Events
BIFA National Conference 2026: Navigating a Shifting World With the strapline ‘Navigating a Shifting World’, the BIFA National Conference will provide Members with the information they need to plan a clear path through the dynamic legislative and commercial landscape in which they operate
T here is still time to secure your tickets to the 2026 BIFA National Conference taking place next month. A variety of ticket options are available including day tickets, local delegate tickets or fully inclusive packages. Packed agenda With two days of incisive discussion on a wide range of topics, led by subject matter experts of the secretariat, BIFA Members will leave the conference with a lot to think about. Our agenda includes: • Freight Crime Panel – Speakers in our Freight Crime session will explore the growing risks facing BIFA Members from both financial fraud and freight- related crime. It will examine how criminals exploit weaknesses in company information and payment practices, leaving businesses exposed to unpaid services and fraudulent trading activity. It will also highlight BIFA’s ongoing work with Companies House to improve the reliability of company registry data and support stronger due diligence checks. • AI & Data Panel – From cargo data pipelines to government adoption, AI is quietly reshaping every corner of the logistics landscape. Join our expert speakers as they explore how AI is transforming data usage in forwarding and an academic perspective on the broader developments driving the technology forward. • Sustainable Logistics Panel – In this session, speakers will explore practical pathways for decarbonising road freight, with a focus on electrification and heavy goods vehicles, highlighting common misconceptions of electric HGVs and explaining where electrification already works and what barriers remain. We will also hear how logistics leaders can turn emissions data into operational and financial decisions. • Beyond the Border: The Future of EU Customs & Trade – As the EU continues to reform its customs framework and increase its focus on digitalisation, data quality and border compliance, freight forwarders face both new challenges and opportunities. In this session, we will examine the key EU customs and regulatory developments that could affect UK-EU trade in the years ahead and explore how technology, automation and better data management can help businesses adapt. • What’s Coming Next for Employers? – Recruiting,
retaining, and managing a workforce has become increasingly challenging. Against a backdrop of evolving employment legislation, businesses need to understand what lies ahead. This session will explore the employment reforms in the Employment Rights Act 2025, billed as the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation, helping business leaders plan confidently for the future. • Keynote Speakers – Following the recent change of Prime Minister and with the forthcoming party conference season in mind, BIFA is currently in discussion with a number of MPs with the intention of securing one or more to attend the BIFA National Conference as Keynote Speakers. Time for a break During the two days, there will be plenty of time for networking with other delegates, and visiting the sponsors and exhibitors to discuss how their solutions can make your day-to-day operations more streamlined. We are also delighted to welcome the RHA with its HGV driver simulator to the event. Ticket holders will be able to book a timeslot to test their driving skills behind the wheel of an HGV – and there may even be a small prize for the best driver. Football legends On Wednesday evening delegates on fully inclusive tickets are invited to relax and enjoy an evening together at the drinks reception and gala dinner. During the evening we will hear from BIFA’s policy & compliance director Pawel Jarza who will have just completed the 450 km Transaid Kilimanjaro to Coast Cycle Challenge. After dinner we welcome football legend Tony Cottee, the ex-West Ham striker, in conversation with his old boss Harry Redknapp. Harry enjoyed a long career as a professional player and manager, leading Premier League clubs such as West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, QPR and Portsmouth. He was also
“ With two days of incisive discussion on a wide range of topics, led by subject matter experts of the secretariat, BIFA Members will leave the conference with a lot to think about
14 | August 2026
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