In celebration of International Women’s Day 2026 and its Give to Gain campaign, the largely female team behind Multimodal, the UK’s principal freight, logistics and supply chain exhibition, has used the moment to reflect on progress in an industry long seen as the preserve of men and to urge more women to consider careers in logistics. According to the event organisers, Multimodal returns to the NEC, Birmingham from 30 June to 2 July 2026 and aims to bring together shippers, retailers, manufacturers and the suppliers who serve them.

Members of the Multimodal team say their roles , spanning commercial development, operations, marketing and event delivery , illustrate how the sector’s workforce is changing and becoming more inclusive. Manjit Sandhu, the event’s Commercial Director, observed that representing the show within a traditionally male sphere has allowed the team to highlight both its diversity and capability. Industry context for the International Women’s Day theme stresses that such visibility and reciprocity are central to creating opportunity.

Senior staff who have spent decades in exhibitions and logistics framed the shift as cultural as much as structural, arguing that organisations that cultivate mentoring, openness and shared purpose attract and retain talent. Kara Bowen, a sales specialist with more than 30 years’ experience, encouraged newcomers to be curious, seek mentors and align with employers whose values match their own, comments the team shared on the event platform.

Several contributors made the case that the competencies women already exercise in everyday life translate directly into value for logistics companies. “I do think women bring different leadership styles which embrace teamwork, openness and long-term strategy , they can offer a different angle to issues and problems, which in freight and logistics is a very valuable asset,” said Sara Mikunda, who leads marketing and partnerships for the show. The official International Women’s Day messaging under Give to Gain highlights that investing time, knowledge and visibility in women multiplies opportunity across sectors.

Team members also described workplace culture at Clarion Events , the global organiser behind Multimodal , as founded on trust, information-sharing and equitable treatment, saying that those elements underpin confidence and progression. Gemma Gilbert, an Operations Manager who joined straight from education, stressed that competence and a willingness to learn open doors; Phillipa Chisnell highlighted the everyday actions that make equality tangible, such as fair access to resources and consistent recognition.

Looking ahead, the group argued that greater female representation at decision-making tables would make freight and logistics more balanced, collaborative and resilient. “With more women at the table, the future of freight and logistics becomes more balanced, collaborative and forward-thinking,” Manjit said. The International Women’s Day campaign and associated events , including virtual gatherings convened under the Give to Gain banner , underscore the wider push for shared learning, advocacy and structural change that industry voices are echoing.

The team closed by finishing the sentence “Equality at work looks like…”, offering slogans that point to workplaces where voices are heard, opportunities are fairly distributed and support is consistent across gender, creed and background. Their reflections mirror broader calls made this International Women’s Day for sustained action on equal pay, safety, representation and the removal of barriers that limit women’s economic participation.