The winners of the Women in Air Cargo Awards have begun to be announced at the Aviation Connect Air Cargo Handling and Logistics Conference in Athens. The Executive Director of the fuel service provider Allied Aviation, Kritika Seth, has won the award for General Sales and Service Agents. Meanwhile, the Chief Experience Officer at the software company Awery Aviation, Phaedra den Hertog, was presented with the award for IT.
How Are the Award Winners Chosen?
Seth and den Hertog are two of a series of award winners who will be announced at the Aviation Connect Air Cargo Handling and Logistics Conference, which is being held in Athens between Sept, 29, and Oct. 1.
Anyone working within the aviation industry was eligible to nominate someone for one of the Women in Air Cargo Awards between July 10, and Aug. 14.
After nominations closed, industry stakeholders were invited to vote on which of the nominees they thought best reflected the requirements of their specific categories.
The final decision however was taken by an AI evaluation system, which combined the stakeholders’ vote totals with a series of data-driven metrics analysing the impact of each nominee.
The system’s chosen winners would then be presented with their awards at the Conference.
The Growth of Allied Aviation
Seth was presented with the GSSA award on the first day of the Conference.
During her time as Executive Director of Allied Aviation, the fuel service provider has secured partnerships with a range of major airlines, including flag carriers Ethiopian Airlines, and Royal Jordanian Airlines.
Seth said that,
“This award is an enormous honour, but I see it as recognition of the people I work alongside every day and of the opportunities our industry can create for the next group of leaders.”
She also spoke optimistically about working to expand Allied Aviation’s presence in the Indian market.
“Air cargo in India is entering an exciting period” she said. “with new opportunities emerging beyond the established gateways, greater adoption of technology, and closer collaboration between airlines, forwarders, airports, and their partners.”
Seth also said that she was proud to represent women taking increasingly influential roles within aviation.
IT Progress Celebrated
Awery Aviation provides software packages for both private and commercial airlines.
Den Hertog’s position as Awery’s Chief Experience Officer means that she regularly works directly with airlines, helping to design and implement personalised supply packages for each partner.
She told the Conference that,
“My role puts me at the intersection of our customers and our technology, overseeing product onboarding and customer satisfaction.”
She also thanked the Aviation Connect committee for ensuring that the Women in Air Cargo Awards, which were first awarded in 2025, remained a key part of the Conference.
“Awards like these are so important because they give greater visibility to the people, expertise and perspectives shaping our industry.”
The Conference is expected to present a series of other awards over the next two days, including for cargo handlers and freight forwarders.
Is there anyone you think has helped improve the aviation industry over the last year? How useful are awards like these for celebrating individual achievement? Let us know what you think in the comments.
