The winners of the 2026 Everywoman in Transport & Logistics have been announced, shining a spotlight on the exceptional women driving innovation and leadership across the UK sector.
The winners of the 2026 Everywoman in Transport & Logistics have been announced, shining a spotlight on the exceptional women driving innovation and leadership across the UK sector.
Celebrating their 19th year, the awards are run in association with DSV and Amazon Relay and recognise those transforming transport and logistics.
The event seeks to inspire the next generation of female talent to pursue careers in the industry by spotlighting the career opportunities at every stage, from apprenticeships to C-Suite.
The transport & logistics industry is critically important to the UK, generating around £192.9 billion for the economy.
Despite this, progress still needs to be made to close the gender gap, as women account for only 27% of the 2.5 million-strong transport workforce and 20% of the two million people working in logistics and warehousing.
Nicole Goodwin and Sophie Catto, joint managing directors of AllBright Everywoman, said: “There is exceptional female talent in the transport and logistics sector, and we are proud to recognise the women who are leading huge transformations in their businesses and inspiring the next generation to follow. This year’s winners are excelling in their careers while actively changing the culture of an industry that is critical to the UK economy.”
Adam Jones, senior commercial director, UK Contract Logistics at DSV, highlighted the growing influence of women in the evolving transport and logistics sector while advocating for continued progress in industry inclusivity
“While we have made positive strides as an industry, there is still more to do to ensure that talented women have the opportunities, support and visibility they deserve. Celebrating the success of these outstanding women is an important part of that journey.”
Vignesh Solairaj, director, supply chain at Amazon Relay, commented: “At Amazon, we believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to building the resilient supply chains of tomorrow. The women recognised at this year’s awards are not only excelling in their own careers but are paving the way for others to follow.”
Everywoman Woman of the Year Award
Lisa Hall, owner of Alfreton-based Diamond Transport Audits and Compliance
Hall won the Everywoman Woman of the Year Award for shifting the culture of the UK transport industry. Growing up around her parents’ 1970s haulage fleet, she developed a lifelong passion for the sector, even identifying lorries by their engine sounds. She launched her business as a solo consultant in 2001 and built it into a nationally recognised authority. Today, she is a trusted expert who conducts audits for the Traffic Commissioner, guides companies through Public Inquiries, and focuses on deep operational education over tick-box compliance.
Beyond her corporate success, Hall transforms the male-dominated sector by championing female professionals. She founded the UK’s only female transport manager network, a judgment-free space that now connects over 1,100 members and eliminates professional isolation. Her dedicated mentorship propelled more than 270 women into industry leadership roles, earning her the 2025 Women in Motor Transport Mentor of the Year Award. This thriving community has created a lasting legacy, as her original mentees now guide the next generation of transport leaders.
The Entrepreneur Award (sponsored by Amazon Relay)
Jodie McDonald, founder of Fetchmycaruk from Liverpool.
McDonald founded Fetchmycaruk to provide safe, reliable driver-for-hire services, allowing clients to be driven in their own vehicles for nights out, medical appointments and accessibility needs. Beyond this business venture, she acts as a mentor for aspiring female entrepreneurs and serves on the Liverpool City Council panel for Women in Equality
The Customer/Passenger Award (sponsored by Go-Ahead)
Above & Beyond: Yara Zoghaib, senior product manager, RCM Economic Model, Amazon, from Luxembourg
Zoghaib, a financial analyst who joined Amazon in 2021, transformed the carrier marketplace by building a data-driven floor pricing model that reversed decline and secured 99% product acceptance rates. She also developed a carrier payout tool, supported company leadership initiatives, and mentors women in the industry.
Leader: Sheri Hickmott, deputy manager operations, FedEx, from Kent
Hickmott began her FedEx career when she was 17 as a warehouse handler while studying at college. She now leads a major facility, proving that a demanding logistics career can coexist with a balanced family life. Currently managing the high-volume Aylesford station, she is recognised for building supportive team cultures and challenging traditional leadership stereotypes while balancing her role with raising four children.
