Improving gender diversity and inclusion in the transport – and particularly freight – sector remains high on the agenda of the Transport Education Training Authority (Teta). With women in previous decades having been largely ignored in this sector, it was especially in the upper echelons of leadership where it was most required, said Kgatile Nkala, Teta acting corporate services manager. Speaking to FTW last week ahead of the Teta EmpowaWomen in Transport summit in Johannesburg, she said research and studies had demonstrated that improving the proportion of women in logistics companies had led to higher levels of productivity, safety and financial returns. “But transport is not often considered as a career option by women,” she said. “The information is available but it does not get to women and therefore it is important to have a platform where women can network, engage and access opportunities.” She said the summit aimed to encourage women to take advantage of the many opportunities available in the transport sector. “It has been designed specifically for aspiring women entrepreneurs navigating various facets of the transport sector which is highly competitive and still very male dominated.” According to Nkala, while general employment of women in the transport sector had improved significantly and was generally in line with employment equity statistics, at 56% it was in the ownership and leadership of companies where female representation was still lacking. “While women have made major inroads and we are increasingly seeing women start freight companies, the figures in top management are still very low. The freight sector lacks the participation of women, particularly black women.” Accelerating transformation at management level was essential, said Nkala. “The inclusion of more women in management and more women-owned transport businesses is the focus. We need to bring women to the core of freight organisations.”
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The freight sector lacks the participation of women, particularly black women. – Kgatile Nkala