UD’s Filip Van den Heede leads inaugural Leaders in Motion lecture
A collaborative programme between the University of Stellenbosch spearheaded by the Safer Stops Association has given birth to the Leaders in Motion series of guest lectures.
These lectures give students the unique opportunity of engaging with industry leaders covering a wide variety of topics currently influencing the broader trucking and logistics industry.
The series of lectures facilitated by industry leaders provides a unique platform that connects logistics students and industry leaders with the aim of shaping the future of South Africa’s transport sector.
The collaborative programme is spearheaded by the SaferStops Association in conjunction with the University’s Department of Logistics and acts as a platform to give students real-world insights and hopefully inspire them to think creatively about the future of logistics and transport.
President of UD Trucks Southern Africa, Filip Van den Heede, led one of the inaugural sessions where he delivered a presentation that covered topics such as electrification, digitalisation and autonomous driving in road freight.
During his presentation Van den Heede, emphasised the importance of engaging with the next generation of logistics professionals.
“Engaging with the students at Stellenbosch was a fantastic opportunity to share insights about the logistics and transport industry, including the challenges and exciting innovations currently related to electrification and autonomous vehicles,” he said.
Van den Heede encouraged the students in attendance to consider the many diverse career paths that the logistics industry offers.
It’s important to inspire the next generation to see logistics as a dynamic and rewarding field,” he noted.
During the series of guest lectures students are able to enjoy presentations that address technological advancements as well as broader industry challenges and sustainability concerns.
“Creating this series and seeing authentic connections form between industry giants and students is something I am very proud of. It’s a platform for learning, growth, and inspiration,” said Nicci Scott, CEO of SaferStops Association.
“The programme’s success is not measured by way of attendance but rather in terms of genuine engagement. It’s no small feat to keep students engaged, but to truly inspire them to imagine themselves behind the wheel of a truck, and to want to keep the conversation going because they want to understand more? That’s remarkable,” Scott observed.
“Our vision is to foster sustainable, inclusive solutions that lead to a safer, more resilient transport industry. This initiative is committed to comprehensive industry development through education and collaboration,” concluded Scott.