The Infrastructure Award
Above & Beyond: Carly Cowell, head of Europe construction quality at Amazon, from London
Cowell joined Amazon as a graduate associate in 2003 and has risen over 22 years to lead the Building Infrastructure Quality programme for International Stores. In that role, she has delivered significant improvements in building quality standards across the global logistics network. She also mentors female professionals worldwide, serves as a non-commissioned officer in the Royal Logistics Corps and competes as one of a handful of female drivers in the Armed Forces Karting Championship.
Leader: Emma Kolahi, senior HR business partner Wales, Royal Mail, from Cheshire
Kolahi progressed from a temporary part-time postal worker to senior HR business partner at Royal Mail, overseeing over 7,000 employees. She has spearheaded initiatives in drug testing, suicide awareness, and career development for women. Outside of her role, she founded the Neonatal Parent Group at the Countess of Chester Hospital and sits on the NHS Parent Advisory Group for the North West, shaping the design of future neonatal units.
The Supply Chain Award
Above & Beyond: Silvia Villalobos Tellez, manager, fleet products at Amazon, from Madrid
Villalobos Tellez, an experienced logistics leader at FedEx and Amazon, achieved major global success by delivering tens of millions of dollars in savings for Amazon’s managed transport programme. Returning from maternity leave in 2024, she was immediately entrusted with a new role and scope in Madrid, delivering a robust strategic plan within two months while managing a nine-figure budget. She advocates for working mothers while mentoring through Amazon’s Women Leadership Programme and co-founding a female leadership editorial initiative.
Leader: Katherine Skidmore, executive director of operational excellence & programme management at Unipart, from Lichfield, Staffordshire
Skidmore advanced over 17 years at Unipart from team leader to executive director of operational excellence and programme management, leading major supply chain projects. Her achievements include turning a loss-making technology account profitable within four months and mentoring several women into senior roles within the company. She also actively champions diversity by leading Unipart’s celebrations for key awareness events such as International Women’s Day.
The Warehousing Award (sponsored by B&M)
Above & Beyond: Hayley Nicholson, head of operations SU, GXO, from Northampton
Nicholson rose from a 1999 business administration apprentice to become head of operations at GXO’s major Sherburn site, where she recently managed 13 new customer start-ups in rapid succession. She has also driven a 96% employee engagement score across the site, directly supported two women into senior management promotions through one-to-one mentoring, and helped raise more than £50,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice over the past three years.
Leader: Brenda Sunley, managing director at Storage & Fulfilment Services, from Fradley, Lichfield, Staffordshire
Sunley became managing director of SFS in January 2025, scaling the family-owned 3PL warehousing specialist from a start-up into a multi-million-pound operation spanning four warehouses. Her career highlights include overseeing the pandemic production of one million NHS face visors weekly, overcoming a severe 2019 spinal injury and establishing an all-female, three-person management team to handle daily business operations.
The Industry Champion Award
Jennifer Swain, director of talent, development and HR at Road to Logistics, from Liverpool
Swain is dedicated to helping people who face barriers to employment find careers in logistics. As a Director at Road to Logistics, a not-for-profit providing fully-funded HGV and warehousing training, she has helped deliver 580 graduates in five years, of whom 87% are now working in the sector, and helping to tackle the talent shortage in the industry. Her prior experience includes expanding Clipper Logistics’ workforce from 3,000 to 9,000 while introducing flexible shift patterns to open up over 1,000 accessible roles. A founder member of Women in Logistics, she has helped drive female HGV graduates at Road to Logistics to 20%, against a national average of just 2% female truck drivers.
