Key takeaways
- Women account for 22% of Australia’s transport, postal and warehousing workforce (Jobs and Skills Australia).
- At BRi, different professional strengths help balance operational priorities with customers’ wider commercial needs.
- In a Port Botany biosecurity inspection, proactive plain-language communication let a retail customer reallocate stock and avoid lost sales.
Transport and logistics has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, women account for just 22% of Australia’s transport, postal and warehousing workforce
At BR International (BRi), women represent 35% of our full-time team, with that figure rising to over 42% when including our regular casual workforce. For us, diversity in logistics is about recognising the different backgrounds, experiences and professional strengths our people bring to the business, and ensuring these contributions have a meaningful role in how we work.
In an industry where decisions often need to be made under pressure, these different strengths help our team balance immediate operational priorities with the wider needs of our customers.
Why Diverse Strengths Matter in Freight Forwarding
Across our international operations, our teams contribute knowledge spanning freight forwarding, customs compliance, vendor management, warehousing and distribution. This means considering challenges from different operational angles, from supplier requirements and regulatory risks to inventory availability and customer deadlines.
At BRi, we value a balance of decisive action, attention to detail, foresight and customer understanding. These individual strengths, regardless of gender, help our team approach complex freight challenges from different angles.
Our commitment to diversity also extends to leadership. Seeing women manage supply chains, negotiate with international partners and contribute to business decisions helps challenge traditional perceptions of who can lead in logistics.
Case in Point: Managing a Biosecurity Inspection at Port Botany
One example shared by our team members, Anna Giannopoulos (National Customer Service Manager) and Allana Colaviti (Technical Sales), demonstrates how this approach translates into practical customer support.
During peak season, a retail customer’s container was selected for a full biosecurity inspection at Port Botany. The unexpected inspection created uncertainty around delivery timelines, leaving the customer concerned about meeting store deadlines and maintaining stock availability.
While progressing the inspection efficiently remained a priority, a member of our team recognised that the customer needed more than a shipment update. Anna proactively contacted them, explained the situation in plain language and outlined the available options so they could plan their next steps.
With this information, the customer was able to reallocate stock and adjust marketing plans, helping them avoid lost sales. They later shared that the clarity of the communication gave them confidence during an uncertain situation.
For BRi, this example highlights the value of recognising different professional strengths. Operational expertise helps us manage freight challenges, while customer understanding and clear communication help businesses respond to the wider consequences.
Hear from Anna and Allana as they discuss how different strengths, collaborative thinking and customer understanding contribute to BRi’s approach to freight forwarding.
Combining Technology with Professional Judgement
Effective freight forwarding requires both reliable information and the experience to act on it.
At BRi, our PATHWAY software supports this process by providing shipment visibility and exception reporting, helping our team monitor freight movements and identify issues that require attention.
However, visibility alone doesn’t determine the best response. Our people draw on their expertise across freight operations, compliance and customer service to assess risks, consider alternatives and understand the potential impact on a customer’s business.
By combining technology with the diverse experience and professional judgement of our team, we can turn shipment information into practical guidance, helping customers make informed decisions when challenges arise.
What This Means for Our Customers
At BRi, our commitment to diversity means ensuring people with different backgrounds, experiences and professional strengths have a voice in how we approach challenges and support our customers.
For our customers like Moose Toys and Dusk Group, this means working with a team that considers both immediate freight requirements and the wider impact on their business. Supported by technology such as PATHWAY, our people combine their expertise and judgement to provide clear communication, practical guidance and informed supply chain solutions.
Because stronger supply chains depend not only on efficient processes and technology, but also on the people behind them.
Discover how BRi’s freight forwarding and supply chain solutions can help your business navigate complexity with greater confidence and control. Talk to our team.
