2026 Spring Forwarder Magazine

5 THE FORWARDER | SPRING 2026 CIFFA operates on three founding pillars: Membership (engagement/networking), Education (training/development), and Advocacy (representing members with government and regulatory bodies). These pillars support the logistics industry in Canada through knowledge-sharing, training, and policy influence. Membership: Enhances networking, communication, and professional engagement among logistics professionals to add value to member firms. Education: Develops professional training, workshops, and courses (including the Forwarder print magazine and eBulletin) to strengthen knowledge and expertise within the global supply chain industry. Advocacy: Represents members by engaging with governments and regulatory agencies to address operational challenges, reduce trade barriers, and advance the industry’s priorities. These pillars are designed to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience, and competence of logistics professionals across Canada. This issue of the Forwarder is dedicated to CIFFA’s three pillars, and aims to update our members about all of the work performed across the association, from our Membership team, to our Education, Advocacy and business development activities on all fronts. Nasy Panahi, CIFFA’s Director of Business Development, offers us a summary of the key events and partnerships of 2025 including plans to strengthen regional engagement and fostering meaningful dialogue across Canada’s logistics community. CIFFA’s Advocacy team, including Julia Kuzeljevich, Director of Advocacy and Policy Development, Ben Martin, Government Relations Lead Advisor, and Executive Director Bruce Rodgers, continues to press the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Public Safety Canada regarding persistent system outages and the lack of timely communication with Trade Chain Partners, raising concerns directly with the Minister of Public Safety about the systemic nature of these disruptions and the need for greater accountability and transparency. CIFFA continues to seek clarity on the future of the Trade Diversification Corridors Fund, including timelines for new application intakes. Members require predictability to support infrastructure planning and investment. In this issue we also feature key perspectives on the day to day work performed at CIFFA. Petra Jarvornikova offers a look at the process of how our courses are designed, and Events Manager Marsha Robinson delves into Conference Planning A-Z. Stephen McDermott, our Director of Education, announces A New Standard for Customs Professionals: CAPC which launches this spring. In March, our education team, Steve McDermott, Mike Drake and Sanket Sheth, were on the road for an important joint event with CITT, featured in this issue. Our Communications Specialist Kim Biggar provides a comprehensive update on CIFFA’s internal committees and their most recent Actions and initiatives. Membership Coordinator Shirin Osouli is the front line to our members’ day to day concerns and onboarding. Mahesh Khedu keeps the accounts organized, and Bruce Rodgers, our Executive Director, oversees it all, reporting to our 26-Director strong Board of Directors. We hope that you enjoy the issue where we take you in depth on the work of your Association, CIFFA. Thank you for your continued support of the Association. Ben Martin, CIFFA’s Government Relations Lead Advisor, and Julia Kuzeljevich, Director, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, attending the NextGen Conference for Government Relations and Public Affairs professionals. Julia Kuzeljevich, Director, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, during a February visit to the Ministry of Public Safety in Ottawa. EDITORIAL Director, Policy and Regulatory Affairs. JULIA KUZELJEVICH