CILTSA recently announced its highly anticipated Women in Logistics, Transport and Supply Chain Empowerment Conference 2025, a transformative event designed to shatter glass ceilings and accelerate female advancement in one of South Africa’s most critical economic sectors.
The theme of this year’s conference, which is taking place on Friday, 26 September at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Johannesburg, Gauteng, is ‘Fuel Her Rise: Leadership in Motion’.
Breaking systemic gender barriers
The conference comes at a critical time when recent research reveals alarming inconsistencies in how workplace equity is perceived across genders in the supply chain sector. According to SAPICS’ 2025 Women in Supply Chain Leadership Survey, while 89% of the men surveyed asserted that career advancement opportunities are equal for men and women, only 57% of women felt the same way, with more than one-third of women respondents strongly disagreeing.
The gender pay gap remains a significant concern, with only 25% of women believing salaries are equal compared with 63% of men. Most troubling is that 45% of women suspect men are paid more than women for the same work.
“The disconnect between male and female perceptions of workplace equity is deeply concerning. If male leaders don’t see a problem, it’s harder to solve one,” says CILTSA Executive Director Catherine Larkin.
“This conference is designed to bridge that gap while empowering women with the skills, networks, and confidence needed to drive change.”
Pressing need for gender diversity in leadership
Around the world, women comprise roughly 41% of the supply chain workforce, yet they hold only 23% of vice-president-level roles. In South Africa, the situation is even more challenging, with women accounting for around 28% of the logistics and transport sector workforce.
Research conducted by the Peterson Institute for International Economics involving 21 980 companies across 91 countries found having a greater share of female leadership correlated with a 15% increase in profitability. Meanwhile, McKinsey & Company reports consistently show companies in the top 25% for gender diversity are more likely to achieve above-average profitability.
Opening doors through education and networking
Topics of discussion at this year’s CILTSA conference will include:
- Overcoming impostor syndrome: developing confidence and asserting authority in the logistics, transport, and supply chain sector;
- Navigating the gender gap: overcoming challenges and seizing leadership opportunities;
- Breaking barriers: accelerating women’s advancement through tools and technologies; and
- From insights to impact: learnings from the transformative journeys of those who attended the 2024 conference.
Latest feature
This year’s conference features an exciting new addition: the Imbokodo Hub, a dedicated exhibition space for small businesses. This initiative provides tangible opportunities for connection and business growth within the community, with particular focus on supporting women-owned and managed small, medium, and micro enterprises.
Chances to advance your career
The conference also offers attendees access to inspiring keynote speakers from across the industry; high-impact panel discussions addressing real workplace challenges; strategic networking opportunities with professionals from around the country; and practical sessions on leadership development, transformation, and inclusion.
This conference provides incredible opportunities for female business owners, employees, and executives to connect with one another, discuss their struggles and concerns, and help one another succeed in their careers.
This event has the power to alter careers, build lasting professional connections, and provide mentorship opportunities.
Honouring women’s roles in the sector
The logistics, transport, and supply chain sector increasingly recognises that women contribute valuable skill sets, including exceptional organisational abilities, strategic planning capabilities, and collaborative leadership styles.
Research published in Harvard Business Review indicates that companies with higher-than-average diversity in leadership teams report greater revenue from new products and services, while studies show gender-diverse teams excel at complex problem-solving.
How to register for the event
Conference registration is now open, and seats are limited. The conference is aimed at experienced leaders and up-and-coming professionals across the logistics, transport, and supply chain sector.
Visit ciltsa.events/women-empowerment-conference, email [email protected], or phone or 087 133 0525 or 083 300 0331.
