The announcement of Dr Dorothy Chan was made by the current President, Professor AlanWaller OBE FCILT, at the International Council Meeting on 12th June. She was warmly welcomed by the CILT International Honorary President, and UK Patron HRH The Princess Royal, who joined delegates from over 20 countries. Dr Chan has had a distinguished career in the transport sector in Hong Kong, including being Deputy Commissioner for Transport. She was Honorary Secretary and Membership Officer for CILT Hong Kong in 1978 and became the President in 1989. She has served as the International Vice-President and Chair of the Membership & Education Committee, and in 2011 was awarded the International President's Medal by Alan Waller.

Alan Waller commented: ‘I am delighted that Dr Dorothy Chan has been appointed to succeed me. Dorothy will be the second woman to be President in the history of the Institute since 1919. The first, of course, was HRH The Princess Royal, so it is very fitting she could be here today. With Dorothy as its President, the Institute will be in good hands to develop our agenda of growth for the supply chain and transport profession in today's competitive economy.'

Dr Chan said: ‘Promoting the knowledge and professional development of logistics and transport has been the Institute's mission, and that echoes my sentiments in many ways. It is my hope that our members would be credited not only for improving the mobility of society, but also for creating a better environment. My current work in education reinforces my belief that our young members will create a dynamic future for the profession.'

Praise from The Princess Royal
Addressing CILT's International Convention, of which the Council Meeting was a part, The Princess Royal discussed how supply chain professionals can bring their experience to unexpected events and really make a difference. ‘Disasters concentrate minds on logistics and transport,' she explained, ‘but it is always preferable when experience can prevent drama becoming a crisis.' Looking at the themes of this year's conference, she welcomed the recognition of the role of women in logistics, and the continuing support for students and for Aspire and Transaid. She also highlighted the breadth of International members work: ‘from cycling to space shuttle logistics!'

The Princess Royal congratulated international delegates for going the extra mile, or in some cases several thousand miles, to attend the conference and promote our professional sectors. She added that members may be competitors in their profession, but through the Institute have a common aim: to promote their industry and ensure that standards are upheld even in challenging times.

President's message
In his keynote President's Address, Alan Waller emphasised that as a professional group: ‘we are potentially unstoppable'. He said that, as a result of the essential work of restructuring the Institute during the last year, the results would be to grow membership, encourage excellence and help fur ther develop CILT worldwide.

The results of the Africa Forum and the Sydney Convention have lead to a clarification of responsibilities and an effective task force that has positioned CILT International ideally for future growth, Alan Waller reported. The forthcoming website relaunch and the ongoing qualifications rollout will further enhance its future prospects.

Alan Waller also referred to the call from many countries for a unified CILT brand across the world, reflecting common values and the uniformity of standards around, for example, qualifications.

Special awards

A number of major International awards and presentations were made at this year's convention. For the Institute's charity Aspire, new awards in memory of the Institute's President Alan Waller's late son, Timothy, were received by Lloyd Madzokere from Zimbabwe and on behalf of Honiphani Ncube by CILT Ghana's Teete Owusu.

A new award, the Pegasus Medal, was presented to CILT Hong Kong's long-standing volunteer Kong Yui Leung, pictured and to Teete Owusi. Stephen Rinsler, Honorary Secretary and Trustee of CILT International, and a former UK Chairman, received The President's Medal for his services to the Institute.

Romesh David, next to The Princess Royal, and Saliya Senanayatie, CILT Sri Lanka, received a presentation from Professor Alan Waller OBE marking Sri Lanka's recognition as a Territorial Organisation

Oman was welcomed as a new Branch; CILT UAE's Alex Borg received the presentation on the Branch's behalf

Jesse-Lee Thomson Cowley, New Zealand, won the award for International Young Achiever of the Year.