When Roos Bakker received the news that she had been appointed Chair of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), she described it as “fantastic news” and “a big surprise.” For Bakker, who also serves in a senior role at ICTS Europe, the announcement marked both a personal and professional milestone.
“An absolute ambition that I have been able to fulfil,” she said. “Thanks to the community and the board, and the team at TIACA. I see it as a sign of trust and recognition, an opportunity to use and expand my influence effectively and to develop new skills, but also a responsibility that requires personal balance and professional sharpness.”
Her words capture both her excitement and the weight of the role she is about to assume. “On a personal level, it also requires reflection: how do I combine this role with my wonderful job at ICTS Europe and with my husband and children? It brings responsibility and requires balance, and sometimes extra effort,” she admitted.
A time of change
Bakker’s view of the airfreight landscape is clear-eyed and forward-looking. “When I look at the market and observe it, I see strong signals that airfreight is going to change in the coming years — in terms of technology, legislation, quality requirements, market structure, and the ever-present topic of sustainability,” she said.
It is a sector that continues to evolve in response to both external pressures and internal innovation. “The topics that deserve a lot of attention from the collective, and thus also from us as TIACA, in order to anticipate and innovate, are very diverse,” Bakker explained. Among the biggest drivers is e-commerce, which she calls “an important driver” that is shaping customer expectations. “People increasingly expect faster deliveries, and international online trade continues to grow,” she noted.
That demand places new pressure on the logistics chain and amplifies the importance of efficiency. “We need to respond to limitations in sea freight — capacity, delays, costs,” Bakker said. “This makes airfreight more attractive for certain goods.” Yet, she is quick to point out that volatility remains part of the equation. “At the same time, there is volatility due to geopolitical events, disruptions (such as rerouting during conflicts), fluctuations in fuel prices, etc.”
Digitalisation is another area she believes must accelerate. “Digitalisation and smart logistics also remain important, and we can still make significant progress together in this area,” she said. “Real-time tracking, the Internet of Things (IoT), data integration, and predictive analytics (forecasting) are becoming more and more standard.”
Greener, smarter solutions
For Bakker, sustainability is not a side topic — it is central to the industry’s future. “CO₂ emissions are increasingly under pressure, so personally I highly welcome initiatives like E-Smart that are currently being launched in the market,” she said. “Take E-Smart Avia, an electric cargo plane! Amazing aircraft! That perfectly aligns with what remains important; green solutions.”
The environmental agenda is not only about reducing emissions, she argues, but about responding to a new kind of global expectation. “Governments, regulators, and customers naturally demand ‘greener’ solutions: sustainable fuels, more efficient operations, emission tracking, and so forth. There is plenty to do!”
Bakker believes TIACA is well-positioned to lead this shift by uniting stakeholders across the industry. “I think TIACA is on the right track by working together with local representatives, so that we can involve and consult the major global players and also engage the smaller regional organisations,” she said. “We are a collective for everyone, throughout the entire supply chain. Big and small, and everywhere on Earth.”
Her emphasis on inclusivity is not only about scale but also about diversity — a subject she approaches with conviction. “What is everyday for me is that the air cargo sector has traditionally been fairly conventional and international at the same time: people of all nationalities work there, but often there is still little diversity in terms of gender, age, cultural backgrounds, and perspectives in leadership roles.”
To her, diversity must go beyond good intentions. “Supporting diversity therefore means doing more than just ‘wanting the right thing’: it requires structural actions in recruitment, culture, leadership, and collaboration,” she said.
Collective leadership for a connected future
Looking ahead, Bakker sees TIACA’s strength lying in what she calls “collective governance.”
“The future of this wonderful industry, in my view, lies in collective governance,” she said. “Interest organisations such as TIACA are crucial because they bridge the gap between commercial parties and policymakers, but the decisive factor for the future and direction often comes from customers and regulation exerting pressure together.
“I am grateful for the trust placed in me,” she concluded. “Now, it’s time to build the future — together.”
