Shipping | Her Place, Her Power, Her Potential: KFTL celebrates its women at 10

On a terminal where cranes, containers, and vessel schedules set the pace, the women of Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) were given something the rhythm of port life rarely allows: a room built entirely around them.

Held on October 30 as part of the company’s 10th anniversary celebrations, Women of KFTL: Her Place, Her Power, Her Potential recognised the 180 women among KFTL’s 1,462 employees. They lead 26 teams across the organisation, from finance and wharfage to labour planning, safety, and shift operations.

For Human Resources Manager Caron Anderson, the event was an opportunity to celebrate that contribution while encouraging women to see themselves as part of KFTL’s future and the wider maritime industry.

“Women of KFTL was created to celebrate the women who contribute so much to our organisation, and our 10th anniversary is a reminder of both our progress and our responsibility to inspire the next generation. We want every participant to leave with a stronger belief in her own potential and that she has a place in shaping both the future of KFTL and the maritime industry,” Anderson said.

That sense of place ran through the day. Chief Executive Officer Carlos Cabrera spoke of every woman deserving a seat at the table and of the strength and resilience women bring to the organisation. He also highlighted the value of women supporting one another, holding one another accountable and working together to make KFTL better.

A slideshow gave that leadership a visible form, tracing women-led teams across nearly every area of terminal life, from cash and collections to the Terminal Management System. Their influence, the display showed, is part of the work and coordination that keep the operation moving.

The event also turned attention to what women need to sustain themselves. In The Self-Worth in Net Worth, Allison Peart challenged participants to consider the beliefs and habits shaping their financial lives. A money mindset may be formed early, she explained, but financial confidence can be learned. What matters is not simply what a woman earns but how she manages it. Budgeting deliberately and talking about money early in relationships can help women make choices that support their ambitions.

Dr Sara Grace Lawrence Lewis extended that focus on well-being in Anchored and Thriving: Women’s Health and Wellness on the Waterfront. She encouraged participants to care for the whole person - body, mind, and soul - and to be proactive about their health. Common does not always mean normal, she reminded them, and support should be sought before a crisis, not after. Her question, “Do you ignite, or do you extinguish?” gave the audience another way to consider the effect they have on themselves and those around them.

The conversations were thoughtful, but the atmosphere stayed lively. Prizes taped to chairs and questions for the audience kept participants alert and involved, giving the gathering the feel of a celebration shared among colleagues.

Dr Shalette Ashman’s keynote, Celebrating Achievement, Inspiring Excellence, Empowering Every Woman, brought the day’s messages together. Drawing on her own experience of facing obstacles from a young age and building her life through sacrifice and strategy, she reminded the women that where they come from does not determine where they can go. “We do not need permission to be great,” she declared. Their best chapter, she added, has not yet been written.

For nine women, the day also brought a personal moment of recognition. Among them was Trudy Belnavis, who has served KFTL for a decade and worked alongside five chief executive officers. Colleagues describe her as a rock, a sounding board, and someone who makes things happen. Belnavis had helped Anderson plan the event, unaware that she would be honoured herself. When her name was called, the room erupted, and she wept as she stepped forward.

The recognition moved her to reflect on the people who had shaped her years at KFTL. “I was genuinely surprised and a little emotional. I found myself thinking about how much of my life and career has been shaped here over the last decade, and how fortunate I have been to work with leaders and colleagues who have challenged, supported, and inspired me along the way,” Belnavis said.

KFTL’s story is often told in TEUs and vessel calls. On October 30, it was told through the women who lead its teams, support its operations, and help shape what comes next.