logistics, to facilitate trade, and to create prosperity.”

Headquartered in Geneva, FIATA represents over 6,000 individual members and 111 association members from more than 150 territories, encompassing an industry of over 40,000 freight forwarding and logistics firms worldwide. With this new leadership team, FIATA aims to advance digital transformation, sustainable growth, and global collaboration in the freight forwarding sector for years ahead.