Frank Van Gelder was born in a small village in Flanders, Belgium, and studied at KU Leuven. He started my career in healthcare, working in multi-organ donation and transplantation. From there, he moved into highly sensitive supply chains and logistics, particularly life sciences and pharmaceuticals. Today, he is the Secretary General of

Pharma.Aero , and he also teaches part-time at the University of Antwerp, Thomas More, and Antwerp Management School, while running his own company where he is accepting challenging and creative projects.

What was your dream job as a child?

Like many boys, I was fascinated by our ability to engineer extraordinary things. I was born in 1966, so I was a little kid when Neil Armstrong took that first step on the Moon. That made quite an impression. So yes, being an astronaut would have been amazing, especially the opportunity to look back at Earth from a distance and realise that this tiny planet is the one unique home we all share.

What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in the industry?

Definitely AI and we’re only at the beginning. I think it will fundamentally change how we organise ourselves, how we work, and increasingly, how we make decisions.

What’s one buzzword you secretly dislike?

“Collaboration.” It’s probably the most repeated word on every air cargo panel I’ve attended over the past six years. My view is simple: don’t talk about collaboration – just do it.

Window or aisle seat?

Window. Always.

What’s the best business lesson you’ve learned the hard way?

Preparation creates outcomes. I learned that in acute healthcare, where preparation can literally make the difference between success and failure. And I’ve discovered that the same principle applies to almost everything in business and in life.

If you could swap jobs with anyone for a day, who would it be?

I’d go for Max Verstappen. I clearly have a need for speed and adrenaline. It wouldn’t even have to be a Grand Prix. Give me a proper testing or training day with the car and I’d be very happy.

Which three items would you bring to a desert island?

A Stephen Hawking book, my classical music collection, and a very good pair of sunglasses.

Tea or coffee?

Coffee. For sure.

What’s the most exciting place you’ve visited for work?

The summit of Kilimanjaro. Hard to beat that office view.

If you could introduce one new regulation in air cargo, what would it be?

Full end-to-end digital transparency. One trusted digital chain that helps eliminate counterfeiting while enabling faster, simpler and more globally aligned customs procedures.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

One by U2.

Describe your job in three words.

Creative. Exciting. Rewarding. And by rewarding, I definitely don’t mean financially! [laughs]

What’s your hidden talent?

Drawing and painting, I guess. It’s a creative side of me that doesn’t often appear in my professional life.

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?

Playing rock guitar. And if I can instantly master it, I might as well become one of the best.

What’s something on your bucket list?

Going into space – even if it’s only for a few minutes. That childhood dream is still there.

What’s the best airport in the world, and why?

I have too many friends and colleagues at airports around the world to name just one without getting into trouble! So I’ll describe my perfect airport instead: seamless operations, efficient controls, great shopping and dining, friendly people, and processes you barely notice because they simply work.

For cargo, it’s even simpler: fast, efficient and transparent.

If air cargo had a mascot, what would it be?

Definitely not an aircraft. I’d choose the Freight Bumblebee.

Why? Because the bumblebee is small, incredibly active, and essential to the ecosystem. By connecting different places, it enables growth and prosperity. That’s actually a wonderful metaphor for air cargo: connecting the world and helping economies and societies flourish.

How did you get into airfreight/logistics?

Almost completely by coincidence. After leaving healthcare, I was looking for something different and something new. A friend offered me an opportunity in logistics – I took it, and somehow airfreight never let me go.

What quote has most resonated with you?

There’s a thought from Stephen Hawking that has always stayed with me: “We are all time travellers, journeying together into the future.”

And the way I like to complete that thought is: let’s make that future a place we would all love to visit.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Be yourself, and learn to love yourself. Because only then can you genuinely understand, respect and love others.

What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done?

The cycling of more than 350 kilometres off-road through Rwanda and Burundi, passing through small villages and extraordinary landscapes. I actually did it three times with Bike for Africa. The cycling itself was challenging, but what made it truly adventurous were the people, encounters and experiences along the way. Those are memories I’ll never forget.

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