Celebrating Triumph: Highlights from the 2025 BIFA National Conference

As reported by the British International Freight Association (BIFA), MP Stella Creasy has urged the freight and logistics sector to step up its engagement with policymakers, a challenge that BIFA is eager to tackle.

BIFA recently celebrated a notable milestone with its National Conference 2025 at The Slate, University of Warwick—marking the first large-scale event in nearly twenty years.

This two-day gathering brought together logistics experts from all over the UK, featuring an agenda filled with insightful panels, essential industry updates, and fantastic networking opportunities under the banner “Ignite Today. Accelerate Tomorrow.”

Diving into Industry Challenges

BIFA’s Director General steve Parker described the conference as “a tremendous success,” emphasizing how it fostered collaboration among members and stakeholders to navigate future challenges in freight forwarding and logistics.

“The energy was palpable! It was fantastic to see so many industry supporters gathered together discussing our current landscape and future directions,” Parker shared. “This event truly facilitated connection and collaboration for what lies ahead.”

The first day focused on vital areas such as airfreight, oceanfreight, sustainability practices, customs regulations, and legal updates. The second day shifted gears to address digital hurdles like cybersecurity threats and data privacy concerns.

A particularly engaging session titled “What Does Trump Mean for Trade?” provided valuable insights from a trade expert who had just returned from washington D.C., sparking lively discussions among attendees.

An exclusive sneak peek of BIFA’s revised Standard Trading Conditions was also presented before their official rollout later this year.

An Exhibition of Innovation

CNS took center stage as the headline sponsor for this event while ASM and RM Boulanger contributed as gold and silver sponsors respectively.

The exhibition area highlighted cutting-edge products from BIFA’s associate members like Axe, conex, Freightcover, and MCP plc., encouraging dialog about innovation within the freight supply chain.

A Night to Remember

The gala dinner featured an inspiring keynote by Olympian Kriss Akabusi MBE. His dynamic storytelling resonated deeply with delegates long after his speech concluded.

The conference also included remarks from MP Stella Creasy regarding changes in UK-EU relations. She emphasized that it’s crucial for those in freight to amplify their voices among policymakers—a challenge that aligns perfectly with BIFA’s mission moving forward.

A Radiant Future Ahead

Parker wrapped up by stating: “Whether they came willingly or were ‘sent to Coventry’, everyone left praising this two-day experience.”

“This wasn’t merely about sharing information; it was about driving conversion. While we’re thrilled with how things went this time around, we’re excited about building on this momentum for our next national conference.”