Vitaly Smilianets, founder and CEO of Awery Aviation Software (Awery), has been awarded the first-ever Inspirational Leader Award at The International Air Cargo Association’s (TIACA) Executive Summit, held in Hong Kong from 24th–26th June 2025.
The award was presented during the event’s official ceremony on Wednesday 25th June, alongside TIACA’s Rising Star Award.
Recognising individuals who have demonstrated clear leadership and empowered young people within the air cargo industry, the winner of the Inspirational Leader Award was selected by a panel of seven industry professionals under the age of 35.
Smilianets’ was commended by the jury for his leadership at Awery and its CargoBooking platform, as well as his continued advocacy for greater digital adoption and data transparency in air cargo.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this award; it reflects not just my personal journey, but the dedicated work of my teams at both Awery and CargoBooking to drive positive change for the industry,” said Smilianets.
“We have always believed in the power of technology to move this industry forward, and I am incredibly proud of what my team and I have achieved together so far.”
The judging panel also recognised Smilianets for his commitment to encouraging young talent, highlighting the teams he has built across his operations, specifically within CargoBooking, which is headed up by Anna Balan, winner of Young Airfreight Professional of the Year at the 2024 Air Cargo News Awards.
“As a tech company, we’ve always benefitted from young minds, and many of our best ideas come from those who are still relatively new to the industry,” he added.
“Creating opportunities for those starting out in aviation is vital in keeping the air cargo industry resilient, relevant, and sustainable.”
Smilianets will also be speaking at the TIACA Executive Summit, participating in the Innovation and AI panel on Thursday 26 June from 15:50–16:20.
