Caroline Barber
Wincanton
Caroline has participated in various Transaid projects over the last several years. From writing reports to developing and implementing strategies, Caroline has been a wonderful addition to our professional volunteer repertoire.
Transaid project support:
- Sri Lanka Tsunami Reconstruction Project - April 2006
- Research to support development of Transaid's strategies
- Ghana Market Traders Project (Phase One) - January 2007
- Great South Run - October 2007
- Ghana Market Traders Project (Phase Two) - January 2008
Personal interests:
Outside of work, I enjoy learning languages (currently learning Mandarin) and traveling. I also enjoy sport, playing five-aside football and running (I completed the Great South Run for Transaid in Oct 2007).
Biography:
I currently work for Wincanton plc, a leading provider of supply chain solutions across Europe. For the last four years my career has been focused on building and implementing logistics strategies.
I developed my skills in analysis, interpretation, reporting and presentation of data during 18 months working as a Project Analyst in Business Development. Working within a dynamic team I optimised networks and developed logistics strategies for global blue chip companies. In this role, I managed the development and deliver of innovative and operationally robust supply chain solutions to Business Development projects.
In April 2005 I was seconded to Transaid with another Wincanton colleague, Sandy Hughen, and went to Sri Lanka to provide transport and supply chain recommendations in the post-Tsunami reconstruction phase. This challenging project concerned the rebuilding of 20,000 homes and supplying water to 40,000 people.
The purpose was to review the immediate transport needs and future development of these needs in relation to post-Tsunami long-term reconstruction work. I divided my time between Sarvodaya's headquarters in Moratuwa and districts in the South Western and Western areas. I worked closely with Technical Officers, the transport team, District Co-ordinators and society members in the villages in order to gain a wider and more accurate picture of the transport requirements. I was able to advise on the acquisition of new water tankers, increased utilisation of current tankers and alternative methods of transporting drinking water. I also developed programmes for alternative sources of raw materials to feed construction projects (sanitation and housing) including provision of a cost benefit model for a central purchasing policy. I provided guidelines for aiding vehicle selection and financing options. Finally I reviewed the current fleet and set targets and Key Performance Indicators for effective transport management.
In January 2007 I went to Accra, Ghana on another Transaid assignment. Here I worked with members of a Women's Transport Co-operative to help facilitate the development of their business plan. This will enable the women to control their own transportation of goods to market instead of relying on more expensive and often dangerous alternatives.
In July and August of 2007 I also undertook a secondment with Ben Rowlands from Christian Salvesen, supporting the development of Transaid's strategy. This involved analysis of Transaid's current relationships with the donor community with a view to increasing the scale of its operations and expanding the range and influence of its work in developing and transition countries. The completed report provides accurate current state analysis together with a range of recommendations that can be used to define Transaid's strategy and produce a Business Plan to guide its corporate development over the next five years.
In January 2008 I returned to Ghana for a week to provide the first stage of training that was provided for a newly appointed Transport Officer. The focus was on training the Transport Officer on the principles of relevant and effective transport management. Eight members of the Women's Executive Committee also attended the first day of the training in order to develop their transport knowledge and build their supervisory skills. This represented the second phase of Transaid's input to train the women market traders in transport management prior to the arrival of their small fleet. Areas covered included operational management and transport planning as well as commercial management.
For more on the Women Market Trader Project in Ghana, please refer to the press release in our Press Centre section.
Ed O'Connor
Wincanton
Ed O'Connor, from our member company, Wincanton, spent eight weeks in Mozambique with our Southern Africa Programmes Manager, Gary Forster, in September of 2007. Ed carried out various inspections of transport vehicles, including bikes, throughout the region and returned with colourful and insightful stories of his experiences. For an hysterical (and scary at times) email diary account of Ed's adventures, please see Ed O'Connor in Mozambique - 2007, in the Diary Blog section in "Where we work".
Clare Bottle
www.clarebottle.co.uk
Biography:
Clare works as a freelance Logistics Specialist and has done much work with The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK (CILT) in Zambia, supporting the projects that Transaid is involved in. Clare works to streamline logistics operations, help companies to keep their customers happy and excel against competitors without wasting resources, like time and money. She has over ten years specialist experience and market knowledge in storage, packaging and transport.
Transaid Project Support:
- Economic Growth Exhibition in Upper Waiting Hall of House of Commons – 29 November 2007
- Clare's Secondment to CILT Zambia, click on link for more information
