Celebrating excellence at the 2025 CILT Annual Forum and Awards Dinner
The 2025 CILT Annual Forum and Awards Dinner once again brought New Zealand’s transport and logistics community together, this year in Wellington, to recognise the people and organisations lifting performance across the sector.
With senior government leaders in attendance and a room full of practitioners from every corner of the supply chain, the evening underscored both the complexity of the sector’s challenges and the calibre of those stepping up to meet them.
Across academic achievement, innovation, communications, and emerging leadership, the awards reflected the Institute’s values: professionalism, service, and a commitment to shaping a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable transport system.
TRET Young Achiever of the Year: Shania Rajanayagam
The Young Achiever Award recognises emerging professionals who are already making a substantive contribution to the industry. This year’s recipient, Shania Rajanayagam, exemplifies exactly the kind of future-focused leadership CILT aims to foster.
In just five years at Vitruvius, Shania has delivered work with a reach far beyond her age or tenure. Already a Chartered Professional Engineer, she has played integral roles in multiple major investment cases for the Auckland and Wellington rail networks and provided safety assessments for KiwiRail. Her portfolio spans technical analysis, project delivery, and strategic advisory across local government and national infrastructure agencies.
But proficiency alone does not explain why colleagues consistently describe her as exceptional. Shania brings confidence, clarity, and a collaborative manner to every engagement. Whether she is guiding senior leaders through complex engineering decisions, facilitating community-facing workshops, or coaching younger engineers, she operates with a level of authenticity that builds trust.
Her leadership is both outward- and inward-facing. Shania is known for mentoring junior staff, stepping in to support projects beyond her immediate remit, and contributing to a culture where learning and shared ownership are the norm. This approach (professional, people-focused, and proactive) reflects the best of CILT’s values and signals a bright future for the sector.
Norman Spencer Memorial Medal: Kris Lancaster
The Norman Spencer Memorial Medal is reserved for those whose sustained contribution has reshaped New Zealand’s logistics and transport landscape. This year’s recipient, Kris Lancaster, General Manager Supply Chain at Foodstuffs South Island, stands firmly in that tradition.
Kris’s work over many years has materially altered how essential goods move across the South Island. He has led transformative projects, from designing and implementing a centralised temperature-controlled distribution centre to developing a cross-docking system that strengthened the quality and integration of fresh products. His leadership in consolidating multiple distribution centres into modern, efficient sites has been widely recognised for lifting capability and resilience.
Importantly, Kris has also championed the adoption of technology, embedding a transport management system and semi-automated picking solutions that have improved agility and operational efficiency. During COVID-19, when supply chains were under unprecedented pressure, these systems and his steady leadership ensured continuity of essential services – a contribution felt across every supermarket aisle in the region.
Beyond Foodstuffs, Kris has been an advocate and educator within CILT. A former Southern Section Chair, regular presenter, and journal contributor, he has helped widen industry understanding of supply chain best practice and inspired emerging professionals. His commitment to community, through long-standing involvement in the Belfast Rugby Football Club and local sports centre, rounds out a profile defined by service, integrity, and deep sector expertise.
Sir Bob Owens Memorial Award: Fiona Knight
If there is an award that captures the heart of CILT, it is the Sir Bob Owens Memorial Award. This year it was presented to someone who has shaped the Institute’s culture and capabilities for more than 30 years: Fiona Knight.
Fiona’s contribution is unique in both scale and character. A Fellow since 1997 and the first woman to chair a New Zealand Section, she has been a constant source of leadership, continuity, and organisational memory. Much of her influence has been behind the scenes, managing the CILT Awards for more than 15 years, coordinating judging panels, and encouraging teams and individuals to put themselves forward for recognition. Only with her recent handover has the sector fully appreciated the volume and importance of her work.
Her professional career has been equally distinguished. Fiona has advised on major policy reforms in shipping and land transport, represented New Zealand internationally, and chaired committees focused on improving road management and effluent control; real, practical issues that can often determine the reliability of freight networks.
Yet, Fiona’s most enduring legacy may be the generations of young professionals she has mentored. Her warmth, encouragement, and genuine belief in people have strengthened not only careers but the profession itself. The award is a fitting recognition of someone who has devoted decades to lifting others.
Recognising excellence across the sector
CILT also highlighted outstanding contributors across a broad range of categories, underscoring the sector’s diversity and depth of talent.
Rising Star Award
Corintho Carpio, Maersk, honoured for exceptional performance in managing New Zealand’s record reefer export season and demonstrating leadership across equipment and flow management.
MITO/CILT Scholarship
Sophie Cosgrove, Foodstuffs South Island, recognised for her commitment to professional development and her leadership impact on driver capability and training.
Best Article Award
Nina Elter and Peter Carr for a clear and practical analysis of international road-funding models.
Highly Commended Article
Alan Win for a significant evidence review on resilience and futureproofing infrastructure.
CILT Presentation Award
Adam Prendergast, Foodstuffs South Island, for transformative delivery of the Skills Based Framework Orientation sessions.
Dexion Award for Excellence & Innovation
TR Group, recognised for pioneering New Zealand’s first operational hydrogen truck network and accelerating zero-emission freight.