Male Agent of Change (sponsored by Asda)
Martin Wannell, assistant general manager at Wincanton/GXO, from Chippenham
Wannell leveraged his senior leadership position to drive measurable change in gender representation in the transport and logistics sector. By challenging the language used in job adverts, interviews and offers, he achieved a 15% increase in women in roles across both the operational workforce and management. When his team presented what was described as the best Quarterly Business Review in a nine-year client partnership, the leadership team doing so was a 50/50 gender split. As a mentor, he has directly supported multiple women into leadership positions, including helping an experienced transport manager secure her formal CPC qualification. Driven by his perspective as a father of three daughters, he openly shares his experiences to build inclusive workplaces where employees feel safe to speak up.
Apprentice Award
Kenesha Francis, mentor at Go-Ahead London, from Beckenham, London
Francis transitioned from retail management to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a bus driver, joining Go-Ahead London as an apprentice. She became the first female apprentice accepted onto the company’s competitive pre-promotion course and won the Apprentice Outstanding Customer Service Award. Now, she helps run the company’s first female-led mentor team at the Croydon garage, while actively supporting recruitment events to encourage more women to enter the transport industry.
The Tech and AI Innovator (sponsored by Amazon)
Lisa Johnson, vice president, global public affairs at Starship Technologies, from Leeds
Johnson transitioned from trade unions at age 40 to help scale autonomous delivery robot start-up Starship Technologies. She leads go-to-market strategy , global regulatory development and market strategy for a 3,000-robot fleet that has completed over 10 million deliveries across eight countries, including unlocking markets in Germany and Finland. By integrating accessibility into product engineering and creating a majority-female team culture, she ensures inclusive growth within the autonomous logistics sector.
International Inspiration Award
Niroshini De Silva, senior manager business development at Spectra Logistics Pvt, from Kaduwela, Sri Lanka
De Silva joined Spectra Logistics in Sri Lanka in 2022, where she helped shape national trade infrastructure by securing the country’s third Public Bond facility and growing its utilisation to 83% within two years. She designed a high-volume bulk shipping solution that delivered 5,000 metric tonnes of product to Unilever Sri Lanka, generating major cost savings. Additionally, she serves on the executive committee of WISTA Sri Lanka, where she launched a careers programme to create professional pathways for female students entering the maritime and logistics sectors.
The Freight Award
Above & Beyond: Sally Ede, head of terminals UK at DSV Road, from London
Ede leads seven national terminals and more than 150 staff as head of terminals UK at DSV, where she specialises in stabilising complex, high-pressure environments and driving operational performance. Recognised for her proactive leadership and people-first approach, she consistently takes ownership of difficult site turnarounds and resource challenges. Long before it became an industry standard, Ede actively championed women and underrepresented groups, using her leadership platform to expand representation and career opportunities. Her nominator said: “Sally raises the bar everywhere she goes.”
Leader: Amanda Unsworth, CEO / MD at Trinity Logistics, from Liverpool
Unsworth started working on the Liverpool docks at age 17 and later founded Trinity Logistics, a freight company that now turns over £42m and operates offices in both Liverpool and China. After being passed over for a promotion following 25 years of industry experience, she launched her own business, deliberately establishing a female-led management team and mentoring young apprentices. She actively promotes green logistics by advocating for rail freight and regional ports, and she recently led a Liverpool City Region trade mission to China to foster sustainable international logistics partnerships.
Sustainability Champion Award (sponsored by DSV)
Jen Hunt, sustainability director at Unipart, from Haddenham, Buckinghamshire
Hunt served as sustainability director at Unipart since 2022, leading the company’s drive toward its 2040 net zero goals and overseeing a 39% reduction in its carbon footprint. Under her leadership, Unipart became the first organisation to win the British Safety Council’s Sword, Shield and Globe awards, recognising best practice in safety, wellbeing and sustainability, for three consecutive years. She has also repurposed Unipart’s supply chain expertise to social causes, establishing a permanent base for child safeguarding charity Railway Children at the company’s Crewe site and partnering with Trussell to improve the efficiency of food bank operations across the UK.
