Jacqueline O’Donovan, managing director of O’Donovan Waste, has been involved with the Worshipful Company of Carmen for six years having joined as a member in 2016. She has now taken a further step and has been invited to join the corporate committee with the aim to strengthen its diversity and to encourage others in the sector to join and bolster the traditional membership.
The Worshipful Company of Carmen is one of the 110 livery companies in the City of London and it dates back to 1517. Steeped in tradition, the organisation represents a wide range of aspects within the transport and logistics sector encouraging achievement and the advancement of knowledge in the transport and logistics profession through awards, lectures and social activities. It’s benevolence and historic fellowship are renowned and respected, and it continues to adapt and evolve to meet the challenges of today’s transport and logistics industry which contributes £202 billion to the UK economy.
Jacqueline is a well-known business leader and has been names as an industry ‘disruptor’ as well as a ‘mover and shaker’ in the sector. She has worked diligently to improve diversity in the sector whilst encouraging greener, cleaner transport operations and being a contributory figure to improving road safety standards for the construction and haulage sectors across the UK.
Jacqueline’s reputation as a trailblazer in the sector has earned her an array of prestigious business awards for her inspirational leadership. She is a respected Fellow of the Carmen company and is a current recipient of the lifetime achievement award, bestowed on her for her tireless dedication to improving transport policy in London and across the country. She is the first to receive this accolade whilst still at the height of her career as it is usually only awarded on retirement.
Jacqueline was granted the Freedom of the City of London in 2016 and has received several fellowships including from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), the Institute of Couriers (IoC), as well as the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transport (CIHT).
Jacqueline commented: “I am excited to join the Carmen Corporate Committee and look forward to rising to the challenges we face whilst working closely with the board exploring avenues to expand the membership far and wide. I want to actively encourage more diversity and inclusion across the board and also to engage with transport professionals, companies and in particular the younger members of our industry to experience and continue the rich traditions of the Carmen Company in this amazing sector that I am truly passionate about. There are such fantastic opportunities to network as well as experiencing unique events of significant history and grandeur like the historical Cart Marking Ceremony at the Guildhall and the Mansion House Awards.“
Mr Nicolas Laister, the Master Carmen said, “The Carmen Company is delighted to welcome Jacqueline, one of the industry’s leading women, to join with us to help safeguard the continued work and tradition of our livery company.”
