The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport Ireland’s 13th Diploma Graduation took place on Saturday 11th October 2014 last marking a very special occasion for the CILT Graduate students. The graduation ceremony took place at the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, UCD on a bright, sunny autumn afternoon, as proud families and friends of our graduates gathered shoulder-to shoulder with belief, admiration, and recognition of the achievements of their friends and loved ones on this special day.

The Institute would like to thank Prof. Brian Fynes FCILT and his team for their time and valuable contribution at the CILT graduation. The afternoon celebrations were shared with the proud families and friends of our graduates who joined together to celebrate the achievements of the CILT graduates.

CILT Ireland CEO Tim Hayes FCILT opened the proceedings on the day by welcoming all those in attendance. CILT President Finbarr Cleary FCILT was in attendance at the graduation ceremony and gave a speech outlining the importance of becoming a Chartered member of CILT Ireland, highlighting the fact that CILT is a global organisation with a global network that can only be of benefi t to all our graduates both in a professional and personal capacity.

Guest speaker for the ceremony was Ireland’s first Professor of Supply Chain Management, UCD Professor Brian Fynes FCILT who delivered an inspiring and entertaining speech about future developments in Supply Chain Management thinking, as well as future developments in supply chain teaching and learning.

The Institutes Diploma Course Director and Lecturer Pat Mullen (Logicert) FCILT presented a speech outlining and reinforcing the benefits of continuous self-development through continuous education programmes, highlighting the benefits of enhancing career progression and employment opportunities for graduates. Pat also thanked the graduates for the sacrifices they made and thanked their family members for supporting the graduates throughout the programme.

He also thanked the CILT employees, Jim Kearney, Michéal Lynham, Pauline Lacey, Xing Yi, Julia Olan and Imelda Brown for all their work throughout the year. He thanked the past chairperson of the CILT Education & Training Committee, Karl Doran, and two past members of the Committee (Chris Callaghan FCILT & Chris McGlinn FCILT) for their continued support.

After the presentations, the graduates moved outside for group and family photos before the ceremony ended with a food and drinks reception. CILT Ireland would like to thank our graduates, their families, Prof. Brian Fynes, CILT staff, and members of the CILT Education & Training Committee.

Graduates, you now hold a great appreciation of how logistics and supply chain management plays a pivotal fundamental role in how organisations can achieve sustained profi table growth and competitive advantage through your education with CILT Ireland. We hope you play an active role within CILT in the future.

Congratulations to all our new graduates.

CILT Ireland welcomes all our new Chartered Members and hopes they too will engage with CILT and grow within our Institute.

By Micheal Lynham