By Sonja Kappenburg

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it’s a moment to reflect on the incredible progress women have made across industries – including one that has long remained behind the scenes: art logistics.

For centuries, the transport and handling of fine art was seen as a world of heavy lifting, complex negotiations, and technical expertise – areas where women were often underrepresented. But over the past decade, this has changed dramatically. Today, women are playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of art logistics, bringing new perspectives to an industry that is essential to the cultural economy.

A Changing Landscape

In Paris, where I am based, we see the heartbeat of the art world daily. The logistics sector, once dominated by men, now has a growing number of women in positions of leadership who are driving innovation, sustainability, and client-focused solutions. We have an all-female team in our Paris office, proving that across fine art and contemporary markets, women are excelling not only as logistics managers and conservators but also as entrepreneurs and CEOs of specialised transport companies.

The shift has been driven by several key factors:

• Technology & Digitisation: The rise of tech-led solutions has reshaped art logistics. Women, often at the forefront of digital transformation, are leveraging these tools to create more efficient, secure, and transparent supply chains.  Melissa Osterwind, President of SRI Fine Art Services was named ‘International Inspiration’ at the Everywoman awards in 2023, for her work as a role model across the international logistics community, including her work as steering committee member of ICEFAT.
• Sustainability & Ethical Logistics: With an increasing focus on carbon-neutral transport, reusable packing materials, and ethical sourcing, women leaders have championed greener solutions—making the industry more responsible and future-focused. Harriet Powell (Director of Operations) and Verity Brown (Director, Client Services) from Rokbox. Rokbox is an innovation in sustainable artwork protection, designing crates that reduce the cost, environmental impact, and risk of shipping and storing artworks.
• Diversity & Inclusion: Many organisations now actively promote gender diversity, ensuring that women have the same opportunities as men in technical, leadership, and operational roles.

Challenges Still Remain

Despite this progress, barriers persist. Physical roles, such as art handling and installation, are still predominantly male, not due to lack of interest but because recruitment strategies have yet to evolve fully.

But the tide is turning. Women mentoring other women, networking and flexible working policies are driving long-term change.

The Future of Women in Art Logistics

This International Women’s Day, I celebrate the women transforming art logistics: the art-techs ensuring safe transit, the strategists leading global shipments, the engineers designing climate-controlled transport, and the entrepreneurs breaking new ground in the sector.  And not least my extraordinary female colleagues at Gander & White – Francelle White who, along with her mother before her, were pioneers in the art logistics industry; my fellow female market director at Gander & White, Linda Boe, and my peers across the industry including Isabelle Harsch, CEO of Harsch in Geneva, Eloise Peyre, Commercial Director of Vulcan Fine Art and Susan Pierce, Director of Service Operations at Sotheby’s France.

Andrée Griotteray White, the wife of  Frank White, one of the founders of Gander & White, served as Managing Director of Gander & White in the 1960s and 70s. A pioneer in the industry, she took the helm at a time where there were very few women in leadership positions in the field. During the Second World War, Andrée played a prominent role in the French Resistance, becoming one of the most decorated women in France and receiving the Légion d’Honneur amongst other honours.

At its core, fine art logistics is about more than just transportation – it’s about preserving culture, enabling creativity, and protecting heritage. And women are proving they have not only the skills but also the vision to lead this industry into the future.

To those considering a career in fine art logistics: the door is open wider than ever before. Join me and step through it.